I have fond memories of childhood. I lived in a subdivision in a small town that was surrounded by undeveloped land. When we were not in school, the neighborhood kids played outside until we were called home for dinner. More often than not, we were blazing trails through the woods, playing in creeks, and riding bicycles on grand adventures. My own children are growing up in a much more urban area. Although my children are blessed with a large yard and plenty of neighborhood buddies, they do not have the same opportunities to interact with nature that I had at their age. As a parent, I look for opportunities for my children to explore the great outdoors.
I admit that I have grown soft when it comes to outdoor pursuits. I run for exercise, but I’m certainly not an outdoorsman. This summer, I paid for my daughter to have a week at nature camp so she could enjoy some of the childhood experiences that I remember so fondly, but I have room for improvement when it comes to spending time with my children outdoors. In his new book, Outdoor Parents Outdoor Kids, author Eugene Buchanan encourages parents to be more active with their children. As most of us are aware, we have a growing problem with obesity in the United States. According to Buchanan, 13% of our children are obese, and kids spend an aver of 44 hours a week in front of TVs, computers, and video games.
While he doesn’t claim to be the Dr. Ruth of Recreation, Buchanan has spent many hours with his family camping, hiking, biking, fishing, and rafting. He believes that these activities positively impact everyone by bringing families together and making them healthier. He admits that recreating with kids can be quite challenging: there will be moments times of crying, anger, and frustration. But good times far outweigh the bad, and his family cherishes the times they spend together outdoors.
Outdoor Parents Outdoor Kids reaches a wide audience. I admit that my outdoor skills are a bit rusty, and I appreciated the chapters dealing with more benign activities like hiking, biking, and swimming. For those families ready to tackle greater adventures, Buchanan shares information about snorkeling, climbing, backpacking, and surfing. Each chapter includes basic information about specific sports, but the most helpful information tells how to engage in these activities as a family. By sharing his own successes and failures, describing specific equipment designed for families, and suggesting locations and itineraries, Buchanan makes conquering recreational activities with children seem manageable and exciting.
Buchanan’s greatest asset is his experience, but the most enjoyable aspect of Outdoor Parents Outdoor Kids is Buchanan’s humor. Every chapter is filled with hilarious anecdotes that make this how-to book seem more like humorous memoir. He gives great advice for planning recreational activities, encourages families to expand their adventure repertoire, and keeps readers laughing from beginning to end. Our family has a lot to learn and much room for improvement, but the suggestions found in Outdoor Parents Outdoor Kids give us the information we need to get moving. As Buchanan states, the way to get kids involved in the outdoors is to take them there. When we as parents turn off the televisions, computers, and phones, we can encourage our children to do the same. By spending time together in nature, our families and our health will be stronger because of it.
Lauren is a wife, mother-of-two and an avid reader who is scared of camping. After reading this book, she knows she needs to face her fears. Lauren blogs at Baseballs and Bows.
Jennifer says
I love informative nonfiction that is also entertaining. Sounds like this fits the bill!!