1 00:00:09,640 --> 00:00:09,840 Speaker 1: Hi. 2 00:00:10,039 --> 00:00:13,920 Speaker 2: I'm Laura Vanderkamp. I'm a mother of five, an author, journalist, 3 00:00:13,960 --> 00:00:14,520 Speaker 2: and speaker. 4 00:00:15,400 --> 00:00:19,240 Speaker 3: And I'm Sarah Hart Hunger, a mother of three, practicing physician, writer, 5 00:00:19,560 --> 00:00:22,360 Speaker 3: and course creator. We are two working parents who love 6 00:00:22,400 --> 00:00:24,120 Speaker 3: our careers and our families. 7 00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:27,400 Speaker 2: Welcome to best of both worlds. Here we talk about 8 00:00:27,440 --> 00:00:30,440 Speaker 2: how real women manage work, family, and time for fun. 9 00:00:30,960 --> 00:00:34,280 Speaker 2: From figuring out childcare to mapping out long term career goals. 10 00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:39,400 Speaker 2: We want you to get the most out of life. 11 00:00:41,240 --> 00:00:43,920 Speaker 1: Welcome the best of both worlds. This is Laura. 12 00:00:44,040 --> 00:00:47,360 Speaker 2: This episode is airing in late October of twenty twenty four. 13 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:50,920 Speaker 2: I am going to be interviewing Sarah McCarty about getting 14 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:54,160 Speaker 2: kids outdoors. Sarah is the founder of an organization called 15 00:00:54,360 --> 00:00:58,360 Speaker 2: Run Wild My Child, which has lots of editorial content 16 00:00:58,480 --> 00:01:02,760 Speaker 2: and other things about getting kids outdoors. We had been 17 00:01:02,800 --> 00:01:06,360 Speaker 2: wanting to do a show about this topic for a while. 18 00:01:06,440 --> 00:01:10,280 Speaker 2: There's various ideas out there of various adventurous things you 19 00:01:10,319 --> 00:01:12,920 Speaker 2: can do with your kids. I don't know if you 20 00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:15,959 Speaker 2: wish to hike the Pacific Crest Trail with your kids 21 00:01:16,040 --> 00:01:18,399 Speaker 2: or something like that, but for those of us looking 22 00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:21,480 Speaker 2: for a little bit more entry level outdoor activities. 23 00:01:22,360 --> 00:01:25,039 Speaker 1: Her ideas fit better with that. 24 00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:30,240 Speaker 2: So, Sarah, what are your general feelings about the great outdoors? 25 00:01:30,880 --> 00:01:34,240 Speaker 3: Uh, We're not the world's most outdoorsy, and I guess 26 00:01:34,240 --> 00:01:36,600 Speaker 3: that's a little bit probably of a disappointment to my 27 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:39,840 Speaker 3: younger self imagining what life would be like with kids 28 00:01:40,440 --> 00:01:43,400 Speaker 3: tramping around in fields or doing all sorts of nature 29 00:01:43,560 --> 00:01:47,840 Speaker 3: centered activities. I would say the majority of our outdoor 30 00:01:47,880 --> 00:01:52,040 Speaker 3: time is like on the sidelines at soccer games, or 31 00:01:52,120 --> 00:01:56,320 Speaker 3: maybe at the pool, since swimming is always an easy 32 00:01:56,360 --> 00:01:58,320 Speaker 3: way to stay cool in the summer and just something 33 00:01:58,360 --> 00:02:02,080 Speaker 3: to do. We've had a couple of travel experiences that's 34 00:02:02,080 --> 00:02:06,960 Speaker 3: centered around more adventurous outdoor stuff and honestly haven't been 35 00:02:07,480 --> 00:02:10,880 Speaker 3: our favorites. However, the one exception would be skiing. I 36 00:02:10,919 --> 00:02:14,840 Speaker 3: think that strikes a nice balance for us between enjoying 37 00:02:14,880 --> 00:02:16,800 Speaker 3: being outside and fresh air, but then also like a 38 00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:18,080 Speaker 3: specific activity. 39 00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:19,160 Speaker 1: Yeah. 40 00:02:19,320 --> 00:02:22,679 Speaker 2: I don't know hiking with kids as hard. We've done 41 00:02:22,680 --> 00:02:25,760 Speaker 2: a few good hikes, I mean with my older three kids. 42 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:27,839 Speaker 2: A couple of years ago we did like a six 43 00:02:27,919 --> 00:02:30,799 Speaker 2: mile hike in Yellowstone that went quite well, and there 44 00:02:30,840 --> 00:02:32,680 Speaker 2: was a little bit of whining in the middle of it. 45 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:37,000 Speaker 1: But we made it. We saw stunning vistas and all 46 00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:37,920 Speaker 1: this other stuff. 47 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:41,840 Speaker 2: But yeah, with little kids, I mean they don't really 48 00:02:42,080 --> 00:02:45,079 Speaker 2: walk briskly from point A to point B all that well. 49 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:48,360 Speaker 2: But you know, we've had a good We're getting outside 50 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:52,560 Speaker 2: with bikes. Biking around our driveway in the neighborhood has 51 00:02:52,600 --> 00:02:57,520 Speaker 2: been a fun thing to do, you know. I yeah, 52 00:02:57,560 --> 00:03:00,919 Speaker 2: I probably should be outside more like being outside. 53 00:03:01,120 --> 00:03:04,280 Speaker 1: It's a little harder to involve the whole family. 54 00:03:05,200 --> 00:03:09,280 Speaker 2: But Sarah McCarty not hard anger, but the other Sarah 55 00:03:09,560 --> 00:03:12,840 Speaker 2: is about to share some great ideas, so please give 56 00:03:12,840 --> 00:03:16,240 Speaker 2: it a listen well, Sarah, as in Sarah Hartunger and 57 00:03:16,280 --> 00:03:19,400 Speaker 2: I are delighted to welcome Sarah McCarty to the program. 58 00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:23,360 Speaker 2: Sarah is the founder and editor of Run Wild My Child, 59 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:29,720 Speaker 2: which is a magazine, website, et cetera devoted to getting 60 00:03:29,880 --> 00:03:32,680 Speaker 2: kids outside. So Sarah, welcome to the show. 61 00:03:33,280 --> 00:03:34,079 Speaker 1: Hi, thank you so. 62 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:36,400 Speaker 4: Much for having me. I'm honored to be here today. 63 00:03:36,880 --> 00:03:39,520 Speaker 4: Like you said, I am the founder of a company 64 00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:43,120 Speaker 4: called Run Wild My Child. This started off as just 65 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:47,760 Speaker 4: a blog, a website basically for getting kids and their 66 00:03:47,840 --> 00:03:51,720 Speaker 4: parents off screens and outdoors. So I am an attorney 67 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:55,640 Speaker 4: by trade, and back when I was a baby lawyer, 68 00:03:55,840 --> 00:03:59,960 Speaker 4: I decided that I would run a marathon, and I start. 69 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:02,880 Speaker 4: I did a website and a blog all about writing 70 00:04:02,960 --> 00:04:06,600 Speaker 4: about marathon training, which sounds awful, but I realized I 71 00:04:06,680 --> 00:04:10,160 Speaker 4: quickly loved writing a whole lot more than the running portion. 72 00:04:10,760 --> 00:04:14,840 Speaker 4: So the writing continued through wedding planning and some infertility, 73 00:04:14,960 --> 00:04:17,600 Speaker 4: and then kids came along and it was all things 74 00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:21,240 Speaker 4: kids and babies. And as my kids got older, I 75 00:04:21,400 --> 00:04:26,039 Speaker 4: realized that there was this magical thing called the outdoors 76 00:04:26,520 --> 00:04:31,159 Speaker 4: that made kids act better, eat better, sleep better, get 77 00:04:31,160 --> 00:04:34,799 Speaker 4: along better. And I just couldn't believe that every parent 78 00:04:34,839 --> 00:04:38,240 Speaker 4: in the world wasn't shouting from the rooftops about just 79 00:04:38,320 --> 00:04:42,240 Speaker 4: getting outside with their kids. And I started writing about 80 00:04:42,520 --> 00:04:46,359 Speaker 4: my adventures with our kids and how much better it 81 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:49,520 Speaker 4: made me feel as a parent, how much better my 82 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:52,400 Speaker 4: kids were doing, and all the things that we were doing, 83 00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:56,640 Speaker 4: hiking and fishing and camping, and I couldn't believe the 84 00:04:56,720 --> 00:05:00,240 Speaker 4: response that I was getting from parents, just how do 85 00:05:00,279 --> 00:05:02,240 Speaker 4: you do this? Where do you go? What gear do 86 00:05:02,320 --> 00:05:05,520 Speaker 4: you use? I want recommendations. I think there were a 87 00:05:05,600 --> 00:05:08,440 Speaker 4: lot of parents out there that wanted to give their 88 00:05:08,560 --> 00:05:11,880 Speaker 4: kids the type of childhood that they grew up having, 89 00:05:12,080 --> 00:05:14,600 Speaker 4: you know that like go outside until the street lights 90 00:05:14,640 --> 00:05:19,120 Speaker 4: come on kind of childhood. But things are different and 91 00:05:19,240 --> 00:05:21,320 Speaker 4: there are these things called screens, and it was just 92 00:05:21,360 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 4: so much harder to get kids interested in going outside 93 00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:27,440 Speaker 4: or to figure out how just to get to the park. 94 00:05:27,800 --> 00:05:32,320 Speaker 4: And there were websites about hiking the Appalachian Trail with toddlers, 95 00:05:32,320 --> 00:05:34,760 Speaker 4: but there was nothing like how did just get out 96 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:38,880 Speaker 4: the door with your sanity intact and kids wearing shoes 97 00:05:38,920 --> 00:05:42,520 Speaker 4: and snacks. So I decided, well I could do that. 98 00:05:43,080 --> 00:05:46,560 Speaker 4: So I started writing about runwot like our adventures. I 99 00:05:46,600 --> 00:05:49,039 Speaker 4: called it Run Wild My Child, and it just kind 100 00:05:49,080 --> 00:05:52,280 Speaker 4: of exploded. And I think it was just a lot 101 00:05:52,279 --> 00:05:56,359 Speaker 4: of good timing on my part, right before COVID, before 102 00:05:56,400 --> 00:05:59,000 Speaker 4: the world shut down and everybody wanted to be outside. 103 00:05:59,440 --> 00:06:03,520 Speaker 4: And then we have gone on to launch a podcast 104 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:06,080 Speaker 4: in a magazine, and we still have the website and 105 00:06:06,320 --> 00:06:09,479 Speaker 4: we have a community, and it's just grew in a 106 00:06:09,480 --> 00:06:11,080 Speaker 4: way that I never could have imagined. 107 00:06:11,600 --> 00:06:12,040 Speaker 1: Awesome. 108 00:06:12,520 --> 00:06:15,440 Speaker 2: Well, I'm very curious, I mean, what is it about 109 00:06:15,680 --> 00:06:19,640 Speaker 2: being outside? I mean, obviously there are degrees of this. 110 00:06:19,720 --> 00:06:22,160 Speaker 2: I mean, if it's like one hundred and ten degrees outside. 111 00:06:22,200 --> 00:06:25,440 Speaker 2: I'm not you know, kids are not necessarily better behaved outside, 112 00:06:25,839 --> 00:06:26,599 Speaker 2: whether it's terrible. 113 00:06:26,640 --> 00:06:28,360 Speaker 1: Sorry, I've had had. 114 00:06:28,200 --> 00:06:32,440 Speaker 2: Some whining myself in that situation, but in general, I mean, 115 00:06:32,480 --> 00:06:35,359 Speaker 2: if the weather is pleasant, what is it about being 116 00:06:35,480 --> 00:06:40,040 Speaker 2: outside that seems to make people more agreeable? 117 00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:44,440 Speaker 4: I think part of it is taking away this structure. 118 00:06:45,200 --> 00:06:47,920 Speaker 4: You've probably heard the saying like, you can't bounce off 119 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:50,800 Speaker 4: the walls if there aren't any walls. So getting kids 120 00:06:50,839 --> 00:06:55,799 Speaker 4: outside and giving them the ability to dictate their own play, 121 00:06:56,160 --> 00:06:58,760 Speaker 4: to come up with their own ideas or things that 122 00:06:58,800 --> 00:07:02,440 Speaker 4: they have to do. Is this magical thing called unstructured 123 00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:06,040 Speaker 4: free play where they are in charge and it's a 124 00:07:06,080 --> 00:07:11,320 Speaker 4: sensory experience. It's foster's creativity. It makes them curious about 125 00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:14,000 Speaker 4: the things around them. They have to pay attention, They 126 00:07:14,040 --> 00:07:16,120 Speaker 4: have to figure out what to do and how to 127 00:07:16,160 --> 00:07:19,640 Speaker 4: climb these things. And you know, if they find a stick, 128 00:07:19,760 --> 00:07:21,880 Speaker 4: what they have to turn it into a wand or 129 00:07:21,880 --> 00:07:25,240 Speaker 4: a sword or something, and just it really opens kids' 130 00:07:25,360 --> 00:07:31,600 Speaker 4: eyes to imaginative play and unstructured free play gives them 131 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:35,480 Speaker 4: the power to control the things that they're doing. They 132 00:07:35,480 --> 00:07:37,720 Speaker 4: have to make up the rules, they have to communicate. 133 00:07:38,760 --> 00:07:41,559 Speaker 4: It's a little different than playing with toys inside because 134 00:07:41,560 --> 00:07:45,040 Speaker 4: a lot of times those toys have specific purposes and 135 00:07:45,200 --> 00:07:48,080 Speaker 4: there's one right way to play a board game, you know, 136 00:07:48,080 --> 00:07:51,360 Speaker 4: there's one right way to play with a truck. But 137 00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:54,240 Speaker 4: if you go outside, you kind of take away all 138 00:07:54,280 --> 00:07:57,880 Speaker 4: the rules and kids just come alive. And sometimes it 139 00:07:57,920 --> 00:08:01,480 Speaker 4: takes time, and it's not the thing that happens within 140 00:08:01,520 --> 00:08:04,200 Speaker 4: the first minute or two. And I think sometimes parents, 141 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:07,160 Speaker 4: especially if they're just getting started with kids getting outside, 142 00:08:07,160 --> 00:08:09,840 Speaker 4: can get a little discouraged because they'll go out and 143 00:08:09,880 --> 00:08:13,360 Speaker 4: they're like, fifteen minutes later, like, why aren't they playing? 144 00:08:13,440 --> 00:08:17,000 Speaker 4: Why are they still clinging to me? But I've read 145 00:08:17,040 --> 00:08:20,040 Speaker 4: somewhere that it takes sometimes twenty to forty minutes for 146 00:08:20,160 --> 00:08:24,760 Speaker 4: kids to really get actively involved in outdoor play, unstructured, 147 00:08:24,800 --> 00:08:27,960 Speaker 4: freakly on their own. So it just takes time and 148 00:08:28,080 --> 00:08:31,760 Speaker 4: patience and persistence and making this a priority, and then 149 00:08:31,800 --> 00:08:36,080 Speaker 4: you will really see your kids start to thrive outdoors 150 00:08:36,240 --> 00:08:40,800 Speaker 4: because there are so many health benefits and you know, 151 00:08:40,880 --> 00:08:44,360 Speaker 4: all kinds of just magical things that happen for kids 152 00:08:44,360 --> 00:08:46,400 Speaker 4: and adults, and you'll start to feel better too. 153 00:08:46,600 --> 00:08:48,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, I was gonna say, let's talk about the adults, 154 00:08:48,800 --> 00:08:51,520 Speaker 2: because I mean, I may not be engaging in much 155 00:08:51,600 --> 00:08:55,040 Speaker 2: unstructured flee play outside I have to I'd say, I'm 156 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:58,920 Speaker 2: not really climbing that many trees these days. But what 157 00:08:59,080 --> 00:09:01,320 Speaker 2: I mean it tends to put adults in a better 158 00:09:01,320 --> 00:09:01,960 Speaker 2: mood as well. 159 00:09:02,760 --> 00:09:04,480 Speaker 4: Yeah, and I think that a lot of that is, 160 00:09:04,559 --> 00:09:07,080 Speaker 4: you know, it's the fresh air, it's the sunshine, it's 161 00:09:07,160 --> 00:09:10,200 Speaker 4: getting outside and having some kind of white space around 162 00:09:10,240 --> 00:09:15,240 Speaker 4: you to think, to process, to work through things. I 163 00:09:15,320 --> 00:09:18,320 Speaker 4: just always feel like, not only am I do I 164 00:09:18,360 --> 00:09:21,200 Speaker 4: feel better, but I'm a better parent when I'm outside 165 00:09:21,200 --> 00:09:24,520 Speaker 4: because I'm not constantly like, stop doing that, No, don't 166 00:09:24,520 --> 00:09:26,679 Speaker 4: climb the walls, don't jump on that thing. You know, 167 00:09:26,720 --> 00:09:29,640 Speaker 4: like all the things that the distractions that are inside. 168 00:09:30,120 --> 00:09:32,880 Speaker 4: I'm constantly cleaning and finding things that I have to do. 169 00:09:32,960 --> 00:09:35,560 Speaker 4: You take all that away when you're outside and you 170 00:09:35,600 --> 00:09:40,400 Speaker 4: give yourself some space to really think and breathe and relax, 171 00:09:40,600 --> 00:09:44,240 Speaker 4: and it just, I don't know it you magically feel better. 172 00:09:44,320 --> 00:09:47,319 Speaker 4: There's plenty of research to prove it. 173 00:09:47,440 --> 00:09:47,880 Speaker 1: Awesome. 174 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:49,920 Speaker 2: Well, we're going to take one quick ad break and 175 00:09:49,960 --> 00:09:52,000 Speaker 2: then we will come back and talk about some practical 176 00:09:52,040 --> 00:10:07,280 Speaker 2: ways to start building an outdoor habit. Well, I am 177 00:10:07,360 --> 00:10:10,920 Speaker 2: back talking with Sarah McCarty of Run Wild My Child, 178 00:10:11,280 --> 00:10:15,480 Speaker 2: a website about getting kids outdoors. So, you know, let's 179 00:10:15,600 --> 00:10:17,920 Speaker 2: get to the practicalities here, because, like you said, you 180 00:10:17,960 --> 00:10:20,400 Speaker 2: know what entry level getting outside. We're not hiking the 181 00:10:20,400 --> 00:10:23,800 Speaker 2: Appalachian Trail here, We're just looking to get outside for 182 00:10:23,840 --> 00:10:25,959 Speaker 2: a little bit. But we've got a lot of very 183 00:10:25,960 --> 00:10:30,680 Speaker 2: busy families listening to this show. You know, two jobs, 184 00:10:30,800 --> 00:10:33,880 Speaker 2: kids and a lot of activities. What are some practical 185 00:10:33,880 --> 00:10:36,599 Speaker 2: ways to start building this into our lives. 186 00:10:37,080 --> 00:10:39,640 Speaker 4: Oh, it's such a great question, and I want to 187 00:10:39,800 --> 00:10:43,839 Speaker 4: emphasize that having parents who are working in kids in 188 00:10:43,880 --> 00:10:47,480 Speaker 4: traditional schools and sports and activities does not prohibit anybody 189 00:10:47,520 --> 00:10:51,320 Speaker 4: from still being outdoorsy. I think sometimes the outdoor kid 190 00:10:51,440 --> 00:10:56,679 Speaker 4: industry really supports like homeschooling families and parents maybe that 191 00:10:56,800 --> 00:11:01,280 Speaker 4: stay home, but everybody is welcome outdoors and everyone become outdoorsy, 192 00:11:01,679 --> 00:11:04,360 Speaker 4: and I think really the first thing to do is 193 00:11:04,480 --> 00:11:07,640 Speaker 4: just decide that it's going to be a priority, and 194 00:11:08,120 --> 00:11:11,560 Speaker 4: sometimes that means putting in on the schedule. I live 195 00:11:11,640 --> 00:11:15,120 Speaker 4: by my schedule, by our calendar, so sometimes I've got 196 00:11:15,160 --> 00:11:18,240 Speaker 4: that scheduled into our day that we need to get 197 00:11:18,280 --> 00:11:20,800 Speaker 4: outside and then trying to figure out what it is 198 00:11:21,040 --> 00:11:25,160 Speaker 4: to do with them. So we have a huge list 199 00:11:25,280 --> 00:11:28,760 Speaker 4: of activities and parks and places to go and things 200 00:11:28,760 --> 00:11:31,520 Speaker 4: to do around us, and that will eliminate some of 201 00:11:31,559 --> 00:11:33,400 Speaker 4: that stress about like, well I don't know what to 202 00:11:33,440 --> 00:11:35,080 Speaker 4: do once we get out there, or where do we 203 00:11:35,160 --> 00:11:37,959 Speaker 4: even go? So I would start with making a huge 204 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:41,640 Speaker 4: list of everything that you can do within fifteen minutes 205 00:11:41,640 --> 00:11:46,120 Speaker 4: of you and when you have some free time and 206 00:11:46,200 --> 00:11:48,920 Speaker 4: you get to that time of scheduling, like that's what 207 00:11:48,960 --> 00:11:51,120 Speaker 4: you do, You go out there, you do the thing. 208 00:11:51,880 --> 00:11:54,199 Speaker 4: Some of the times, it's great to revisit things that 209 00:11:54,240 --> 00:11:56,080 Speaker 4: you've already done. Don't feel like you always have to 210 00:11:56,120 --> 00:11:59,880 Speaker 4: try something new. There's so much benefit of going to 211 00:12:00,320 --> 00:12:04,679 Speaker 4: the same places over and over again. The seasons change, 212 00:12:05,559 --> 00:12:10,560 Speaker 4: things in nature change just naturally, so revisiting similar places 213 00:12:10,640 --> 00:12:13,040 Speaker 4: or the same place again and again is don't feel 214 00:12:13,040 --> 00:12:17,120 Speaker 4: like everything has to be a new adventure. And go 215 00:12:17,200 --> 00:12:21,120 Speaker 4: with them. I think, especially when they're little, you have 216 00:12:21,200 --> 00:12:23,280 Speaker 4: to be the one to get out there with them 217 00:12:23,320 --> 00:12:26,320 Speaker 4: and kind of model the behavior and what you want 218 00:12:26,360 --> 00:12:30,120 Speaker 4: them to do. If you're outside with them, but you're 219 00:12:30,200 --> 00:12:33,440 Speaker 4: checking your phone every few minutes, or you're distracted, or 220 00:12:33,520 --> 00:12:35,839 Speaker 4: you don't want to be there, or you're complaining about 221 00:12:35,840 --> 00:12:37,600 Speaker 4: the weather, like they're going to pick up on that 222 00:12:37,960 --> 00:12:39,920 Speaker 4: they don't want to be out there if you're miserable, 223 00:12:40,040 --> 00:12:44,040 Speaker 4: So model that you're having fun. So just you gotta 224 00:12:44,040 --> 00:12:46,240 Speaker 4: fake it till you make it. If you're not outdoorsy 225 00:12:46,360 --> 00:12:48,959 Speaker 4: like kind of you have to pretend for a while 226 00:12:49,160 --> 00:12:51,320 Speaker 4: until they can kind of figure out how to get 227 00:12:51,320 --> 00:12:53,520 Speaker 4: outside and how much better it makes you feel. And 228 00:12:53,920 --> 00:12:56,640 Speaker 4: it may surprise you and you may even become outdoors 229 00:12:56,760 --> 00:12:58,120 Speaker 4: by spending some time outside. 230 00:12:58,640 --> 00:13:01,480 Speaker 2: Well, when does this happen in your family schedule? I 231 00:13:01,480 --> 00:13:02,840 Speaker 2: mean you said, you know it's busy, you put it 232 00:13:02,880 --> 00:13:05,360 Speaker 2: on the calendar. What does that actually mean? Like in 233 00:13:05,400 --> 00:13:06,840 Speaker 2: the McCarty family schedule. 234 00:13:07,600 --> 00:13:10,000 Speaker 4: So, my kids go to traditional schools, so we do 235 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:13,440 Speaker 4: outdoor time after school, and sometimes that means we come 236 00:13:13,440 --> 00:13:16,199 Speaker 4: home and the kids ride their bikes to friends' houses 237 00:13:16,720 --> 00:13:19,200 Speaker 4: or just up and down the street around the neighborhood. 238 00:13:19,559 --> 00:13:22,880 Speaker 4: We kind of push back on homework or anything that 239 00:13:22,960 --> 00:13:26,559 Speaker 4: kind of comes with school until you know, we give 240 00:13:26,559 --> 00:13:28,800 Speaker 4: them at least an hour to get outside and play 241 00:13:28,920 --> 00:13:31,360 Speaker 4: kind of running around and get some of that energy out. 242 00:13:31,520 --> 00:13:35,840 Speaker 4: We schedule on weekends. We're both working parents, so weekends 243 00:13:36,440 --> 00:13:39,280 Speaker 4: are coveted for us. That is our family time together. 244 00:13:39,480 --> 00:13:42,160 Speaker 4: So we do sports and all the kids have their 245 00:13:42,200 --> 00:13:44,680 Speaker 4: own activities, but we try to find those pockets of 246 00:13:44,760 --> 00:13:47,080 Speaker 4: time or the weekends that we have off where we 247 00:13:47,120 --> 00:13:50,280 Speaker 4: can really get outside and do some more adventurous things. 248 00:13:50,640 --> 00:13:53,280 Speaker 4: We always have gear in our car, so if we've 249 00:13:53,320 --> 00:13:57,400 Speaker 4: got time in between two baseball games or in between activities, 250 00:13:57,720 --> 00:14:00,400 Speaker 4: we've got our fishing poles and in the back of 251 00:14:00,440 --> 00:14:02,960 Speaker 4: the truck will just stop somewhere and fish for an hour. 252 00:14:03,760 --> 00:14:06,720 Speaker 4: We've got our hiking clothes, so we can just jump 253 00:14:06,760 --> 00:14:08,600 Speaker 4: out and you know, at the park and take a 254 00:14:08,640 --> 00:14:13,760 Speaker 4: walk around. We try to find pockets of time wherever 255 00:14:13,800 --> 00:14:16,160 Speaker 4: we can and fit that in, even if it just 256 00:14:16,240 --> 00:14:20,320 Speaker 4: means taking a walk while someone's at practice. You know, 257 00:14:20,840 --> 00:14:23,880 Speaker 4: everybody else takes a walk around the block or around 258 00:14:23,960 --> 00:14:28,560 Speaker 4: the track, and really just trying to make sure that 259 00:14:29,880 --> 00:14:34,119 Speaker 4: you have opportunities, that you can take advantage of the 260 00:14:34,200 --> 00:14:35,200 Speaker 4: opportunities that you have. 261 00:14:35,880 --> 00:14:38,200 Speaker 2: And you mentioned earlier, I mean one of the barriers 262 00:14:38,400 --> 00:14:39,840 Speaker 2: you were talking about parents like, well, I'm not going 263 00:14:39,920 --> 00:14:41,760 Speaker 2: to go hike the apple a tintral. I'm just trying 264 00:14:41,760 --> 00:14:44,800 Speaker 2: to get people out the door. I wonder if there 265 00:14:44,800 --> 00:14:49,080 Speaker 2: are more any sort of hacks you have about getting 266 00:14:49,240 --> 00:14:54,720 Speaker 2: small children out the door easier. There's always a lot 267 00:14:54,800 --> 00:14:57,760 Speaker 2: of shoes, and if you're in somewhere that's cold, like 268 00:14:57,800 --> 00:15:01,440 Speaker 2: Saint Louis, I imagine there are boots and hats. 269 00:15:01,040 --> 00:15:03,520 Speaker 4: And there's always one mitten that there's. 270 00:15:03,320 --> 00:15:06,000 Speaker 1: One man missing. So let's talk about that missing mitten 271 00:15:06,040 --> 00:15:07,480 Speaker 1: and how we make that not a barrier. 272 00:15:08,120 --> 00:15:11,280 Speaker 4: Yeah. I think the winter definitely adds an entire new 273 00:15:11,360 --> 00:15:13,840 Speaker 4: element to getting outside. And sometimes it will take you 274 00:15:13,880 --> 00:15:16,360 Speaker 4: longer to find all of the things and get dressed, 275 00:15:16,360 --> 00:15:19,680 Speaker 4: and it actually the kids will are willing to spend outside. 276 00:15:19,760 --> 00:15:23,120 Speaker 4: So I think that you just kind of have to 277 00:15:23,120 --> 00:15:25,520 Speaker 4: plan ahead of time and know what you're going to do. 278 00:15:25,720 --> 00:15:28,200 Speaker 4: So if you know you're just going to go outside 279 00:15:28,200 --> 00:15:30,320 Speaker 4: in the front yard, having a place where all of 280 00:15:30,360 --> 00:15:34,920 Speaker 4: your gear lives and it stays there, and that means 281 00:15:35,000 --> 00:15:36,720 Speaker 4: it's easy for the kids when they walk in the 282 00:15:36,720 --> 00:15:40,400 Speaker 4: door and they start shedding layers and stripping and throwing 283 00:15:40,440 --> 00:15:43,160 Speaker 4: things that it all can stay in one place. So 284 00:15:43,400 --> 00:15:45,880 Speaker 4: kind of think of the layout of your house and 285 00:15:46,120 --> 00:15:49,280 Speaker 4: how when and where the kids come in and where 286 00:15:49,320 --> 00:15:52,360 Speaker 4: things tend to gather and if you can put something there. 287 00:15:52,440 --> 00:15:56,200 Speaker 4: We have this giant rubber maid that has three drawers, 288 00:15:56,240 --> 00:15:58,480 Speaker 4: and so each kid has a drawer and that's where 289 00:15:58,520 --> 00:16:01,360 Speaker 4: they're gloves and there's arts and their hats and everything 290 00:16:01,400 --> 00:16:04,560 Speaker 4: goes there. And the rest of the year, when it's 291 00:16:04,600 --> 00:16:06,640 Speaker 4: not winter, that lives in the basement, so we don't 292 00:16:06,640 --> 00:16:08,960 Speaker 4: ever have we don't have to see it, but then 293 00:16:09,040 --> 00:16:12,160 Speaker 4: we pull it out every winter and it's there. And 294 00:16:12,200 --> 00:16:16,000 Speaker 4: then just having things ready to go. I always have 295 00:16:16,760 --> 00:16:20,240 Speaker 4: like a box in my car full of things that 296 00:16:20,320 --> 00:16:21,920 Speaker 4: I think I need, which means like a change of 297 00:16:21,920 --> 00:16:25,320 Speaker 4: clothes for everybody, because you may just happen a pond, 298 00:16:25,360 --> 00:16:27,520 Speaker 4: a creek, or a mud puddle that the kids feel 299 00:16:27,560 --> 00:16:30,800 Speaker 4: like they have to explore and they have to get into. 300 00:16:30,880 --> 00:16:33,000 Speaker 4: And I can't even tell you how many times we 301 00:16:33,120 --> 00:16:36,880 Speaker 4: have driven home with all the kids completely, you know, 302 00:16:37,920 --> 00:16:41,120 Speaker 4: with no clothes because they just got so wet and 303 00:16:41,200 --> 00:16:44,040 Speaker 4: money and had fine, but it was worth it. I 304 00:16:44,080 --> 00:16:47,080 Speaker 4: would rather be the mom that says, yes, you can 305 00:16:47,080 --> 00:16:50,120 Speaker 4: get money and not worry about it than try to 306 00:16:50,200 --> 00:16:52,760 Speaker 4: keep them from having fun and playing because they didn't 307 00:16:52,760 --> 00:16:54,920 Speaker 4: have a change of clothes. Now I'm a little bit 308 00:16:54,920 --> 00:16:56,040 Speaker 4: better prepared. 309 00:16:56,840 --> 00:16:59,080 Speaker 1: Have some towels in the car. Yeah, always a good death. 310 00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:00,800 Speaker 1: I'm wondering about. 311 00:17:01,400 --> 00:17:04,000 Speaker 2: Obviously it's fun to go somewhere, but I imagine a reasonable 312 00:17:04,000 --> 00:17:07,720 Speaker 2: amount of ones outdoor time could just happen in your yard. 313 00:17:07,960 --> 00:17:09,880 Speaker 1: For our listeners who are. 314 00:17:10,240 --> 00:17:14,040 Speaker 2: Sort of standard suburban folk and have a quarter acre 315 00:17:14,080 --> 00:17:16,400 Speaker 2: lot or whatever it is, I wonder if there are 316 00:17:16,680 --> 00:17:22,080 Speaker 2: things you would recommend having for your house, outdoor toys, 317 00:17:22,119 --> 00:17:25,320 Speaker 2: outdoor equipment, things like that that would make your yard 318 00:17:25,840 --> 00:17:28,440 Speaker 2: competitive with YouTube shorts. 319 00:17:28,760 --> 00:17:33,000 Speaker 4: Oh totally, okay. So a slack line, it's a great 320 00:17:33,040 --> 00:17:37,240 Speaker 4: addition to any backyard. We have one set up just 321 00:17:37,280 --> 00:17:40,160 Speaker 4: out there year round and the kids go out on it. 322 00:17:41,240 --> 00:17:44,000 Speaker 4: They bounce, they flip, they do all kinds of things. 323 00:17:44,040 --> 00:17:46,080 Speaker 4: So we have paired our slack line with like a 324 00:17:46,200 --> 00:17:49,880 Speaker 4: ninja course, like so we've got the one the slack 325 00:17:49,920 --> 00:17:51,600 Speaker 4: line on the bottom that they can walk across, but 326 00:17:51,640 --> 00:17:55,879 Speaker 4: then they've got these like almost like an obstacle course 327 00:17:56,040 --> 00:17:58,159 Speaker 4: that they can have to hang on as they on 328 00:17:58,240 --> 00:18:02,959 Speaker 4: the top. So they loved that. We had for years. 329 00:18:03,080 --> 00:18:05,320 Speaker 4: My kids have finally gotten to the point where they 330 00:18:05,640 --> 00:18:09,920 Speaker 4: just absolutely destroyed it. But it was an outdoor clubhouse. 331 00:18:10,359 --> 00:18:13,000 Speaker 4: I think we got it at Sam's or Costco or something, 332 00:18:13,040 --> 00:18:16,040 Speaker 4: and it was a kind of a cedar wooden plank 333 00:18:16,720 --> 00:18:21,200 Speaker 4: like little clubhouse. And that clubhouse lasted years and it 334 00:18:21,280 --> 00:18:24,800 Speaker 4: took a beating. My kids climbed on it. They played restaurant, 335 00:18:24,880 --> 00:18:28,080 Speaker 4: they played shop like. They would just sit in it 336 00:18:28,119 --> 00:18:31,120 Speaker 4: when it rained and watch the rain. They made it 337 00:18:31,160 --> 00:18:34,360 Speaker 4: an igloo in the winter. They put fairy lights in it. 338 00:18:34,560 --> 00:18:39,080 Speaker 4: Like so many stories and like cute things happened in 339 00:18:39,119 --> 00:18:42,920 Speaker 4: that tiny little clubhouse. Other things. A little red wagon 340 00:18:43,240 --> 00:18:46,240 Speaker 4: is just a great addition. My kids have used that 341 00:18:46,440 --> 00:18:50,600 Speaker 4: for karting anything and everything and each other all around 342 00:18:50,640 --> 00:18:53,960 Speaker 4: the yard. I'm a huge fan of bikes and scooters 343 00:18:54,000 --> 00:18:56,359 Speaker 4: and anything that kind of gets them moving and going 344 00:18:56,400 --> 00:18:59,640 Speaker 4: and giving them a little bit more of a thrilling sensory. 345 00:19:00,760 --> 00:19:04,000 Speaker 4: As kids get older, they really try to seek those 346 00:19:04,040 --> 00:19:06,480 Speaker 4: thrills and find fun and exciting things to do. So 347 00:19:06,520 --> 00:19:09,920 Speaker 4: if you give them things like bikes and scooters, and 348 00:19:10,760 --> 00:19:12,720 Speaker 4: they just love that stuff. If you live on a 349 00:19:12,880 --> 00:19:14,919 Speaker 4: we live on a cold sax, so our street is 350 00:19:14,920 --> 00:19:18,040 Speaker 4: really accessible and easy for them to kind of just 351 00:19:18,480 --> 00:19:19,840 Speaker 4: you know, we don't have a lot of traffic, so 352 00:19:20,119 --> 00:19:21,639 Speaker 4: they run the entire neighborhood. 353 00:19:22,280 --> 00:19:24,679 Speaker 2: Do you think it's easier for kids to get out 354 00:19:24,720 --> 00:19:26,600 Speaker 2: if they are in that kind of neighborhood or I mean, 355 00:19:26,720 --> 00:19:31,879 Speaker 2: is it something that our urban dwelling listeners can also 356 00:19:32,000 --> 00:19:33,080 Speaker 2: access pretty easily. 357 00:19:33,840 --> 00:19:38,560 Speaker 4: I think having other kids is so enticing for kids, 358 00:19:38,640 --> 00:19:41,600 Speaker 4: and that is one of the biggest things that I 359 00:19:41,600 --> 00:19:44,400 Speaker 4: would tell parents. If you've got other kids around, talk 360 00:19:44,440 --> 00:19:46,560 Speaker 4: to the other parents and see if there's something that 361 00:19:46,600 --> 00:19:50,680 Speaker 4: you guys can collectively do to get more kids outside. 362 00:19:50,760 --> 00:19:52,960 Speaker 4: Because I can have all of the toys and the 363 00:19:53,280 --> 00:19:56,160 Speaker 4: gadgets and the fun stuff outside, but my kids would 364 00:19:56,160 --> 00:19:59,920 Speaker 4: pick playing with other kids outside over anything I can offer. 365 00:20:00,280 --> 00:20:02,280 Speaker 4: So if there are other kids, that is a lot 366 00:20:02,320 --> 00:20:05,040 Speaker 4: more fun than whatever I can give them. And luckily, 367 00:20:05,160 --> 00:20:08,600 Speaker 4: like most parents right now really do want their kids 368 00:20:08,680 --> 00:20:12,879 Speaker 4: to spend time outside, and they're willing to post the 369 00:20:12,920 --> 00:20:17,880 Speaker 4: little backyard playdate today if you host tomorrow, or let 370 00:20:17,880 --> 00:20:20,679 Speaker 4: your kids come over and jump on the trampoline or 371 00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:24,040 Speaker 4: whatever it is. Like most of the time, parents are 372 00:20:24,080 --> 00:20:26,199 Speaker 4: pretty willing and it's a great way to get to 373 00:20:26,200 --> 00:20:28,440 Speaker 4: know your neighbors and then your you know, your kids 374 00:20:28,440 --> 00:20:31,560 Speaker 4: have built in friends on the street. And I think 375 00:20:31,600 --> 00:20:34,600 Speaker 4: we're very lucky living in a city. I grew up 376 00:20:34,640 --> 00:20:36,919 Speaker 4: in the middle of the country, which I feel like, 377 00:20:37,000 --> 00:20:39,920 Speaker 4: would we have a you know, getting outside and being 378 00:20:39,960 --> 00:20:43,359 Speaker 4: accessible to the woods in nature was so easy, but 379 00:20:43,400 --> 00:20:46,159 Speaker 4: I had nobody to play with. So I feel like 380 00:20:46,160 --> 00:20:49,600 Speaker 4: my kids are growing up in this amazing situation where 381 00:20:49,840 --> 00:20:52,400 Speaker 4: maybe they don't have a woods and a pond and 382 00:20:52,920 --> 00:20:54,840 Speaker 4: all of the amazing things I had as a kid, 383 00:20:54,880 --> 00:20:57,360 Speaker 4: but they have other kids, which is a whole nother thing. 384 00:20:58,160 --> 00:21:01,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, so I'm just pondering another barrier that's going to 385 00:21:01,240 --> 00:21:04,359 Speaker 2: be coming up for my family fairly soon. You know, 386 00:21:04,400 --> 00:21:07,720 Speaker 2: we're in Pennsylvania, which is on the Eastern time zone, 387 00:21:07,760 --> 00:21:10,080 Speaker 2: and we're on the eastern part of the Eastern time zone, 388 00:21:10,440 --> 00:21:14,520 Speaker 2: which means that in approximately a month after this episode airs, 389 00:21:14,800 --> 00:21:17,320 Speaker 2: it will be dark at four forty five PM, right, 390 00:21:17,560 --> 00:21:21,040 Speaker 2: so there's not a whole lot of daylight. 391 00:21:21,520 --> 00:21:23,600 Speaker 1: Can you still have fun in the dark? 392 00:21:23,960 --> 00:21:28,000 Speaker 4: Oh, that's even more fun. As your kids get older, 393 00:21:28,160 --> 00:21:31,480 Speaker 4: they're going to find ways to have fun outside at night. 394 00:21:31,600 --> 00:21:34,840 Speaker 4: And it is so much fun watching this happen. So 395 00:21:35,240 --> 00:21:37,520 Speaker 4: I would start with if you've got little kids or 396 00:21:37,560 --> 00:21:39,760 Speaker 4: you need to keep them close and safe and watch, 397 00:21:40,119 --> 00:21:43,159 Speaker 4: start with creating a space in your own yard that 398 00:21:43,320 --> 00:21:45,840 Speaker 4: is lit up, that is fun and exciting for them. 399 00:21:45,840 --> 00:21:47,640 Speaker 4: So if you've got the toys in the seleck lane, 400 00:21:47,640 --> 00:21:50,359 Speaker 4: in the clubhouse and everything out there, or a playground 401 00:21:50,400 --> 00:21:54,320 Speaker 4: like a playset, swing set, put some fairy lights out. 402 00:21:54,480 --> 00:21:57,600 Speaker 4: I mean it doesn't take much. Get some with the white, 403 00:21:57,640 --> 00:21:59,920 Speaker 4: little twinkly lights and put them around your bench, or 404 00:22:00,800 --> 00:22:03,520 Speaker 4: decorate the swing set or the clubhouse with fairy lights, 405 00:22:03,880 --> 00:22:06,399 Speaker 4: and that is a huge draw. Kids are going to 406 00:22:06,520 --> 00:22:08,440 Speaker 4: immediately want to go out there and spend more time 407 00:22:08,480 --> 00:22:12,439 Speaker 4: out there. And then if you've got other spaces that 408 00:22:12,480 --> 00:22:15,359 Speaker 4: are safe for your kids, think about things like the 409 00:22:15,440 --> 00:22:19,000 Speaker 4: glow in the dark sports things. So there's like glow 410 00:22:19,000 --> 00:22:21,040 Speaker 4: in the dark, Capture the Flag. There are glow in 411 00:22:21,080 --> 00:22:24,120 Speaker 4: the dark footballs and baseballs. There's glow in the dark 412 00:22:24,240 --> 00:22:28,720 Speaker 4: stomp rockets, glow in the dark basketballs, so all kinds 413 00:22:28,720 --> 00:22:31,800 Speaker 4: of glow in the dark stuff. They're so fun for kids. 414 00:22:32,160 --> 00:22:36,600 Speaker 4: And it's sometimes the novelty wears off after a little while, 415 00:22:36,640 --> 00:22:39,800 Speaker 4: but at least those first few months or two when 416 00:22:39,800 --> 00:22:42,240 Speaker 4: it's starting to get dark. They really like those things. 417 00:22:42,440 --> 00:22:42,880 Speaker 1: Awesome. 418 00:22:43,520 --> 00:22:45,760 Speaker 4: Give them a head lamp or a flashlight and go 419 00:22:45,880 --> 00:22:49,960 Speaker 4: for walks or try to find some outdoor spaces that 420 00:22:50,080 --> 00:22:54,159 Speaker 4: are well lit. We've got things some parks and playgrounds 421 00:22:54,160 --> 00:22:58,359 Speaker 4: that stay open later and they're well lit. We've got 422 00:22:59,119 --> 00:23:02,080 Speaker 4: tennis courts and basketball courts are usually lit up later, 423 00:23:02,760 --> 00:23:05,720 Speaker 4: outdoor skating ranks and things like that where you can 424 00:23:05,760 --> 00:23:08,680 Speaker 4: go and it's public places where you can be outside 425 00:23:08,800 --> 00:23:10,440 Speaker 4: and still be safe and well lit. 426 00:23:10,840 --> 00:23:11,320 Speaker 1: Amazing. 427 00:23:11,440 --> 00:23:12,960 Speaker 2: All right, Well, we're going to take one more quick 428 00:23:13,000 --> 00:23:14,800 Speaker 2: ad break and we will be back talking a little 429 00:23:14,840 --> 00:23:29,920 Speaker 2: bit more about getting kids outdoors. Well, I am back 430 00:23:29,960 --> 00:23:32,800 Speaker 2: with Sarah McCarty of Run Wild My Child. We've been 431 00:23:32,800 --> 00:23:35,480 Speaker 2: talking about ways to get outdoors even if it happens 432 00:23:35,480 --> 00:23:37,800 Speaker 2: to be dark, even if you need to bundle your 433 00:23:37,880 --> 00:23:43,200 Speaker 2: children up in various mittens and hats and all those things. So, Sarah, 434 00:23:43,359 --> 00:23:46,560 Speaker 2: we've been mentioning a lot of products that might help 435 00:23:46,760 --> 00:23:50,320 Speaker 2: make the outdoors as enticing as YouTube. But as we're 436 00:23:50,359 --> 00:23:53,040 Speaker 2: coming into the holidays, I wonder if there are some 437 00:23:53,320 --> 00:23:56,639 Speaker 2: go to outdoor related gifts that you think maybe we 438 00:23:56,680 --> 00:23:59,360 Speaker 2: should consider adding to the gift list. 439 00:23:59,400 --> 00:24:00,000 Speaker 1: For kids this year. 440 00:24:00,840 --> 00:24:03,160 Speaker 4: Oh, where do we even start? There's so many good 441 00:24:03,240 --> 00:24:05,760 Speaker 4: wines we actually have. Every year we put together a 442 00:24:05,840 --> 00:24:10,840 Speaker 4: huge gift guide that's geared specifically towards outdoor kids and 443 00:24:11,560 --> 00:24:15,160 Speaker 4: outdoor toys outdoor gear. So I would say a few 444 00:24:15,200 --> 00:24:18,720 Speaker 4: things to add to Christmas lists if you don't already 445 00:24:18,760 --> 00:24:21,840 Speaker 4: have one. A bike is a great, just a really 446 00:24:21,920 --> 00:24:25,200 Speaker 4: all around great gift. If you can find some things 447 00:24:25,200 --> 00:24:27,480 Speaker 4: to make your yard a little more enticing, make sure 448 00:24:27,520 --> 00:24:30,400 Speaker 4: to add those to your list. If your kids are 449 00:24:30,600 --> 00:24:35,480 Speaker 4: in need of gear, consider like wool layers, a new 450 00:24:35,480 --> 00:24:40,359 Speaker 4: pair of boots, any kind of headlamp or flashlight or something. 451 00:24:40,760 --> 00:24:46,399 Speaker 4: Kids love. Gear and gadgets, Toys, classic toys like I mentioned, 452 00:24:46,520 --> 00:24:51,520 Speaker 4: like a wagon or something a hammock, a backpack if 453 00:24:51,520 --> 00:24:54,119 Speaker 4: you hike so they can carry their own gear. There 454 00:24:54,160 --> 00:24:57,600 Speaker 4: are so many fun things that the kids can that 455 00:24:57,640 --> 00:24:59,760 Speaker 4: you can add your kids Christmas list that will help 456 00:24:59,760 --> 00:25:01,399 Speaker 4: them spend more time outside. 457 00:25:01,920 --> 00:25:04,800 Speaker 2: I love that you mentioned a hammock because outdoor time, 458 00:25:04,880 --> 00:25:07,000 Speaker 2: I mean it often is active time, especially if they're 459 00:25:07,040 --> 00:25:09,440 Speaker 2: little kids, because that's just what they do. They have 460 00:25:09,720 --> 00:25:13,280 Speaker 2: constant energy. But it doesn't have to be so if 461 00:25:13,320 --> 00:25:15,480 Speaker 2: you have a kid who is maybe more of a 462 00:25:15,560 --> 00:25:19,359 Speaker 2: like bookworm type, they can still get outside and read 463 00:25:19,400 --> 00:25:22,240 Speaker 2: on a hammock that would still count as outdoor time. 464 00:25:22,960 --> 00:25:25,399 Speaker 4: Oh yeah, absolutely. And there's a lot of things that 465 00:25:25,720 --> 00:25:29,199 Speaker 4: you could get for kids who aren't necessarily wanting to 466 00:25:29,240 --> 00:25:33,119 Speaker 4: be super active. Like I mentioned that the slack line. 467 00:25:33,280 --> 00:25:36,240 Speaker 4: I mean, it's active, but it's not like you're working 468 00:25:36,480 --> 00:25:39,800 Speaker 4: up a sweat on that. Things like fishing pools that 469 00:25:40,359 --> 00:25:42,760 Speaker 4: you don't have to be super active when you're fishing, 470 00:25:43,560 --> 00:25:47,520 Speaker 4: like a pocket knife you could have for an older child. 471 00:25:47,840 --> 00:25:50,439 Speaker 4: There are games and things you could do outside that 472 00:25:50,560 --> 00:25:55,679 Speaker 4: are you know, outdoor TikTok toe games and the clubhouse 473 00:25:55,720 --> 00:25:59,480 Speaker 4: that I mentioned, all good things for kids who may 474 00:25:59,480 --> 00:26:00,479 Speaker 4: not be as active. 475 00:26:01,359 --> 00:26:04,679 Speaker 2: And one other topic I wanted to bring up is 476 00:26:05,119 --> 00:26:08,359 Speaker 2: outdoorsy trips because of course, obviously if kids are in 477 00:26:08,400 --> 00:26:11,480 Speaker 2: school and activities, parents are working. One of the major 478 00:26:11,520 --> 00:26:16,480 Speaker 2: times that people do have together is vacations. So if 479 00:26:16,480 --> 00:26:22,080 Speaker 2: we're looking for sort of accessible, outdoorsy type vacations, one 480 00:26:22,119 --> 00:26:26,200 Speaker 2: could take what are some places that you would recommend 481 00:26:26,320 --> 00:26:27,000 Speaker 2: looking into. 482 00:26:27,760 --> 00:26:31,320 Speaker 4: Well, everyone's going to recommend national parks, and while I 483 00:26:31,359 --> 00:26:35,680 Speaker 4: think national parks are amazing, I wouldn't overlook your local 484 00:26:35,840 --> 00:26:39,600 Speaker 4: state parks. I think state parks are really underrated and 485 00:26:39,880 --> 00:26:46,560 Speaker 4: have some just absolutely amazing facilities and options for families 486 00:26:46,560 --> 00:26:49,960 Speaker 4: that don't want to spend quite so much traveling to 487 00:26:50,080 --> 00:26:52,760 Speaker 4: some of these kind of exotic locations. I mean, here 488 00:26:52,760 --> 00:26:54,639 Speaker 4: in Saint Louis, we don't really have a lot of 489 00:26:54,720 --> 00:26:58,879 Speaker 4: national parks or easy access, so we really rely heavily 490 00:26:59,000 --> 00:27:03,200 Speaker 4: on our state parks and they're sometimes just as spectacular. 491 00:27:04,119 --> 00:27:07,679 Speaker 4: Going camping at state park, I mean, is quite the 492 00:27:07,760 --> 00:27:11,000 Speaker 4: amazing experience for kids, And I would say if you 493 00:27:11,040 --> 00:27:14,960 Speaker 4: want to do any other types of traveling, really think 494 00:27:15,000 --> 00:27:18,880 Speaker 4: about your interests in your kids interests based on how 495 00:27:18,920 --> 00:27:21,440 Speaker 4: old your kids are. If they're little, then I would 496 00:27:21,480 --> 00:27:23,920 Speaker 4: pick things that are a little bit more focused towards 497 00:27:24,080 --> 00:27:26,000 Speaker 4: your interests or things that they can do. You know, 498 00:27:26,080 --> 00:27:29,240 Speaker 4: beach trips are great for little kids, but once your 499 00:27:29,320 --> 00:27:31,400 Speaker 4: kids get a little bit older, think about the things 500 00:27:31,400 --> 00:27:35,280 Speaker 4: that really excite them. If you've got kids into mountain biking, 501 00:27:35,720 --> 00:27:39,800 Speaker 4: consider going some players like Ventonville, Arkansas, that has absolutely 502 00:27:39,800 --> 00:27:43,359 Speaker 4: amazing mountain biking. If you've got a kid who really 503 00:27:43,359 --> 00:27:45,200 Speaker 4: wants to learn how to ski, then you may need 504 00:27:45,200 --> 00:27:48,200 Speaker 4: to travel a little further west, but you know, someplace 505 00:27:48,280 --> 00:27:51,920 Speaker 4: like Big Sky would be amazing to take kids skiing. 506 00:27:52,640 --> 00:27:56,679 Speaker 4: If you are looking for fishing, you could do saltwater fishing, 507 00:27:56,800 --> 00:27:59,680 Speaker 4: or you could go up north into Michigan or Minnesota. 508 00:27:59,720 --> 00:28:05,920 Speaker 4: And fishing is just absolutely a great outdoor sport for 509 00:28:06,040 --> 00:28:09,040 Speaker 4: kids and can be done in just a lot of 510 00:28:09,080 --> 00:28:12,480 Speaker 4: different various locations. But I would really consider what you 511 00:28:12,480 --> 00:28:16,680 Speaker 4: guys like doing together as a family and try to 512 00:28:16,720 --> 00:28:19,760 Speaker 4: find a place that will offer you some kind of 513 00:28:19,760 --> 00:28:23,200 Speaker 4: new and exciting things to do related to those interests. 514 00:28:23,440 --> 00:28:26,760 Speaker 2: Awesome, well, Sarah, this has been great. We always end 515 00:28:26,880 --> 00:28:29,440 Speaker 2: with a love of the week, so this is something 516 00:28:29,480 --> 00:28:32,680 Speaker 2: that is exciting for you this week. And I will 517 00:28:32,720 --> 00:28:35,359 Speaker 2: go ahead and throw out one that my listeners have 518 00:28:35,400 --> 00:28:37,040 Speaker 2: heard me talk about in the past, and we call 519 00:28:37,040 --> 00:28:40,040 Speaker 2: it toad time and our family and you know, it's 520 00:28:40,040 --> 00:28:42,200 Speaker 2: getting darker here in this part of the world, but 521 00:28:42,280 --> 00:28:46,760 Speaker 2: toad means time outside after dinner, and so I love 522 00:28:46,800 --> 00:28:51,440 Speaker 2: that there's a getting outside before dinner sort of seems obvious, 523 00:28:51,480 --> 00:28:54,600 Speaker 2: but time outside after dinner always feels like a little 524 00:28:54,600 --> 00:28:56,720 Speaker 2: bit of a bonus, a bit of a stolen time 525 00:28:56,800 --> 00:29:00,080 Speaker 2: into the evening. So the kids are definitely loving running 526 00:29:00,120 --> 00:29:02,680 Speaker 2: around in the yard before it gets dark, or maybe 527 00:29:02,720 --> 00:29:05,400 Speaker 2: it'll be after it gets dark pretty soon, but how 528 00:29:05,440 --> 00:29:06,840 Speaker 2: about you, Okay. 529 00:29:06,880 --> 00:29:09,760 Speaker 4: My favorite thing that I have right now is my 530 00:29:10,080 --> 00:29:12,440 Speaker 4: e bike, so I got last year. I got an 531 00:29:12,480 --> 00:29:16,960 Speaker 4: e bike. And I have never really been a biking person. 532 00:29:17,120 --> 00:29:18,640 Speaker 4: I don't know, and maybe because I grew up in 533 00:29:18,680 --> 00:29:20,479 Speaker 4: the country, we didn't really have like a lot of 534 00:29:21,160 --> 00:29:24,520 Speaker 4: access to bike trails or anything, so a biking was 535 00:29:24,560 --> 00:29:26,240 Speaker 4: just never really my thing. But now that I'm in 536 00:29:26,280 --> 00:29:29,040 Speaker 4: the suburbs, I kept thinking, like, that might be nice 537 00:29:29,040 --> 00:29:31,720 Speaker 4: to have a bike, but also an e bike would 538 00:29:31,720 --> 00:29:35,200 Speaker 4: yoube even better? And I finally I got one last year. 539 00:29:35,640 --> 00:29:38,960 Speaker 4: It's a Radio Flyer and it has this little seat 540 00:29:39,000 --> 00:29:40,920 Speaker 4: on the back so I can put two kids on 541 00:29:40,960 --> 00:29:43,360 Speaker 4: the back, and I have a basket up front so 542 00:29:43,840 --> 00:29:46,000 Speaker 4: I can go to the grocery store, I can go 543 00:29:46,040 --> 00:29:48,480 Speaker 4: to the library, I can do like I can pick 544 00:29:48,520 --> 00:29:53,160 Speaker 4: the kids up from school. I use this thing way 545 00:29:53,160 --> 00:29:55,880 Speaker 4: more than I ever thought I would, and it is 546 00:29:56,200 --> 00:29:59,200 Speaker 4: so much fun. I have a total blast riding it 547 00:29:59,280 --> 00:30:02,280 Speaker 4: around town. Kids love it. They put on their like 548 00:30:03,000 --> 00:30:05,360 Speaker 4: they have like this wu face that like every time 549 00:30:05,360 --> 00:30:08,760 Speaker 4: we get out of they're like, whooh, it's just it's 550 00:30:08,880 --> 00:30:11,480 Speaker 4: so much fun. I We're just absolutely loving it. 551 00:30:11,920 --> 00:30:14,760 Speaker 2: E bikes are pretty amazing. It's like the fun of 552 00:30:14,800 --> 00:30:16,960 Speaker 2: a bike, but also not as much of the work. 553 00:30:17,080 --> 00:30:19,480 Speaker 4: Sometimes it's fantastic. 554 00:30:19,720 --> 00:30:21,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, I don't have to pedal up that giant hill. 555 00:30:21,800 --> 00:30:23,560 Speaker 2: You go up it as if you were Superman. So 556 00:30:23,680 --> 00:30:26,040 Speaker 2: that's always fun. Well, Sarah, why don't you let our 557 00:30:26,040 --> 00:30:27,800 Speaker 2: listeners know where they can find you? 558 00:30:28,680 --> 00:30:32,680 Speaker 4: Yeah? So online, we're at runwildmchild dot com on Instagram 559 00:30:32,720 --> 00:30:35,920 Speaker 4: where at run wild dot my child And we have 560 00:30:36,160 --> 00:30:40,800 Speaker 4: a brand new printed hold It in your Hand magazine 561 00:30:41,000 --> 00:30:44,320 Speaker 4: that is coming out seasonally and it is filled with 562 00:30:45,120 --> 00:30:49,320 Speaker 4: adventure stories and misadventure stories, you know, adventures gone wrong, 563 00:30:50,320 --> 00:30:54,240 Speaker 4: seasonal activities. Every season has a theme and a challenge. 564 00:30:54,320 --> 00:30:56,400 Speaker 4: We have a kids section in there with chokes for 565 00:30:56,520 --> 00:31:02,200 Speaker 4: kids and nature like nature facts, and we have recipes 566 00:31:02,600 --> 00:31:05,240 Speaker 4: all kinds of amazing things. Just this is all for 567 00:31:05,320 --> 00:31:09,640 Speaker 4: outdoorsy moms and it is for everyone, and it's just 568 00:31:09,720 --> 00:31:13,880 Speaker 4: to help you feel supported in prioritizing outdoor time and 569 00:31:13,960 --> 00:31:17,280 Speaker 4: getting outside and it's there to hold your hand and 570 00:31:17,400 --> 00:31:21,000 Speaker 4: encourage you to make getting outside with your kids a 571 00:31:21,040 --> 00:31:26,280 Speaker 4: priority and not on a screen right right, which is amazing. 572 00:31:26,320 --> 00:31:29,640 Speaker 4: It really supports our cause we started it digitally and 573 00:31:30,240 --> 00:31:32,240 Speaker 4: after two or three issues we're like, we have to 574 00:31:32,280 --> 00:31:35,040 Speaker 4: get this printed. It's so nice to hold it in 575 00:31:35,080 --> 00:31:36,480 Speaker 4: your hands. 576 00:31:36,520 --> 00:31:38,840 Speaker 1: Awesome, all right, Sarah, Well, thank you so much for 577 00:31:38,920 --> 00:31:39,440 Speaker 1: joining us. 578 00:31:40,120 --> 00:31:41,000 Speaker 4: Thank you so much. 579 00:31:42,040 --> 00:31:42,920 Speaker 1: Well, that was great. 580 00:31:42,960 --> 00:31:46,600 Speaker 2: Lots of tips and gift ideas for the holidays. Hopefully 581 00:31:46,640 --> 00:31:49,360 Speaker 2: people were writing those down as they are making those 582 00:31:49,360 --> 00:31:51,240 Speaker 2: shopping lists for the next few months. 583 00:31:51,800 --> 00:31:54,040 Speaker 1: So Sarah, our question this week. 584 00:31:54,640 --> 00:31:57,720 Speaker 2: This listener writes in that I feel like every year 585 00:31:58,200 --> 00:32:02,320 Speaker 2: I order a Halloween costume and then my kid changes 586 00:32:02,360 --> 00:32:04,640 Speaker 2: as mind any tips or ideas. 587 00:32:04,760 --> 00:32:05,800 Speaker 1: Has this ever happened to you? 588 00:32:06,640 --> 00:32:08,600 Speaker 3: I think we have had it happen a couple of 589 00:32:08,720 --> 00:32:12,280 Speaker 3: years in the past. Halloween is not like my favorite, 590 00:32:12,320 --> 00:32:15,280 Speaker 3: but I guess maybe as such, we treat it fairly 591 00:32:15,560 --> 00:32:19,640 Speaker 3: low key. Usually there's one trip to Spirit Halloween or 592 00:32:20,080 --> 00:32:22,720 Speaker 3: like one Amazon order and just kind of get it 593 00:32:22,720 --> 00:32:25,920 Speaker 3: all done. And my two thoughts are I generally am 594 00:32:25,960 --> 00:32:28,240 Speaker 3: not interested in buying two costumes. Like, we have a 595 00:32:28,240 --> 00:32:30,440 Speaker 3: lot of random costumes around the house as it is 596 00:32:30,520 --> 00:32:32,920 Speaker 3: between the three kids, and that's something that tends to 597 00:32:32,960 --> 00:32:35,360 Speaker 3: not get thrown out, but get kept because you never 598 00:32:35,400 --> 00:32:37,600 Speaker 3: know when it could be a fun play activity. So 599 00:32:38,080 --> 00:32:40,640 Speaker 3: you get one purchase costume, and then if you would 600 00:32:40,720 --> 00:32:44,520 Speaker 3: like to pivot, then the house is your oyster, do 601 00:32:44,640 --> 00:32:47,120 Speaker 3: I wyatt, do whatever you want, but we're not going 602 00:32:47,200 --> 00:32:51,240 Speaker 3: to necessarily make another shopping trip. And the other thought 603 00:32:51,320 --> 00:32:54,440 Speaker 3: is that if you delay that purchase, there is less 604 00:32:54,440 --> 00:32:56,440 Speaker 3: time to pivot. So let them pivot in their head. 605 00:32:56,760 --> 00:32:59,400 Speaker 3: But then when you shop, you know, two days before Halloween, 606 00:32:59,520 --> 00:33:02,080 Speaker 3: then hey, that's probably going to be the costume you 607 00:33:02,200 --> 00:33:04,600 Speaker 3: end up with just a couple of days later. 608 00:33:04,680 --> 00:33:08,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, no, I it's we've sort of evolved on the 609 00:33:08,400 --> 00:33:11,560 Speaker 2: Halloween things. So my first few years of parenthood, I 610 00:33:11,600 --> 00:33:13,960 Speaker 2: would sort of forget that Halloween is coming up because 611 00:33:13,960 --> 00:33:15,600 Speaker 2: if the kids aren't talking about it, if you got 612 00:33:15,600 --> 00:33:18,440 Speaker 2: like toddlers, it's not like they have any concept that 613 00:33:18,480 --> 00:33:21,000 Speaker 2: there's a Halloween holiday coming. 614 00:33:20,840 --> 00:33:22,320 Speaker 1: Up, And so I'd forget. 615 00:33:22,320 --> 00:33:24,880 Speaker 2: And I remember I sent Jasper to daycare like not 616 00:33:25,000 --> 00:33:26,840 Speaker 2: in a costume when he was like I don't know, 617 00:33:26,880 --> 00:33:28,560 Speaker 2: I guess he would have been eighteen months and everybody 618 00:33:28,600 --> 00:33:30,479 Speaker 2: else was in costume or something, and it was just 619 00:33:30,640 --> 00:33:32,040 Speaker 2: I was like, Okay, next year, I'll put it on 620 00:33:32,040 --> 00:33:34,480 Speaker 2: the calendar, like October five. We're going to think about 621 00:33:34,520 --> 00:33:37,120 Speaker 2: it and order the costumes. And the upside of October 622 00:33:37,120 --> 00:33:40,080 Speaker 2: five is you can order long lead time stuff. 623 00:33:40,360 --> 00:33:42,080 Speaker 1: You know, you don't have to order from Amazon. You 624 00:33:42,120 --> 00:33:43,360 Speaker 1: could order from other places. 625 00:33:44,000 --> 00:33:47,480 Speaker 2: But as the kids have gotten older, the problem of 626 00:33:47,600 --> 00:33:49,840 Speaker 2: ordering at the beginning of October is, yes, you know, 627 00:33:49,880 --> 00:33:51,960 Speaker 2: people change their minds where they find out their friends 628 00:33:52,000 --> 00:33:54,520 Speaker 2: are going as something else or whatever. You know, So 629 00:33:55,760 --> 00:33:57,800 Speaker 2: we've sort of made our piece that it probably is 630 00:33:57,840 --> 00:34:00,360 Speaker 2: going to be an Amazon order. Now, Amazon does out 631 00:34:00,360 --> 00:34:05,640 Speaker 2: of stuff, so probably around October ten to twenty it 632 00:34:05,720 --> 00:34:08,560 Speaker 2: was the right range for setting a date where you're like, okay, 633 00:34:08,600 --> 00:34:10,600 Speaker 2: this is where we lock it in. I will order 634 00:34:10,680 --> 00:34:13,600 Speaker 2: you something if you have decided on it at this point. 635 00:34:14,560 --> 00:34:16,520 Speaker 2: But past that, I mean you can always, yeah, make 636 00:34:16,560 --> 00:34:18,360 Speaker 2: a run to Spirit Halloween. They might be out of 637 00:34:18,360 --> 00:34:21,040 Speaker 2: your kid's size, but I guess that's the way it is. 638 00:34:21,080 --> 00:34:23,560 Speaker 1: You can all have something. They'll have so much stuff. 639 00:34:23,760 --> 00:34:26,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, so maybe they'll change their minds of what exactly 640 00:34:26,800 --> 00:34:28,839 Speaker 2: they want to be. But I guess pick and eight 641 00:34:29,520 --> 00:34:34,040 Speaker 2: stick with it one costume. Past that, the kid can 642 00:34:34,080 --> 00:34:36,799 Speaker 2: be creative as they wish and figure out how to 643 00:34:36,840 --> 00:34:41,879 Speaker 2: make their own eminem costume or whatever. 644 00:34:41,640 --> 00:34:43,759 Speaker 1: It is you said, eminem i. The wrapper is a 645 00:34:45,440 --> 00:34:50,319 Speaker 1: Mathers too if you'd like, But that's what you may 646 00:34:50,320 --> 00:34:54,839 Speaker 1: also be a green eminem many many, many options. All right, well, 647 00:34:54,840 --> 00:34:56,560 Speaker 1: this has been best of both worlds. 648 00:34:56,560 --> 00:34:59,279 Speaker 2: We've been talking how to get outside with kids with 649 00:34:59,320 --> 00:35:02,600 Speaker 2: Sarah McCarty of Run Wild My Child. We will be 650 00:35:02,640 --> 00:35:05,040 Speaker 2: back next week with more on making work and life 651 00:35:05,120 --> 00:35:05,680 Speaker 2: fit together. 652 00:35:07,719 --> 00:35:08,560 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening. 653 00:35:08,800 --> 00:35:11,880 Speaker 3: You can find me Sarah at the shoebox dot com 654 00:35:12,000 --> 00:35:15,680 Speaker 3: or at the Underscore Shoebox on Instagram, and you. 655 00:35:15,640 --> 00:35:19,879 Speaker 2: Can find me Laura at Laura vandercam dot com. This 656 00:35:19,920 --> 00:35:23,200 Speaker 2: has been the best of both worlds podcasts. Please join 657 00:35:23,280 --> 00:35:26,000 Speaker 2: us next time for more on making work and life 658 00:35:26,120 --> 00:35:26,840 Speaker 2: work together.