1 00:00:03,440 --> 00:00:07,080 Speaker 1: It's the Happy Families podcast. It's the podcast for the 2 00:00:07,160 --> 00:00:11,559 Speaker 1: time poor parent who just wants answers. Now. Today's podcast 3 00:00:11,640 --> 00:00:13,360 Speaker 1: is all about how we can help our kids have 4 00:00:13,400 --> 00:00:16,319 Speaker 1: a great summer. Brand new research. Well, it's not so 5 00:00:16,400 --> 00:00:19,600 Speaker 1: much research as a commentary by the world's foremost expert 6 00:00:19,680 --> 00:00:22,079 Speaker 1: on play. His name is Peter Gray. He's a university 7 00:00:22,440 --> 00:00:26,280 Speaker 1: in Massachusetts in the United States. Well, he and some 8 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:30,760 Speaker 1: colleagues have written a fantastic article based in the theory 9 00:00:30,920 --> 00:00:33,680 Speaker 1: that forms the foundation of my book with the Parenting Revolution. 10 00:00:33,760 --> 00:00:35,560 Speaker 1: Maybe this is why I like the article so much. 11 00:00:36,120 --> 00:00:37,839 Speaker 1: Maybe this is why do you want your kids to 12 00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:40,800 Speaker 1: have a great summer? That's really the question that this 13 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:45,279 Speaker 1: podcast answer well answers in the affirmative yes, and here's how. So, 14 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:47,760 Speaker 1: here's what Peter Gray had to say in his article, 15 00:00:47,840 --> 00:00:49,639 Speaker 1: and here's what we're going to do about it as 16 00:00:49,680 --> 00:00:54,200 Speaker 1: we move into our summer break. Across Australia. Peter Gray's 17 00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:56,640 Speaker 1: article highlights that while everyone's making a big deal about 18 00:00:56,640 --> 00:00:58,440 Speaker 1: the mental health crisis and the fact that mental health 19 00:00:58,480 --> 00:01:01,280 Speaker 1: problems have increased dramatically in last ten to fifteen years, 20 00:01:01,480 --> 00:01:03,880 Speaker 1: the reality is, well, there has been an escalation this 21 00:01:04,160 --> 00:01:08,440 Speaker 1: escalation has been happening for several decades now, since around 22 00:01:08,440 --> 00:01:11,280 Speaker 1: about the nineteen seventies. It's just that it's picked up 23 00:01:11,360 --> 00:01:14,920 Speaker 1: speed in the last decade. In fact, what he highlights 24 00:01:15,040 --> 00:01:17,920 Speaker 1: is that four things are all occurring on once. Number one, 25 00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:23,039 Speaker 1: there is a massive decline measurable and objective decline in 26 00:01:23,160 --> 00:01:27,880 Speaker 1: opportunities for independent activity for our kids. So that's the 27 00:01:27,959 --> 00:01:29,920 Speaker 1: first thing. The second thing he says is there's been 28 00:01:29,959 --> 00:01:36,360 Speaker 1: a corresponding, correlated decline in mental health. Then he says 29 00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:41,280 Speaker 1: research shows that independent activity is associated with increases in happiness. 30 00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:44,760 Speaker 1: And he says, fourthly, independent activity is also associated with 31 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:49,480 Speaker 1: long term psychological resilience. So that's the foundation for what 32 00:01:49,480 --> 00:01:52,080 Speaker 1: we're going to be talking about today. It comes from 33 00:01:52,160 --> 00:01:54,160 Speaker 1: an article that we will link to. We'll link to 34 00:01:54,160 --> 00:01:56,160 Speaker 1: the first page, and then you can research it from 35 00:01:56,160 --> 00:01:58,840 Speaker 1: there if you're interested in more of it. These four things, 36 00:01:58,960 --> 00:02:02,000 Speaker 1: really it all comes to to independent activity, Kylie, at 37 00:02:02,040 --> 00:02:04,480 Speaker 1: the very core of it. That's what we're talking about 38 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:05,920 Speaker 1: today because I think that if you can help your 39 00:02:05,960 --> 00:02:08,320 Speaker 1: kids to have more independent activity this summer, they're going 40 00:02:08,360 --> 00:02:10,200 Speaker 1: to have the best summer ever and be more resilient 41 00:02:10,320 --> 00:02:10,679 Speaker 1: for it. 42 00:02:11,120 --> 00:02:14,080 Speaker 2: When I think about my schooling experience back in the 43 00:02:14,120 --> 00:02:18,480 Speaker 2: eighties to the experience our kids are having. It's actually 44 00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:21,920 Speaker 2: like opposite ends of the spectrum. 45 00:02:22,280 --> 00:02:23,680 Speaker 1: I was about to say something, but I don't want 46 00:02:23,680 --> 00:02:25,720 Speaker 1: to sound like my dad. I'm going to say it anyway. 47 00:02:26,080 --> 00:02:27,920 Speaker 1: Chalk and cheese, really. 48 00:02:27,639 --> 00:02:30,720 Speaker 2: Chalk and cheese. I grew up in New Zealand, and 49 00:02:30,760 --> 00:02:33,920 Speaker 2: my primary years we're in New Zealand, we had a 50 00:02:33,919 --> 00:02:36,200 Speaker 2: swimming pool at the school. I was just at a 51 00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:38,000 Speaker 2: public school, but we had a swimming pool and we 52 00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:41,680 Speaker 2: had lessons as part of our curriculum, and during the 53 00:02:41,720 --> 00:02:46,320 Speaker 2: summer months the pool was open during much treak. There 54 00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:50,600 Speaker 2: was one teacher for however, many kids filled that pool. Now, 55 00:02:50,639 --> 00:02:53,600 Speaker 2: granted there was no deep end. The deep end was 56 00:02:53,680 --> 00:02:56,960 Speaker 2: still very shallow, and you could pretty much do a 57 00:02:56,960 --> 00:03:00,359 Speaker 2: whirlpool walking the entire way around to the pool, but 58 00:03:00,480 --> 00:03:03,840 Speaker 2: there was one teacher for I reckon at any given time, 59 00:03:03,880 --> 00:03:06,560 Speaker 2: there would have been over a hundred kids in that pool. 60 00:03:08,480 --> 00:03:12,480 Speaker 2: That was my lunch break. If I wasn't swimming, I 61 00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:17,080 Speaker 2: was climbing trees that were easily two and three stories high. 62 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:20,280 Speaker 2: There was an embankment at the back of our school 63 00:03:20,560 --> 00:03:25,720 Speaker 2: that was almost vertical lots of like grass tuffs through it, 64 00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:28,040 Speaker 2: and you would have to like grab the tufts to 65 00:03:28,120 --> 00:03:31,679 Speaker 2: climb out of the embankment. But we would roll down 66 00:03:31,720 --> 00:03:33,679 Speaker 2: that embankment all the way to the bottom to get 67 00:03:33,720 --> 00:03:36,640 Speaker 2: to this big pine tree. And then we would spend 68 00:03:36,720 --> 00:03:40,000 Speaker 2: our lunch breaks climbing up and creating bedrooms within each 69 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:40,720 Speaker 2: of the branches. 70 00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:42,000 Speaker 1: The magic fire Away tree. 71 00:03:42,040 --> 00:03:44,960 Speaker 2: It was, and it was amazing. And then if we 72 00:03:44,960 --> 00:03:49,040 Speaker 2: weren't doing that, we had a playground on stilts. I 73 00:03:49,040 --> 00:03:52,680 Speaker 2: don't think I've ever seen one ever since, but it 74 00:03:52,760 --> 00:03:55,640 Speaker 2: was a massive platform and the stilts were higher than 75 00:03:55,680 --> 00:03:58,160 Speaker 2: us because we could run under those without having to duck. 76 00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:00,800 Speaker 2: It was like going to the beach, got the peers, 77 00:04:01,280 --> 00:04:03,160 Speaker 2: and you could kind of run through all of the peers. 78 00:04:04,280 --> 00:04:08,400 Speaker 2: And we used to play catching kids. Maybe used to 79 00:04:08,440 --> 00:04:11,880 Speaker 2: play catching kids underneath there, wow, and hide behind all 80 00:04:11,880 --> 00:04:14,560 Speaker 2: the pylons. Just had so much fun. But I was 81 00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:17,080 Speaker 2: thinking about that from the point of view that the 82 00:04:17,200 --> 00:04:20,880 Speaker 2: platform where the actual climbing equipment was was higher than 83 00:04:21,440 --> 00:04:25,560 Speaker 2: me as a kid. There was no fence on that 84 00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:28,760 Speaker 2: at all, and we could jump off that onto the grass, 85 00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:31,760 Speaker 2: which obviously happened all the time. We had monkey bars 86 00:04:31,760 --> 00:04:35,480 Speaker 2: for goodness sakes, and monkey bars that were really tall, 87 00:04:35,960 --> 00:04:39,039 Speaker 2: like majorly tall. We had tennis courts, and we actually 88 00:04:39,040 --> 00:04:40,880 Speaker 2: had a teacher who broke his ankle because he tried 89 00:04:40,920 --> 00:04:44,840 Speaker 2: to jump over the nets and got lots and lots 90 00:04:44,839 --> 00:04:45,240 Speaker 2: of trouble. 91 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:47,520 Speaker 1: But I bet they didn't close the tennis court. 92 00:04:47,720 --> 00:04:50,359 Speaker 2: No, those tennis courts were open all the time. 93 00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:52,480 Speaker 1: So I guess this is kind of the point. Pitt 94 00:04:52,520 --> 00:04:54,720 Speaker 1: Gray and his colleagues in this article have said that 95 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:57,800 Speaker 1: there's been a decline in opportunities for independent activity. I'm 96 00:04:57,800 --> 00:04:59,800 Speaker 1: listening to what you're saying. You're saying it like you're 97 00:04:59,839 --> 00:05:03,080 Speaker 1: in redulous because in twenty twenty three, twenty twenty four, 98 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:05,440 Speaker 1: how much does that sort of stuff happen. 99 00:05:05,600 --> 00:05:07,840 Speaker 2: Well, we had a conversation with your niece just recently. 100 00:05:07,920 --> 00:05:09,159 Speaker 2: She's about to go into high. 101 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:12,880 Speaker 1: School, and she why, yes, I remember. 102 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:14,040 Speaker 2: This a new school for half the day. 103 00:05:14,440 --> 00:05:16,440 Speaker 1: I think that we I want to go further. You 104 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:18,000 Speaker 1: are going to be much more polite than me, But 105 00:05:18,040 --> 00:05:21,080 Speaker 1: I'm going to say so. She lives in northern New 106 00:05:21,120 --> 00:05:22,840 Speaker 1: South Wales. I won't say the school, but she just 107 00:05:22,880 --> 00:05:24,960 Speaker 1: goes to a public school in northern New South Wales, 108 00:05:25,520 --> 00:05:31,080 Speaker 1: and I can't believe the restrictions that the particular school 109 00:05:31,120 --> 00:05:33,279 Speaker 1: staff in this school place on these kids. 110 00:05:33,279 --> 00:05:35,359 Speaker 2: So they're not allowed to play dodgeball. They have to 111 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:36,640 Speaker 2: play silent. 112 00:05:36,320 --> 00:05:38,440 Speaker 1: Ball, so they're allowed to throw the ball at each other, 113 00:05:38,760 --> 00:05:40,360 Speaker 1: but they're not allowed to make noise. It has to 114 00:05:40,400 --> 00:05:41,039 Speaker 1: be silent ball. 115 00:05:41,720 --> 00:05:45,200 Speaker 2: When it comes to awards ceremonies, we're clapping with two 116 00:05:45,240 --> 00:05:49,080 Speaker 2: fingers so there's no noise, and we're not allowed to 117 00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:53,560 Speaker 2: get too excited or show big emotion as we celebrate 118 00:05:53,640 --> 00:05:56,000 Speaker 2: our friends. But do you know what the thing that 119 00:05:56,040 --> 00:05:59,040 Speaker 2: stood out to her at the new school was. It 120 00:05:59,120 --> 00:06:02,240 Speaker 2: was that she could run and do a handstand. 121 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:04,400 Speaker 1: Well, she was excited about that. 122 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:06,440 Speaker 2: That should just be par for the course for a 123 00:06:06,520 --> 00:06:10,160 Speaker 2: kid to be allowed to move their body in those 124 00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:12,680 Speaker 2: ways without any restriction whatsoever. 125 00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:16,119 Speaker 1: So she's leaving the primary school moving into a private 126 00:06:16,120 --> 00:06:18,039 Speaker 1: school where she's actually allowed to do a whole lot more. 127 00:06:18,440 --> 00:06:22,440 Speaker 2: It's amazing that these things are even considerations in today's 128 00:06:22,680 --> 00:06:25,400 Speaker 2: with all of the knowledge and research that we have 129 00:06:25,800 --> 00:06:28,640 Speaker 2: about how important moving our bodies is for our kids 130 00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:33,159 Speaker 2: and the major decline that we're experiencing and mental health. 131 00:06:33,880 --> 00:06:35,040 Speaker 2: This is just a no brainer. 132 00:06:38,160 --> 00:06:39,760 Speaker 1: Well, we need to talk about solutions, but there's a 133 00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:41,240 Speaker 1: couple of things that you haven't mentioned that I think 134 00:06:41,279 --> 00:06:43,599 Speaker 1: are worth just raising. I don't want to make it 135 00:06:43,640 --> 00:06:45,320 Speaker 1: sound like we're pushing to go back to the bad 136 00:06:45,320 --> 00:06:47,400 Speaker 1: old days, because there's plenty of things that were happening 137 00:06:47,440 --> 00:06:49,400 Speaker 1: back in those days that weren't great either. But the 138 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:51,080 Speaker 1: one thing that was happening that was great is that 139 00:06:51,160 --> 00:06:53,120 Speaker 1: kids were allowed to have independent activity. 140 00:06:53,680 --> 00:06:56,040 Speaker 2: I think there's probably a lot more bones broken back 141 00:06:56,080 --> 00:06:57,760 Speaker 2: then as well, but we didn't. 142 00:06:57,800 --> 00:06:58,800 Speaker 1: I don't think that's a problem. 143 00:06:59,160 --> 00:07:01,400 Speaker 2: I was about to say, didn't. It wasn't a big deal. 144 00:07:01,920 --> 00:07:04,560 Speaker 2: Just a kid broke a broone and you've got a 145 00:07:04,600 --> 00:07:05,880 Speaker 2: cast and you've got on with. 146 00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:06,719 Speaker 1: Life six weeks. 147 00:07:07,440 --> 00:07:10,760 Speaker 2: Schools are so scared because parents are wanting to take 148 00:07:10,760 --> 00:07:14,000 Speaker 2: them to court because of malpractice and you know, lack 149 00:07:14,040 --> 00:07:16,720 Speaker 2: of supervision and all those things, and it's just crazy. 150 00:07:16,800 --> 00:07:17,800 Speaker 2: Kids are going to be kids. 151 00:07:17,920 --> 00:07:19,880 Speaker 1: When I was about seven or eight years old, I 152 00:07:19,920 --> 00:07:21,880 Speaker 1: was a cub scout and we used to go knocking 153 00:07:21,880 --> 00:07:23,600 Speaker 1: on doors and do bobb a job. And when I 154 00:07:23,640 --> 00:07:25,760 Speaker 1: say we, I mean I like my parents would say 155 00:07:25,760 --> 00:07:27,080 Speaker 1: all right, go and there some money and so I'd 156 00:07:27,080 --> 00:07:30,160 Speaker 1: get twenty cents for sweeping someone's deck, or for I 157 00:07:30,200 --> 00:07:32,880 Speaker 1: don't know, maybe two dollars for washing someone's car. And 158 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:35,000 Speaker 1: we used to do all these fundraisers and earn money 159 00:07:35,040 --> 00:07:36,480 Speaker 1: so that we would go on Scout camps and things. 160 00:07:36,520 --> 00:07:38,600 Speaker 1: I was literally doing it on my own at that age. 161 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:40,800 Speaker 1: I was walking home from school, walking to and from 162 00:07:40,880 --> 00:07:44,280 Speaker 1: school solo from about the age of six or seven, 163 00:07:44,680 --> 00:07:48,320 Speaker 1: no problem at all. You just you would honestly have 164 00:07:48,320 --> 00:07:49,800 Speaker 1: people looking at you like, what sort of a parent 165 00:07:49,840 --> 00:07:51,160 Speaker 1: are you? I feel like your kids do that today 166 00:07:51,200 --> 00:07:52,960 Speaker 1: and it's wrong. We should be allowed to do this 167 00:07:53,040 --> 00:07:57,400 Speaker 1: sort of stuff, paper routes, dropping pamphlets into a letter boxes. 168 00:07:57,880 --> 00:08:02,160 Speaker 1: The degree of risk was so much. As a kid 169 00:08:02,200 --> 00:08:03,680 Speaker 1: who was like eight or nine years old, I would 170 00:08:03,680 --> 00:08:05,280 Speaker 1: get home from school. I was a latch key kid, 171 00:08:05,480 --> 00:08:07,000 Speaker 1: and I'd just jump on my bike and meet my 172 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:09,000 Speaker 1: best mate, Andy Lucas, and we'd go down to the 173 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:13,440 Speaker 1: park and we would literally ride around for hours after school, 174 00:08:13,760 --> 00:08:16,160 Speaker 1: just so long as we got home before my mom. 175 00:08:16,240 --> 00:08:18,040 Speaker 1: That was pretty much all we had to do. 176 00:08:18,200 --> 00:08:20,360 Speaker 2: So I had a handful of kids who lived in 177 00:08:20,360 --> 00:08:23,080 Speaker 2: the next street, so on a good day, I could 178 00:08:23,120 --> 00:08:25,000 Speaker 2: actually just walk to the back of my property and 179 00:08:25,040 --> 00:08:28,200 Speaker 2: pretty much slide down the embankment to my friend's house. 180 00:08:28,840 --> 00:08:30,520 Speaker 2: But on a bad day when it had been raining 181 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:33,280 Speaker 2: lots in New Zealand it raining lots, it was too 182 00:08:33,280 --> 00:08:35,400 Speaker 2: slippery and it was actually quite dangerous, so I would 183 00:08:35,440 --> 00:08:38,160 Speaker 2: have to go the roadway down. But there was four 184 00:08:38,240 --> 00:08:40,680 Speaker 2: or five houses and I'd say goodbye to my mum 185 00:08:40,800 --> 00:08:42,840 Speaker 2: and I'd go down and she wouldn't have a clue 186 00:08:42,880 --> 00:08:45,240 Speaker 2: whose house I was at until it was time to 187 00:08:45,240 --> 00:08:45,640 Speaker 2: go home. 188 00:08:45,800 --> 00:08:48,719 Speaker 1: Yeah, and I don't think that's negligent parent parenting. It's 189 00:08:48,760 --> 00:08:52,120 Speaker 1: just it's allowing the kids the opportunity to have some independence. 190 00:08:52,160 --> 00:08:53,760 Speaker 1: These days, we're tracking our kids and all that sort 191 00:08:53,760 --> 00:08:55,520 Speaker 1: of thing. I mean, I know, there's kind of a 192 00:08:55,520 --> 00:08:58,000 Speaker 1: trip down memory lane. And some people might disagree really 193 00:08:58,040 --> 00:09:01,320 Speaker 1: strongly here. And of course there is risk. Of course 194 00:09:01,360 --> 00:09:04,400 Speaker 1: there is risk. But when we ask ourselves about what 195 00:09:04,440 --> 00:09:07,280 Speaker 1: would you do if something happened, If you asked that 196 00:09:07,360 --> 00:09:10,080 Speaker 1: question about everything, you would never do anything. You would 197 00:09:10,080 --> 00:09:12,160 Speaker 1: literally never do anything. What we need to do is 198 00:09:12,240 --> 00:09:14,360 Speaker 1: teach our kids how to make safe, healthy decisions and 199 00:09:14,440 --> 00:09:16,880 Speaker 1: let them go and play and explore. I mean, I 200 00:09:16,920 --> 00:09:18,600 Speaker 1: was catching the bus to the beach sort of eight 201 00:09:18,679 --> 00:09:20,679 Speaker 1: ten k's of the beach from about the age of 202 00:09:20,760 --> 00:09:22,680 Speaker 1: twelve or thirteen, so I could go serving with my 203 00:09:22,720 --> 00:09:26,160 Speaker 1: maids and it was some of the best memories of 204 00:09:26,160 --> 00:09:29,439 Speaker 1: my life, jumping over rocks and getting in trouble. Well anyway, 205 00:09:29,480 --> 00:09:30,920 Speaker 1: we won't talk about how I got in trouble, but 206 00:09:31,400 --> 00:09:33,959 Speaker 1: it was just so so great, this. 207 00:09:33,960 --> 00:09:36,360 Speaker 2: Idea of pre arming our kids. We had a family 208 00:09:36,360 --> 00:09:39,440 Speaker 2: get together a few weekends ago, and this is family, 209 00:09:39,640 --> 00:09:41,679 Speaker 2: but I still had the conversation with our nine year 210 00:09:41,720 --> 00:09:45,960 Speaker 2: old about not going into other people's bedrooms. And she 211 00:09:46,040 --> 00:09:47,720 Speaker 2: looked at me and kind of was like, but I'm 212 00:09:47,720 --> 00:09:49,800 Speaker 2: playing with my cousins. I said, as long as you're 213 00:09:49,840 --> 00:09:53,040 Speaker 2: with your cousins, you're able to go into bedrooms. But 214 00:09:53,080 --> 00:09:54,920 Speaker 2: I don't want you ever going into a bedroom with 215 00:09:54,960 --> 00:09:57,560 Speaker 2: just an adult on your own, unless it's mummy and daddy. 216 00:09:58,040 --> 00:09:59,520 Speaker 2: And she can't looked at me and she said, oh, no, 217 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:02,920 Speaker 2: that's fine. I'm always with my cousins. But I just 218 00:10:03,040 --> 00:10:05,360 Speaker 2: I wanted to have that conversation with her because it's 219 00:10:05,440 --> 00:10:08,040 Speaker 2: just it's setting up a precedent and just acknowledging to 220 00:10:08,080 --> 00:10:10,360 Speaker 2: her that this is something we're doing to safeguard you. 221 00:10:10,840 --> 00:10:13,560 Speaker 1: So we want kids to be safe, but we also 222 00:10:13,559 --> 00:10:15,960 Speaker 1: want them to get out there, whether it was walking 223 00:10:15,960 --> 00:10:17,920 Speaker 1: to school or maybe babysitting from about the age of 224 00:10:17,920 --> 00:10:23,320 Speaker 1: eleven or twelve, or it's about risk and risk assessment. 225 00:10:23,360 --> 00:10:25,600 Speaker 1: If kids can't learn how to assess risks when they're little, 226 00:10:25,600 --> 00:10:27,120 Speaker 1: theyre going to struggle with the big risks as they 227 00:10:27,120 --> 00:10:29,120 Speaker 1: get older. I think that's a reasonable thing to assume. 228 00:10:29,559 --> 00:10:33,320 Speaker 1: So for this summer, our tips are really really simple. 229 00:10:33,920 --> 00:10:37,920 Speaker 1: Give your kids as much age appropriate opportunity for independent 230 00:10:37,960 --> 00:10:40,800 Speaker 1: activity as you can. Help them to build relationships that 231 00:10:40,840 --> 00:10:43,120 Speaker 1: are trusting. Let them get out of the neighborhood, go 232 00:10:43,160 --> 00:10:45,680 Speaker 1: down to the park, spend time at the beach, let 233 00:10:45,720 --> 00:10:49,120 Speaker 1: them have fun. Check in in whatever ways you need 234 00:10:49,240 --> 00:10:51,960 Speaker 1: to so that your anxiety levels don't go through the roof, 235 00:10:52,280 --> 00:10:55,080 Speaker 1: but try to do it in a really relaxed, not 236 00:10:55,200 --> 00:10:58,199 Speaker 1: over the top, helicopter kind of way. Let them feel 237 00:10:58,240 --> 00:11:01,480 Speaker 1: confident and capable the sense of autonomy. I know with 238 00:11:01,520 --> 00:11:04,280 Speaker 1: our kids they love getting on the bike, and a 239 00:11:04,320 --> 00:11:05,800 Speaker 1: couple of weeks ago, one of our kids rode for 240 00:11:05,840 --> 00:11:09,360 Speaker 1: about rode fifteen twenty k's from home. She's thirteen years 241 00:11:09,400 --> 00:11:12,560 Speaker 1: old and she went a long way from home, and 242 00:11:12,600 --> 00:11:15,000 Speaker 1: when she got back, we weren't cranky at it. We 243 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:17,960 Speaker 1: were stoked for it. We're like, that is so awesome, 244 00:11:18,559 --> 00:11:22,640 Speaker 1: We're so thrilled for you. And the sense of accomplishment 245 00:11:22,679 --> 00:11:26,360 Speaker 1: that she felt for doing it was just great. If 246 00:11:26,440 --> 00:11:28,240 Speaker 1: you want to have healthy kids, they need to be playing, 247 00:11:28,320 --> 00:11:30,040 Speaker 1: They need to be taking risks, they need to be 248 00:11:30,080 --> 00:11:34,760 Speaker 1: involved in independent play. I think we've gone down the 249 00:11:34,760 --> 00:11:37,480 Speaker 1: annals of history enough. I think that we've shared our 250 00:11:37,520 --> 00:11:40,760 Speaker 1: experiences to highlight that you can you can live that 251 00:11:40,800 --> 00:11:43,640 Speaker 1: kind of life and be well balanced. Our encouragement for 252 00:11:43,679 --> 00:11:46,520 Speaker 1: this summer is to let the kids have those same 253 00:11:46,800 --> 00:11:48,160 Speaker 1: awesome experiences. 254 00:11:49,160 --> 00:11:51,560 Speaker 2: As nice as it is to know that your kids 255 00:11:51,559 --> 00:11:55,160 Speaker 2: are in the safety of your laundry staring at a screen. 256 00:11:55,600 --> 00:11:57,559 Speaker 1: That's not nice, really, but I know what you mean. 257 00:11:58,080 --> 00:12:00,480 Speaker 2: There is something comforting about knowing that you're kids are 258 00:12:00,559 --> 00:12:02,880 Speaker 2: right there, you know where they are, you know who 259 00:12:03,000 --> 00:12:04,560 Speaker 2: they're with, and you know what they're doing. 260 00:12:04,720 --> 00:12:05,560 Speaker 1: Yeah. 261 00:12:05,600 --> 00:12:09,160 Speaker 2: It's such a second best to the opportunities that are 262 00:12:09,200 --> 00:12:12,400 Speaker 2: available to them at any given moment. And the more 263 00:12:12,440 --> 00:12:15,720 Speaker 2: we can encourage them to get outside and to actually 264 00:12:16,040 --> 00:12:19,000 Speaker 2: start to explore where their boundaries are and what they're 265 00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:21,800 Speaker 2: capable of and not capable of. I think they happier. 266 00:12:21,800 --> 00:12:24,000 Speaker 2: Our kids are going to be this summer. They really 267 00:12:24,040 --> 00:12:28,840 Speaker 2: are Getting outside is just it's a lifeline. 268 00:12:29,280 --> 00:12:32,160 Speaker 1: I feel like I had a pretty idyllic childhood, and 269 00:12:32,200 --> 00:12:34,560 Speaker 1: I think it was primarily because I was never at home. 270 00:12:35,160 --> 00:12:37,360 Speaker 1: My parents weren't telling you what to do, and I 271 00:12:37,400 --> 00:12:38,640 Speaker 1: didn't have a screen in my hands. 272 00:12:39,120 --> 00:12:41,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think screens have got a lot to answer for. 273 00:12:41,679 --> 00:12:44,040 Speaker 1: The Happy Families podcast is produced by Justin Rowland from 274 00:12:44,080 --> 00:12:46,640 Speaker 1: Bridge Media. Craig Bruce is our executive producer. For more 275 00:12:46,679 --> 00:12:48,400 Speaker 1: and fo about making your family happy, We'd love for 276 00:12:48,400 --> 00:12:50,600 Speaker 1: you to visit us at Happy Families dot com dot 277 00:12:50,640 --> 00:12:52,640 Speaker 1: au and check out the resources there.