Take a Child Outside Week

Take a Child Outside Week

"Play, Incorporating Animistic and Magical Thinking Is Important Because It:

Fosters the healthy, creative and emotional growth of a child;

Forms the best foundation for later intellectual growth.  Provides a way in which children get to know the world and creates possibilities for different ways of responding to it.

Fosters empathy and wonder."  "By suggestion and example, I believe children can be helped to hear the many voices about them.  Take Time to listen and talk about the voices of the earth and what they mean—the majestic voice of thunder, the winds, the sound of surf or flowing streams."

                  -Rachel Carson, "A Sense of Wonder"

http://www.takeachildoutside.org

Take a Child Outside Week is a program designed to help break down obstacle that keep children from discovering the natural world.  By arming parents, teachers and other caregivers with resources on outdoor activities, our goal is to help children develop a better understanding and appreciation of the environment in which they live, and a burgeoning enthusiasm for it exploration.

For more information and to find events near you visit,  http://www.takeachildoutside.org/

Get Going NC Article with Resource

Wake County Events

NC State Parks

The Great Outdoor Provision Company has provided a geographic breakdown of events throughout the state. They have 82 events total for this week.

Events in Eastern NC

Events in the Charlotte Region

Events in the Triangle Area

                            Events in the Triad Area

Don't forget that this Saturday September 28 is National Public Lands Day
http://www.publiclandsday.org/

• http://publiclandsday.org/npld-sites/search?state=North+Carolina

Is your Child's Backpack to Heavy?

Photo Courtesy of http://www.carolinaparent.com/articlemain.php?Is-Your-Child-s-Backpack-Causing-Injury-3874, 

As we get further into September, schools typically assign more homework. Something to keep in mind as your children start to bring home more books and there backpacks get heavier.

Young Children especially should not carry to much weight in there backpacks.

A backpack should not exceed 20 percent (1) of total body weight! For example, if you weigh 130 pounds, your backpack should not weigh more than 26 pounds. The recommended weight limit is 15 percent (2). See the chart below 

How Much is Your Body Weight (lbs.)	Recommended Limits: 15% (2)	Maximum Backpack Weight: 20%
70	10 lbs.	14 lbs.
80	12 lbs.	16 lbs.
90	13-1/2 lbs.	18 lbs.
100	15 lbs.	20 lbs.
110	16-1/2 lbs.	22 lbs.
120	18 lbs.	24 lbs.
130	19-1/2 lbs.	26 lbs.
140	21 lbs.	28 lbs.
150	22-1/2 lbs.	30 lbs.

No one should carry more than 25 pounds (2)

1. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).

2. American Chiropractic Association (ACA), American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).

http://www.healthsourceofraleighdowntown.com/contents.aspx?id=Healthy-Children-Backpack-Safety

For some backpack safety tips visit healthychildren.org

• More than 24,000 people were treated in U.S. hospitals and doctors' offices for backpack-related injuries in 2012, and more than 9,500 of those patients were aged 5 to 18, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Volunteering With Our Kids

Photo courtesy of helpguide.org

Now the new school year has officially begun. I hope everyone is finding a good routine for our now busier lives.  Many parents find themselves rushing from one activity to the next. Sometimes it is a good idea to take a step back, gather up the family and go volunteer.  You can volunteer with almost any kind of group and need you can think of.

http://www.ncbigsweep.org/

Volunteering in NC:

• NC Big Sweep
• On the first Saturday in October, volunteers from all 100 counties in North Carolina and approximately 90 countries worldwide come together to clean up our land and waterways.

Research has shown that volunteering can provide countless benefits: According to helpguide.org

• Volunteering connects you to others
• Volunteering as a family
• While it might be a challenge to coordinate everyone’s schedules, volunteering as a family has many worthwhile benefits. Children watch everything you do. By giving back to the community, you show them firsthand how volunteering makes a difference and how good it feels to help others and enact change. 

• Volunteering is good for your mind and body
• Volunteering increases self-confidence. Volunteering can provide a healthy boost to your self-confidence, self-esteem, and life satisfaction. You are doing good for others and the community, which provides a natural sense of accomplishment. 
• Volunteering combats depression. Reducing the risk of depression is another important benefit of volunteering. A key risk factor for depression is social isolation.



Photo courtesy of carolinaparent.com
For Information about Volunteering in the Triangle

• Volunteering helps you stay physically healthy. Volunteering is good for your health at any age, but it’s especially beneficial in older adults. Studies have found that those who volunteer have a lower mortality rate than those who do not, even when considering factors like the health of the participants. Volunteering has also been shown to lessen symptoms of chronic pain or heart disease.
• Volunteering can advance your career
• Many volunteering opportunities provide extensive training. For example, you could become an experienced crisis counselor while volunteering for a women’s shelter or a knowledgeable art historian while donating your time as a museum docent.
• Volunteering brings fun and fulfillment to your life
• Volunteering is a fun and easy way to explore your interests and passions. Doing volunteer work you find meaningful and interesting can be a relaxing, energizing escape from your day-to-day routine of work, school, or family commitments. Volunteering also provides you with renewed creativity, motivation, and vision that can carry over into your personal and professional life.