Digging Into Nature: Outdoor Adventures for Happier and Healthier Kids

Tandon, a pediatrician and researcher at Seattle Children’s Research Institute, grew up sleeping on the roof of her grandparent’s house during summers in India. Retired physician Glassy (cofounder/president, BestStart Washington) leads a program that promotes outdoor time for children. Together, they convincingly argue that the more time parents and children spend outdoors, the more likely they are to live happier and healthier lives. The authors acknowledge that busy schedules, the constant presence of screens, and lack of access to safe outdoor spaces are all barriers that can hold families back from outside time, but their book aims to show ways around these obstacles. They offer ideas for exploring nature in apartments, navigating the outdoors when one has chronic health conditions, and helping children with sensory issues to have a great time outside. The authors also address accessibility challenges, health care needs, and the cultural needs and safety concerns of people of color.