Until the Streetlights Come On – How a Return to Play Brightens Our Present and Prepares Kids for an Uncertain Future

The average person spends 4-7 hours using devices with screens, while only spending 4-7 minutes outside each day. This has led to a decline in physical, mental, emotional, and relational health. Ginny Yurich, a homeschooling mother of five and founder of the global 1000 Hours Outside movement, explains how to get back to a healthier, more engaging relationship with the world outside. She shows how unstructured play is essential for children, how boredom contributes to brain development, the value of sunlight and social play, and how to make time outside more attractive to children than screentime. This book is an important read for parents who want their kids to grow up curious, resilient, and with a sense of adventure and community.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 09 January 2024
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group

It may come as a surprise to you that we only spend an average of 4-7 minutes outside each day, while we dedicate 4-7 hours to using devices with screens. Needless to say, our physical, mental, emotional, and relational health has suffered significantly. However, there is a readily available solution: step outside!

Homeschooling mother of five and the visionary behind the global 1000 Hours Outside movement, Ginny Yurich, delves into the origins of our current situation and offers practical guidance on how to rekindle a healthier, more engaging relationship with the world beyond our screens. With a mother's heart and an educator's perspective, Ginny enlightens us on the vital importance of unstructured play for children, the surprising benefits of boredom, the significance of sunlight and social interaction, the role of play in lifelong learning, and numerous other valuable insights.

If you aspire for your children to develop a curiosity, resilience, and a sense of adventure and community, it is paramount to prioritize outdoor play. This book serves as a valuable guide, illuminating why and how to make outdoor exploration a central aspect of their growth.

Ginny did not request my endorsement of this book. However, I approached her with a request, as I am a passionate admirer of her remarkable work. Today, this book holds immense significance, but I believe its importance will only amplify in the days and years to come. This is primarily due to the increasing ease with which we can retreat into isolation, thanks to technology providing us with new avenues to avoid the wonders of the great outdoors.

Within the pages of this book, you will encounter an invitation to embark on a journey of exploration. You will be encouraged to embrace courage and step outside of your comfort zone. You will be invited to be unique and to heed the quiet voice within you that yearns for a return to the outdoors.

The truth is, you possess the ability, the necessity, and the urgency to reclaim your connection with nature. You can do it. You should do it. You must do it, at least until the streetlights come on.

Weight: 666g
Dimension: 216 x 140 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781540903402