How Are You Living Life Outside This Summer 2016?

This #LiveLifeOutside sponsored post is brought to you by TruGreen as part of Influencer Activation for Influence Central. As always, my summer road trips and opinions are my own. 

Are you making the most of this gorgeous summer weather? With it being said that American children these days are only spending 4-7 minutes outside with unstructured play (1), I make sure to get my two in the sunshine this summer. And one way, is bringing them back to the dirt roads of my youth.

Between my own farmhouse roots and that of my Gran’s…there were a lot of gravel roads to walk down. And I was always kicked outside growing up. This normally happened with a gaggle of cousins to swim, jump, run, or hide with.

But times have changed. With TV’s hosting more channels than books have pages and tablets wooing the brightest mind with apps…only 25% of American kids spend time outside (2). This year the kids and I have set a challenge to find as many new parks as we can. But we also escape to my country roots every chance we get.

It’s there they can walk out into the vast yard to climb into an old converted outhouse. However the only business they’ll be partaking in is to collect the fresh laid eggs. In the country, every day is Easter.

Of course the hens will scatter and cluck as they emerge. The rooster will run over to puff up his tiny self and give a good crow. The kids answer him back the best they can. Then run back with handfuls of brown egg beauties to place in the kitchen.

You can’t get this experience sitting inside all day. The sunset feels so much better when it’s rays aren’t hidden behind the blinds. From the pool to the swingset, nothing beats the fresh air and laughter of kids at play.

That’s why I enjoy living life outside. Especially working from home, I aim to get out us outside each day. Which on those especially hot afternoons, we know a sparkling pool is waiting to cool us off. And it just so happens, that the roads stretch as far as our legs will carry us too.

So how do you live life outside? Not just a retorical question…you could actually win great outdoor related prizes each week this summer from TruGreen! On a mission to get more families outside creating memories, they want you to share your joy of the outdoors with loved ones too. 

So turn off the TV and put down the tablet; and join us by sharing that pic (or video) of where you find joy in this fun #LiveLifeOutside summer sweepstakes!

References:

1. “Why Kids Need To Spend Time In Nature,” Child Mind Institute, http://childmind.org/article/why-kids-need-to-spend-time-in-nature/

2. “10 Million Kids Outdoors,” National Recreation And Park Association, http://www.nrpa.org/10MillionKidsOutdoors/