Parenting Adventures Podcast helps you bring fun back to the family

Are your kids interested in science?

Want to try cool experiments with your family?

To learn how to have messy scientific fun with your kids, I interview Steve Spangler for this episode of the Parenting Adventures podcast.

More About This Show

The Parenting Adventures podcast is a show from My Kids' Adventures.

It's for parents (and grandparents) who are looking for creative things to do with their kids.

The show format is on-demand talk radio (also known as podcasting).

In this episode, I interview Steve Spangler, one of the web's top science guys. His books include Naked Eggs and Flying Potatoes and Fire Bubbles and Exploding Toothpaste.

Just search "Steve Spangler" on YouTube and you'll find more than 1,300 videos that have a total of more than 145 million views. He's a regular guest on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and has three sons who test out all of Dad's experiments.

Steve shares ways to make science fun for kids by performing experiments as a family.

You'll discover the reasons why science is so important for kids.

Share your feedback, read the show notes and get the links mentioned in this episode below!

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You can also subscribe via iTunes or Stitcher.

Here are some of the things you'll discover in this show:

How to Ignite the Science Spark in Your Children

How Steve got into science

Steve grew up around magicians. His dad was a consultant for some of the top magicians in the 1970s and 1980s, so he was surrounded by people who were doing cool science stuff in order to fool and entertain people. He soon discovered that while magicians couldn't tell the secrets behind the magic, scientists could.

Steve got his love of teaching from his dad, who ran a magic school. Steve was a classroom teacher from 1990 to 2003, and is now going on 25 years as an "informal" science teacher—for years, through network television.

Using his three YouTube channels, he's able to reach more people than he ever could in a career of teaching in a regular classroom setting.

The Spangler Effect channel was commissioned by YouTube 2½ years ago to feature slightly longer content. There are 67 episodes between 15 and 30 minutes long, which explore science in a fun, non-traditional way.

The Sick Science! channel has more than 200 short videos. These show quick demos, but don't share how the experiment works. Steve engages kids and adults in the comments by asking, "How do you think this works?"

The third is Spangler Science TV, and that's where Steve shares his weekly TV spots on NBC and on talk shows like Ellen.

Listen to the show to find out how Sick Science got its name.

Why parents should expose their kids to science

If you want your child to have a guaranteed job in the future, Steve says, anything in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math will be in high demand.

The education world has been permeated with STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), creating schools and activities to encourage and educate kids in those fields. The whole idea of STEM, according to Steve, came from a push by the U.S. government to generate more scientists.

For parents to ignite the spark of curiosity about science, Steve believes they need to do more than find videos for their kids—they need to watch them too.

Something magical happens when you sit down together with your son or daughter and show that you're just as engaged and wondering as they are, he adds. The next thing you know, you'll be running to get supplies so you can conduct experiments with your kids.

Steve explains the three things kids need for success that parents need to understand, according to Dr. Peter Benson of the Search Institute.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqzUHcW58Us

Dr. Peter Benson of the Search Institute talks about spark.

First of all, every kid needs spark. Plus they need to have three champions (such as teachers, community leaders,

Do your kids love bugs, birds and other critters?

Want to find ways to get them to enjoy the outdoors?

Start watching wildlife with your kids. To learn how to make it fun to observe wildlife in action, I interview David Mizejewski for this episode of the Parenting Adventures podcast.

More About This Show

The Parenting Adventures podcast is a show from My Kids' Adventures.

It's for parents (and grandparents) who are looking for creative things to do with their kids.

The show format is on-demand talk radio (also known as podcasting).

In this episode, I interview David Mizejewski, a naturalist and spokesperson for the National Wildlife Federation.

He hosted the Animal Planet show Backyard Habitat for four years, where he helped people transform their yards into habitats for birds.

He's also made TV appearances on the Martha Stewart Show, Good Morning America and many other shows.

David shares ways to make it fun to watch wildlife with your kids.

You'll discover simple things you can do to get out in nature, whether you find wildlife or you let wildlife find you.

Share your feedback, read the show notes and get the links mentioned in this episode below!

Listen Now

You can also subscribe via iTunes or Stitcher.

Here are some of the things you'll discover in this show:

Watching Wildlife With Kids

Where David's fascination with animals started

A lifelong nature geek, David just celebrated 14 years with the National Wildlife Federation.

As a kid, David spent as much time as he could outside, running around in the woods with his friends, turning over logs, catching frogs and climbing trees. Even though his parents were raised in the city, they knew how important nature was for their kids, and moved their family to the suburbs.

David knew early on that he was interested in wildlife, plants and the environment, and studied ecology at Emory University to become a naturalist. A naturalist is a person who understands the natural world but is not a specialist, like a biologist, zoologist or lepidopterist (a scientist who studies butterflies and moths).

He's also a communicator: part of a naturalist's job is to interpret what's going on in the natural world and explain it to "regular people."

The goal of a naturalist is to get people engaged in conservation and excited about wildlife, nature and the environment.

Listen to the show to discover other places where naturalists work.

What the National Wildlife Federation does for kids

The National Wildlife Federation has two magazines aimed at kids: Ranger Rick magazine for ages 7-12, which has been around for more than 40 years, and Ranger Rick, Jr. for preschool kids (ages 4-7).

The magazines are just one way the Federation helps kids get connected to nature.

The organization also offers a variety of programs, including the Be Out There campaign to get 10 million more kids outdoors, and events like the Great American Backyard Campout, where people commit to having an old-fashioned camping experience either in their backyard or community.

Coming up next, David explains, is their fall series of events called Hike and Seek. It's all about getting families to go for walks in their neighborhoods and make it a point to observe nature.

Listen to the show to hear more about the National Wildlife Federation's programs.

Why it's important to explore wildlife

David shares the old saying: "You only protect what you love and you only love what you know." So kids need to go outside and get to know nature.

The average American schoolkid spends nearly 8 hours almost every day indoors, sedentary, in front of some kind of electronic media.

Plus, David says, by the time children in America go to kindergarten, they've already watched 5,000 hours of television. That's enough to get a college degree.

Sometimes it's important to put down the tech, go outside and look for birds or try to find a cool leaf.

Are your kids' hands way too clean?

Want them to spend more time outside and less in front of a screen?

Encourage them to play in the dirt! Once they start digging and building, they'll be hooked on the great outdoors.

To learn more about getting your hands dirty with your kids, I interview Jennifer Ward for this episode of the Parenting Adventures podcast.

More About This Show

The Parenting Adventures podcast is a show from My Kids' Adventures.

It's for parents (and grandparents) who are looking for creative things to do with their kids.

The show format is on-demand talk radio (also known as podcasting).

In this episode, I interview Jennifer Ward, a prolific author of children's fiction books (such as There Was an Old Pirate Who Swallowed a Fish). Her parenting books include I Love Dirt: 52 Activities to Help You and Your Kids Discover the Wonders of Nature and It's a Jungle Out There! 52 Nature Adventures for City Kids.

Jennifer shares why it's important to get your kids out in nature.

You'll discover ways to have fun outside in the dirt with your kids.

Share your feedback, read the show notes and get the links mentioned in this episode below!

Listen Now

You can also subscribe via iTunes or Stitcher.

Here are some of the things you'll discover in this show:

Fun With Dirt

How Jennifer went from writing children's books to parenting books focused on the outdoors

Jennifer's first children's book, published about 16 years ago, was called Way Out in the Desert. It's a counting book that takes place in the Sonoran Desert, so it had a nature theme. All of her picture books, fiction or non-fiction, had an element of science or nature integrated into them.

About eight or nine books into Jennifer's career, her agent suggested she tackle writing a book for adults. As she got into it, Jennifer discovered the book would serve children better than it would solely adults. It evolved into a parenting book with open-ended, hands-on sensory activities for children, called I Love Dirt: 52 Activities to Connect You and Your Kids to the Wonders of Nature.

Listen to the show to discover where Jennifer got the ideas for the activities in the book.

Why outdoor exploration is important

Everyone knows kids need to unplug and get outdoors, Jennifer says. Nature provides mental and physical benefits—you get fresh air and exercise, and it de-stresses you.

The average child spends more than 7 hours a day plugged into technology, whether it's a cell phone, computer or mobile device. When children become too plugged in, they're sedentary and they're not engaging all of their senses.

It's a challenge to get kids outside sometimes, but it's important to find a balance between technology and nature.

Listen to the show to learn how to make a bike ride even more fun.

Why dirt is exciting and what can be done with it

Scientific studies have proven that dirt makes us happy. Jennifer explains that a bacteria found in dirt activates neurons in our brains and those neurons produce serotonin, which is a natural antidepressant. Exposing kids to dirt helps their immune system.

Jennifer shares a few of the simple activities families can do to play in dirt. Dig in the dirt with spoons and forks, build a fort, use water to make a pond, set up imaginary villages with plastic toys, paint with mud and more.

These are all activities where your child gets fresh air and that engage the senses.

More intricate adventures include going on a scavenger hunt, researching dirt, gardening and looking for wildlife.

Listen to the show to find out why it's okay to let your kids get dirty.

How parents can turn a visit to the park into an adventure

One activity in It's a Jungle Out There talks about exploring parks. Jennifer recommends that you go on a treasure hunt and compare the wildlife you would find in a city park versus what you'd find in your backyard or on your porch. For example,

Do your kids understand the value of giving?

Want to make community service part of your family's normal routine?

To learn how to get your kids excited about helping others, I interview Dr. Deborah Gilboa for this episode of the Parenting Adventu...

Do your kids like to wrestle, tumble or get tossed in the air?

Do you worry that you're playing too rough?

A little horseplay is actually good for your kids' development. It's OK to take off the kid gloves!

To learn about the importance of roughhousing, I interview Anthony DeBenedet for this episode of the Parenting Adventures podcast.

More About This Show

The Parenting Adventures podcast is a show from My Kids' Adventures.

It's for parents (and grandparents) who are looking for creative things to do with their kids.

The show format is on-demand talk radio (also known as podcasting).

In this episode, I interview Anthony DeBenedet, co-author of the book, The Art of Roughhousing: Good Old-Fashioned Horseplay and Why Every Kid Needs It.

He's a board-certified physician, a dad who likes adventure and an advocate for parent-child play.

Anthony shares why roughhousing is so important for your child's development.

You'll discover how to incorporate more physical play into your lives and tips for some games you can play.

Share your feedback, read the show notes and get the links mentioned in this episode below!

Listen Now

You can also subscribe via iTunes or Stitcher.

Here are some of the things you'll discover in this show:

Roughhousing With Your Kids

Why roughhousing is important

Anthony is the father of three girls. When his oldest daughter was about 2 1/2, he noticed that their connection became much stronger after playing together in a more rough-and-tumble way. This prompted him to start researching the effects of parent-child physical play.

Anthony talks about the three main areas of benefits of roughhousing: intelligence, creativity and parent-child connection. He goes into detail how roughhousing increases the three types of intelligence: IQ, emotional intelligence and social intelligence.

Regarding IQ, most brain development happens between 18 months and 8 years. When parents are roughhousing with their kids, there's a chemical released in their brains called brain-derived neurotrophic factor. It's basically fertilizer for a kid's brain, Anthony explains.

Brain development increases when multiple parts of the brain are activated all at once. When parents are roughhousing with their kids in a healthy way, this simultaneous activation of the child's brain occurs, prompting development of IQ.

Research shows that the amount and quality of roughhousing during early childhood is a better predictor of achievement for kids in kindergarten through second grade than any test scores.

Emotional intelligence is knowing what your emotions are and sensing the emotions of others. Roughhousing does a great job of conveying that to kids. Since there's a wind-up period and a rev-down period with roughhousing, it helps kids learn what their emotions feel like through this arc in energy during active play.

The body language, eye contact and non-verbal communication employed during roughhousing—as a child has to sense what mom or dad will do next—also helps kids learn and translate these aspects of emotional intelligence to the real world when they get outside the house.

Social intelligence is knowing when to be a good follower, as well as when to be a good leader. These skills are also illustrated in roughhousing, since it's all about reversing roles and taking turns.

Anthony describes benefits that parents derive from physical play with their kids as well.

Listen to the show to learn Anthony's definition of roughhousing.

How roughhousing helps girls and boys

Anthony explains how roughhousing aids the development of both boys and girls. There's no gender barrier.

Before they grow up and leave the house, boys need to learn that there's more to physical contact than sex and violence. Roughhousing teaches warm, physical connection that's not violent and not sexual.

Before they grow up and leave the house, girls need to find their voice.

Do your kids complain that you work too much?

Want tips on how to prioritize your responsibilities?

To learn more about balancing work and parenting, I interview Wayne Parker for this episode of the Parenting Adventures podcast.

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Are your kids afraid of nature?

Want to discover why it's important to swap electronic time for wild time?

To learn about the benefits of getting kids into nature, I interview David Bond for this episode of the Parenting Adventures podcast.

More About This Show

The Parenting Adventures podcast is a show from My Kids' Adventures.

It's for parents (and grandparents) who are looking for creative things to do with their kids.

The show format is on-demand talk radio (also known as podcasting).

In this episode, I interview David Bond, a documentary film director and the man behind Project Wild Thing.

Project Wild Thing is an amazing documentary that explores David's new job as the marketing director of nature (a.k.a. the great outdoors).

Project Wild Thing is more than just a film. It's a movement and message, as well as an app, to encourage families to spend more time outside.

David shares what inspired him to make this film.

You'll discover the importance of incorporating nature into your kids' lives, even if only for a few minutes a day.

Share your feedback, read the show notes and get the links mentioned in this episode below!

Listen Now

You can also subscribe via iTunes or Stitcher.

Here are some of the things you'll discover in this show:

Project Wild Thing

What inspired David to take on this project

David explains the impetus for this film. He looked at the relationship his kids have with nature, reflected on his own experience growing up and asked his 80-year-old mother what she remembers from childhood.

His mother was really connected to the environment in her youth, whereas David feels he was halfway on the journey to being an indoor kid. His children, on the other hand, had a completely foreign relationship with the great outdoors.

Watch this Vimeo trailer of Project Wild Thing from Green Lions. 

David Bond started Project Wild Thing as a way to find out why his kids weren't choosing to enjoy nature.

It struck David that of all of the ways his kids spend their time, they spend the least amount playing outside. According to all the child development experts, playing in nature helps kids develop best. So he wanted to find out why they weren't choosing it.

Although access to green spaces is a key barrier between children and the outdoors, the film reveals that it's not the only obstruction. Even where there are green spaces, children aren't choosing to go there and their parents aren't choosing to take them.

Listen to the show to find out the irrational fears kids have about the great outdoors.

What David achieved with Project Wild Thing

David noticed how effectively big brands, entertainment companies and game manufacturers market to kids to get them hooked on their products. There's nothing wrong with these products in moderation, David believes. However, when you look at all of the products clamoring for your kids' attention, something's going to get squeezed out. And what gets squeezed out is outdoor time.

David decided that he needed to market nature just as vigorously. Once they hit on that idea, the concept for the film took shape. It became more than a movie—Project Wild Thing became a movement.

The film received a wonderful positive reaction after its cinematic release in the United Kingdom last year. It received support from a variety of organizations, including our National Trust and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, as well as the scouting movement, forest school, mental health charities and more. It was a campaign people could get behind.

As a result, the film became an international movement and the Wild Network was formed.

Listen to the show to find out ways the film can prompt discussions in schools and other community groups.

What stops parents from taking their kids into nature

David explains that on the Wild Network, they list the 11 major barriers to nature: the rise in traffic, road safety,

Do your kids like to play outside?

Are you looking for ways to get your kids more interested in nature?

To learn how to have amazing outdoor adventures with your kids, I interview Eugene Buchanan for this episode of the Parenting Adventures podcast.

More About This Show

The Parenting Adventures podcast is a show from My Kids' Adventures.

It's for parents (and grandparents) who are looking for creative things to do with their kids.

The show format is on-demand talk radio (also known as podcasting).

In this episode, I interview Eugene Buchanan, author of Outdoor Parents, Outdoor Kids: A Guide to Getting Your Kids Active in the Great Outdoors.

Eugene is the former publisher of Paddler magazine. He's covered the Beijing Olympics for NBC and written for ESPN, the New York Times, Men's Journal and National Geographic Adventure, to mention a few. He also has a site called Recreating with Kids.

Eugene shares ways you can get your kids excited about exploring the great outdoors.

You'll discover the advantages of exposing your kids to nature, how to get them interested in outdoor pursuits and where to start.

Share your feedback, read the show notes and get the links mentioned in this episode below!

Listen Now

You can also subscribe via iTunes or Stitcher.

Here are some of the things you'll discover in this show:

Outdoor Adventures

How Eugene came to have a passion for kids and nature

Eugene explains how he grew up in Boulder, Colorado, where he had the mountains in his backyard.

He was one of six kids, who spent most afternoons outside until they were called in for dinner. Growing up surrounded by nature had such a huge impact on his childhood that it became his career.

He has been able to pass along his love for nature to his daughters, who are 11 and 15 years old. He and his family still live in Colorado, where they have many outdoor amenities at their disposal.

When their first child was born, the birth announcement included a photo of all of their outdoor apparel and equipment, with a big for sale sign. This announcement was made with the perceived notion that once you become a parent, you don't have time to enjoy the outdoors. In reality, he says, it has the opposite effect.

Listen to the show to find out how adventures in nature get better after you have kids.

Advantages when you expose your kids to nature

Eugene believes that nature creates an unrestricted play area for kids. When kids are outside, you can see their faces light up, and the huge smiles that go with it.

Although it does compete with technology, the best way to combat the predilection for screen time is just to get your kids out in nature and let it change their minds.

Eugene shares a few examples of when his kids were so in awe of nature that they didn't even miss their electronic devices. One trip was on the San Juan River in Southern Utah, and the other was on an 80-mile sea kayak trip along the south coast of Crete in Greece.

Even though these trips were away from home, Eugene explains that you don't need to travel far to experience nature. All you need to do is go outside and make nature a priority.

Listen to the show to discover ways to explore nature near your home.

How to hike with kids

To get started, all you have to do is go for a walk, visit your local park, go for a bike ride or hike on a nearby trail.

According to surveys from the Outdoor Industry Association, biking is one of the most popular outdoor activities for youths. Eugene explains that the reason kids love biking so much is that it's their extension to freedom.

Eugene explains how hiking for his kids is a means to an end. He suggests that you don't tout hiking as fun, but instead tout the destination as fun. You need to focus on where you are heading to, and see the hike as a way to get there.

You first need to start out with a one- or two-mile hike.

Is all of your child's free time taken up by electronics?

Are you looking for ways to unlock your children's creativity?

Creative play, also known as make-believe, is just the answer.

To learn why creative play is important for children, I int...

Are your kids addicted to their digital devices?

Do you want to help them have a healthier relationship with technology?

To learn how you can help your kids make smart technology choices, I interview Dr. Jim Taylor for this episode of the Parenti...