This is part of a sponsored collaboration with HBO and DiMe Media. However, all opinions expressed are my own.
Playing outside with friends until the street lights come on, challenging someone to a game of “I declare war” on a rainy day, watching my favorite characters on Sesame Street on a Saturday morning…
I often look back at some of my happiest experiences and things from my childhood and wish for nothing than for my children to experience the same. Sure, times have changed quite a bit – schedules are busier, there are far more distractions, etc.- but these things are all still so important!
Now that we are officially in Spring and in honor of the upcoming Earth Day, there are going to be some deliberate changes and efforts we are going to make as a family to take some time to disconnect and de-stress, while spending some quality time together, just as I got to experience in my childhood.
These are the 5 things from my childhood I insist that my kids experience:
1. A technology-free afternoon
This is a huge one! At first, it was fascinating how astute our children were nowadays with using modern day technology. I mean, my kids knew how to navigate through my iPad by the time they were 2! Now, they are glued to these things nearly 24/7! Can anyone else relate?
So, now that Spring has officially sprung and the weather is getting better, I’ve decided to start challenging them to technology-free periods throughout the day. First we get a technology-free afternoon, then maybe a day, and then, who knows, maybe we can hope to go a whole week. Ok, that might be pushing it even for me, but the point is to encourage them to engage in other activities outside of their tablets and smartphones, which is definitely doable.
2. Hours of fun outdoors
Growing up, my friends and I spent hours upon hours playing outdoors. You know…until the street lights came on (at least, that how it worked in the city). We’d ride our bikes around the neighborhood, hang out at the playground, engage in a mildly competitive game of hop scotch; just whatever fun we could get into keep us occupied and entertained.
I want my kids to experience that as well. Of course, times have changed a bit since I was a child, but I still make it a point for them to enjoy time at the playground and taking in all of the fun of playing outdoors.
3. A love of nature
This one might surprise many, considering the fact that I grew up in New York City. However, contrary to popular belief, I actually do have a pretty big love of nature -sans the bugs and allergy inducers of course. I lived really close to the Queens Botanical Garden and loved spending time over there and just taking in the beauty of Mother Nature.
My oldest, Leila, does actually really enjoy nature and gardening, in particular. She’s insisted we buy her a gardening set and a variety of seeds to plant this Spring. In honor of Earth Day this year, I’ll be planning a full on gardening day for the two of us and perhaps we can finally gain some traction on that vegetable garden I’ve dreamed about for so many years!
4. Quality Saturday morning tv
Remember how exciting Saturday mornings always were? You got to enjoy all of your favorite shows and cartoons and share a few laughs with the family. Sesame Street was always my favorite! From Big Bird to Cookie Monster to Bert and Ernie…my childhood memories are filled with happy times surrounding these times and characters. My kids have to experience that!
Fortunately, Emmy Award-winning Sesame Street and HBO have joined forces to air all new episodes as well as classic episodes from the last five seasons of the iconic series on HBO and HBO Latino! This new season will air on – you guessed it – Saturday Mornings at 9:00 am ET/8:00 am CT! At that same time, it will also air in Spanish on HBO Latino.
It’s our classic Sesame Street with a modern flair to it, as the new season will also include Sesame Street’s usual line-up of celeb guest stars including: Gwen Stefani, Ne-Yo, Pharrell Williams, Gina Rodriguez, and Lupita Nyong’o. Guess who will also be watching!
Current and past Sesame Street seasons will also air daily on HBO Family at 8 a.m., while the last five seasons will be available to stream on HBO Now, HBO Go and HBO On Demand.
Here’s the cutest little preview of the upcoming season:
5. More than enough mommy and me time
Last, but certainly not least, I insist that my kids experience more than enough mommy and me time! This is usually just a positive side effect of all of the other things I mentioned earlier, but it takes a concerted effort nonetheless.
My mom and I were super close growing up and I can’t imagine not having the same relationship with my daughters. They get their share of time with Daddy, but sometimes they just need their mommy. Amidst the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it’s so important that we take the time to disconnect and spend quality time together – technology free, enjoying the outdoors, and/or enjoying some good old fashioned Saturday morning TV!
To help you spend some time and de-stress a bit while gardening with your with your little ones, the folks at HBO and DiMe Media will be giving one Love, Peace, and Tiny Feet reader a chance to win an exclusive Sesame Street Spring Prize Pack (includes a planter set and herb kit). To enter, simply follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter below. Giveaway ends at 11:59pm on Thursday, 4/7. Good luck!
What are some things from your childhood you insist your kids experience?
Yes!! These are all perfect. We should all ensure our children experience these all. They made our childhood great. 🙂
That’s so lovely. It’s good to spend time outdoors and just being active. That’s healthy practice for both the kids and the parents. I love your number 5, it sure is important to get some mommy and me time, regularly!
I want my kids experience those pre-gadget moments too. Thanks for reminding me via this post. And oh, nice giveaway!
Saturday morning cartoons, oh yeah! I was a huge fan of Sesame Street when I was a kid, and until now I still am!
Those are good things to share from your childhood. I love the Sesame St. kit. That was my fave Sat. morning show. 🙂
Mine too! Can’t wait to see the new episodes!
Never was a fan of TV even as a kid but loved playing outside and art. I like your idea of a technology free afternoon!
Great tips! I wish all parents would read and implement this. I was never allowed to watch TV but that never hurt me!
Id hate for my kids to grow attached to some laptop or video-game, i loved your idea about 2 hours of outdoor fun. Great Advice, thanks for sharing!
When I was a kid we don’t have high-tech gadgets we are enjoying playing outdoor activities with my brother and friends.
Sadly there are no good Saturday morning cartoons like I had when I was a kid. I wish it was still like that.
Great article like the put down the technology day go outside and play. Sesame street and cartoon fun and laughter day. Thanks for sharing.
Great ways to ensure your children get to experience some of the best things in life!
We definitely share the same hopes for childhood experiences. That’s what I grew up with and I always wanted the same for my kids.
Yes, i agree, i want my kids to grow with outdoor experiences, not only videogames and so
Absolutely! How could you not agree with these!? Thankfully my boys I think got a pretty even balanced life. I hope at least.
The technology free afternoon is such a good idea. I hope you remember the cell phone is technology. 🙂
The cell phone is my best friend and worst distraction! I try to put it down too.
i agree with all five of these things! i wish more parents these days thought about this as well.
My brother and I were just talking about this. he watches Saturday morning cartoons with his kids so they have something similar to our childhood.
Totally agree with post like these, there’s nothing more important than family time x
Amen to that…all this staying inside all the time is killing our kids
This is so great. I’m in need of a technology free afternoon right about now! Thanks for sharing!
My kids do all but the first one. They enjoy the other 4 more than I did as a kid. That first one is going to be rough. They both like to read so I guess we could implement the first one and have them read old school style. Actual books!
Love this! I also want my son to have a love of nature, and we have taken him hiking with us since he was about 6 months old.
Excellent goals and priorities. My kids love the outdoor time – but getting them to step away can be a chore. Once they do – they are thrilled.
I agree with all of these 100%! Although I don’t have children yet I would love them to experience all of these things!
I love that you promote outdoor play, I think it is really important that you have fresh air as a kid.
Great list, I would also add some sort of community service or giving. I use to make my daughter go through her toys every year and giveaway what she didn’t use to the local Children’s Center, a temp home for foster kids.
Great point, Cindy! I also have my girls donate their toys at least once a year and try to teach them the importance of helping those who are less fortunate.
I loved nature as a kid. I could always be found playing with bugs. Ha ha. I’d want the same for my kids!
Love of nature is so important
Wow I love the outdoors and also make sure my children get to spend alot of time in nature. Keep up the good work!
Thank you!
I love, love, love Sesame Street and I’m so glad it moved to HBO!!! Cool prize pack too. 🙂
#1 is so hard to accomplish nowadays. Kids are getting used into gadgets at their early age!
It sure is! That’s why I try to wean them off for a few hours at a time.
I love this post, It’s important to the kids playing outdoor activities than to Ipad or playing the computer all day,
I love promoting outside activities for the kids. We grown up without high-tech gadgets and we just enjoy playing outside with my brothers
I need more of #5 with my son. I get to do the other things more and more.
I actually love to see those kids playing outside and socializing with other people than playing with their gadgets and playing computer games.
let them enjoy the beauty of nature and true playing. i guess kids now a day are more into gadget, so i also let my kids play with toys and board games
love this idea mine seem to want to sit on technology all day long its a never ending battle
I with you on that no technology afternoon! This summer we’re going to start that one for sure!
Exactly what kids nowadays should look back and embody.
I am really big on making sure my son spends time outdoors every day as well!
Cartoons just aren’t the same as I remember. Being out in nature is so important and fun!
Love the idea! I remember playing outside all day until the street lights came on! So much you can do outside that is way more fun then being stuck on a portable device.
It’s sad how kids are stuck on their phones now. I think it’s also rude to see people on their phones while eating dinner. I agree with the technology free part!
Phones and tablets are forbidden at the table, though even I have trouble with that sometimes.
Love this reminder! It’s easy to get caught up in the big things but the little things become the ones we cherish most when we grow older. I am so happy that spring is finally here and it’s warm enough for my boys to play outside. They LOVE their outside time. Very cool that HBO will be showing new episodes of Seseme Street. They should also bring back Fraggle Rock. That was my favorite as a kid!
OMG yes! I loved Fraggle Rock too.
Home cooked meals, one parent at home every day and saturday cartoons. I promised my son would have these and he will be 18 in 10 days and always has.
Okay I really need to get into the Saturday morning tv and cuddles time.
I love your list!
Beautiful family photos!
I love that you strive to give your kids more time outside and in nature as well as having them be tech free for a while. Thats awesome and I totally thing more parents should do this!
Goodness I would love this!! I am such a gardener and I’d love to pass that down to my kids. They already LOVE outside play and Sesame Street, so this couldn’t be more perfect! Thank you!
Kids these days need to spend more time outdoors, love this!
Love these ideas – Thanks for sharing!!
I also wanted to drop a note and invite you to come join us at Sunday’s Simple Homemaker Link-Up. Would love to have you link-up!! http://www.prairiegalcookin.com/sundays-simple-homemaker-7th-weekly-link-up/