Our little corner of outside joy

Finding nature spots during childhood generates play memories for life!

Feb 01, 2025

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Hey! Hello! {Hugs} I’m so glad you are here! You are valued. You belong. You are enough. I’m feeling and spreading all the love & acceptance you might not be feeling elsewhere. I got you. I see you. You make my work and world worthwhile. You teach me so much when you share your stories and I’m always here to listen and act.

I’m not saying it’s not hard for me when fear, chaos, hate and uncertainty are trying to break us. But I am so up for the fight and I have your back. I’m bringing you waves of love, light, and outside joy!

This is the space where we focus on prioritizing play. I’ve always said it that way, because I know there are so many things occupying your headspace and To Do List. So whenever you hear from me, I hope it reminds you to bump play to the top of your list.

And I also want to acknowledge that prioritizing play can be impossible when you are in survival mode. If you don’t know where to safely live or struggle to get healthcare or feed your family, then play has a hard time getting to the top of the list. As a community, I hope we can always help provide and protect the resources all humans need to survive and thrive.

Thank you for your light and love,
Michele

As a friendly reminder, make sure you ALWAYS check official sources when you are heading out to any of the locations I share. These are merely suggestions. Only you know what works for your family. Plus, your experience may not be the same as mine — and there can be changes to the hours or unforeseen circumstances or conditions at the suggested locations.

Where is your space for outside joy?

Richard Louv (author of Last Child in the Woods and Vitamin N: 500 Ways to Enrich the Health & Happiness of Your Family & Community) loves to hear about and share nature play memories that inspire outside joy or a sense of calm.

For those who enjoyed a Gen X childhood, we ALL have memories of our favorite nature spots as kids. Our parents totally let us loose and we played on our own. Do you have those play memories? I had a 70s childhood and yours was probably more like a 90s childhood? This is me & my sis climbing an oak tree in our sandals and flip-flops. I always had dirt all over me!

Please Share with Me! Share memories of YOUR nature spot or play place that immediately comes to mind when you think about “play memories” (even if it’s inside!) and I’ll share with everyone next week! Just hit REPLY to this email to tell us your story. And if you have photos you are okay with me sharing (oh, I hope you do!) then share them, too! We need the smile that comes from remembering.

Your kids will grow to also have these childhood play memories! I wonder where their spot will be? Here are some options to explore:

A special tree?

Is there a tree you love to look at out your window at home? Or one that you “visit” at a local park. Or does which tree not matter to you? Maybe as long as you are surrounded by roots under your feet and branches over your head, then you feel content and at home. Ask your kids if they have a favorite tree! If not, make it a mission to notice and find one as you are playing at parks. You can get silly with it. Make up stories about the trees and what they might have seen in their lifetimes. What visitors come to their branches? Give the trees you visit a hug or a high five!

A hidden spot at a local park?

The photo below is a little bamboo thicket tucked in the back of Irvine Adventure Playground. I now tend to only go here when I am covering it for the blog when no kids are there, but as an adult who is a kid at heart, I really love to navigate through this and even sit to “hide” and find some quiet back there. Kids can see the whole playground from this spot! But can everyone out there playing see them? Ask your kids if they have a “sit spot” or somewhere in nature they like to be still. Even if it’s just out in the yard or on your patio — or a palm tree with birds that they focus on out their window. Next time you visit Adventure Playground, see if you can introduce them to this spot and then walk away so they can play!

A simple walk outside?

I could probably link to a dozen articles referencing research studies that reinforce how good this is for you (here’s one article). It almost doesn’t matter where you go to walk, you’ll find nature in cracks in the urban sidewalk or medians of major streets. Notice the weather or the changing seasons around you. This is Quail Hill Loop Trail which is notoriously for dry grass and rattlesnakes in the summer, but maybe less chance of that at this time of year? Do your kids like to go on neighborhood walks or nature walks? Simple neighborhood walks and nature walks at parks were a regular part of our routine when my kids were little. Do you use it to break up time playing at home?

PLAY: More Playful Early Chapter Books

This is the section of the newsletter where we talk about PLAY or connecting to nature each week. I might share a video, an article, a book, or something inspiring. Just trying to help keep you empowered to prioritize play to benefit development and preserve childhood!

Last week, I shared ideas for these park + library pairings:

And this list of playful early chapter books:

Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle
The Boxcar Children
Magic Tree House
Geronimo Stilton
Half Magic & Edward Eager’s Tales of Magic
E.D. Baker Books

And YOU came back with some awesome book suggestions!!! Here’s what you sent in:

“In fact my library knows me by first name I visit so often and my favorite worker greets me when I come thru the door. As a family we visit libraries while on vacation (locally) and we were always the same — a huge stack of books — and now I always have a book or two in my car to return! My favorite part is I can walk to our library! Early reader book: The Princess in Black book series.” (Thanks, Kristin!)
“The Kingdom of Wrenly book series. We've also checked out the Dragon Kingdom of Wrenly graphic novels--they use more mature language so may be better for a little bit older kids. Enjoy!” (Thanks, Megan!)
“I remember searching for owl diaries, unicorn diaries, Amelia Bedelia, princess in black, heidi hecklebeck, judy moody, rainbow magic, the critter club and of course, that junie b jones paperback books on the spinning racks!! She still listens to Harry Potter and keeper of the lost cities back to back on audible-at all times!” (Thanks, Kandice!)

Thanks for always jumping in with suggestions!

Play-Filled Extras are waiting below this paywall each week for all paid subscribers. This week is: a sneak peek of potential winter guidebook cover options and a chance to vote on the one that catches your eye, 2 featured trail guides from the archive, 3 bonus nature sit spots, plus some play news & tips. Thanks for your support!