Introduction Chapter 1: How Nature Heals Chapter 2: Awe and Gratitude Chapter 3: Mindfulness Chapter 4: Creative Arts Chapter 5: Outdoor Play Chapter 6: Travel/Adventure Chapter 7: Volunteering Chapter 8: Food Chapter 9: Animals Chapter 10: The Path Forward
Raise calmer, happier, healthier children with these fun, hands-on nature activities for parents and kids to enjoy together. Are your kids stressed? Are they feeling a bit down? Do your children—and you—need a break from screens? Nature can help. What we all suspected intuitively for generations, science has now confirmed: spending time connecting to nature is a safe, effective tool to help improve our health and happiness. In Finding Ecohappiness, author Sandi Schwartz guides families in building regular habits of experiencing nature to reduce stress and boost mood. She explores key positive psychology tools from a nature-loving perspective. You will learn simple, practical tips for incorporating these tools—awe and gratitude, mindfulness, creative arts, outdoor play and adventure, volunteering, food, and animals—into your daily routine to help your children thrive and live a happy, balanced life. Finding Ecohappiness will introduce you to all kinds of engaging nature activities you can do with your kids, from hiking and bike rides to visiting nature centers and science museums to volunteering outdoors to embarking on ecotourism adventures. In addition, you will discover unique nature relaxation activities like cow cuddling, animal yoga, forest bathing, float therapy, and earthing. Nature isn’t just for kids, either—doing these activities with your children will tremendously improve your own well-being, too. A must-read for all families, Finding Ecohappiness will help you protect your children from feeling stressed and overwhelmed; manage your children’s current issues regarding stress, anxiety, and mood; and improve family togetherness.
Sandi Schwartz is a journalist specializing in parenting, wellness, and the environment. She has written for Chicken Soup for the Soul, Scary Mommy, and Very Well Family, among other publications She founded the Ecohappiness Project to help families build a nature habit to feel happier and calmer by exploring positive psychology tools through a nature lens. Previously, she held communications positions at the United States Environmental Protection Agency and National Academy of Sciences. Schwartz has a Masters in Government (Environmental focus) from Johns Hopkins University and Specialization Certificate in Foundations of Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. She is an active member in environmental and writing organizations including Children & Nature Network, American Society of Journalists and Authors, Sierra Club, and more. Schwartz splits time between Florida and New Jersey with her husband and two children. Schwartz’s website is www.ecohappinessproject.com.
