We've all heard the saying: "It takes a village to raise a child." It's a universal truth that parenting is not a solo journey but a collective effort, relying on the support, guidance, and camaraderie of those around us.

As parents, we often find ourselves balancing the desire to shield our children from discomfort with the necessity of fostering resilience and character. One often-overlooked avenue for building these essential traits is the simple act of letting our children play outside, even in the chillier months.

Seasonal changes can bring about many different feelings, and anxiety is sometimes one of those feelings.

The key is acknowledging it rather than ignoring it because there are practical ways to address it. One approach is to stay connected with nature.

Let’s discuss how the benefits of open/free/or self-guided play in nature are uniquely valuable and different from structured play.