OutGrown Blog

This blog was written in partnership with our friends at Turtle Fur. Every May in the U.S. we celebrate Mother’s Day—at OutGrown we aim to celebrate and support those mamas all year long! Our Turn the Blues Green program focuses on combating the perinatal depression and baby blues that new parents often face. We provide the resources new parents need to feel safe, comfortable and able to get outside with their babies and find a supportive community. The benefits of spending time outdoors for new mamas and babies The outdoors provides elements we need to regulate hormones, ease stress and improve our sleep/wake cycles. Spending time in nature helps to: Increase serotonin Reduce cortisol Improve cognition Ease depression Boost immune function Improve sleep When new moms reap the benefits of spending time outdoors, so do their babies—and by going out together begin to bridge the ever-growing baby-nature gap recent generations have experienced. How to support yourself or other new mamas to combat the baby blues The “baby blues”—which can affect up to 85% of new parents—is difficult to go through and can be hard to distinguish from perinatal depression (formerly known as post-partum depression), which is a condition that often requires medical treatment and intervention. A trusted healthcare provider should always be in the loop when you or a loved one is experiencing the symptoms of depression after the birth of a child. There are also resources like the free, confidential National Maternal Mental Health hotline: 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262). What else can you do to help yourself when experiencing depression after birth? Find simple ways to spend time outdoors every day, like taking extra time when checking the mailbox, stopping to feel the sun on your face as you walk into the store, or choosing to meet friends/family/colleagues at a park instead of inside. Look up other supportive communities (like Hike it Baby) in your area and commit to joining at least once per week. Research and ask other parents about their experiences and what gear or resources helped them the most in their post-birth journey. Reward and treat yourself when you accomplish goals. Get inspired. Be inspiring. Sometimes it helps to simply know that you aren’t alone in your experience with depression and the baby blues. By sharing our stories, we can help decrease the stigma associated with mental health and help others get through difficult times. Stories like Dawn’s and Angela’s can help others know there are ways to overcome difficulties after giving birth. Looking for new gear to get outside with your little ones this summer? Check out Turtle Fur’s new summer collection for adults and kids! Photo credit: Laura Castro _ Burg Life Photography Here's a little more about OutGrown: We're a national, 501c3 nonprofit with over a decade of experience helping families get outside with their babies and young children. We believe it is critical to include and center families from birth because it is a crucial developmental time for both the infant and the parent, where we can create a life-long, multi-generational impact. We know that we protect what we love and we're helping families build a loving connection with the outdoors so they can value and protect it for generations to come. As a community-driven organization, we have been working with indigenous, Latine, BIPOC, immigrant & refugee, and rural families to co-design multilingual and culturally relevant solutions in our programming. Since its grassroots inception in 2013, OutGrown is a growing community of 280,000 families and over 300 volunteers. More information on all of our programs can be found at WeAreOutGrown.org  EDITORS NOTE: We hope you enjoyed reading this article from OutGrown. We’re working hard to provide our community with content and resources that inform, inspire, and entertain you. But content is not free. It’s built on the hard work and dedication of writers, editors, and volunteers. We make an investment in developing premium content to make it easier for families with young children to connect with nature and each other. We do not ask this lightly, but if you can, please make a contribution and help us extend our reach.  

Overview: OutGrown and Burley have partnered to create the "My Biking Workbook," a fun and interactive resource that encourages families to explore the outdoors through biking. This workbook is packed with activities that promote safety, sensory engagement, and adventure. It includes sections like the Biking Sensory Ride, Safety Dance, Scavenger Hunt, and Design Your Own Bike Helmet. The workbook aims to help kids develop a love for biking and nature, making outdoor adventures educational and enjoyable. Key Features: Sensory Ride: Engage kids’ senses during bike rides. Safety Dance: Practice hand signals and learn bike safety. Scavenger Hunt: Enjoy a nature-based BINGO game during bike rides. Bike Helmet Design: Encourage creativity and safety. Adventure Snacks: Learn about healthy snacks for outdoor activities. Life in Motion: Explore how animals and people move in nature.

This blog was written in partnership with our friends at Turtle Fur. Every season has its challenges when it comes to finding the motivation to get outdoors. It could be too hot or too cold; too wet or too dry; too dark, windy, smoggy or muddy. We feel stuck indoors and our physical, mental and emotional well-being can take a hit because of it. “Spending time in nature is linked to both cognitive benefits and improvements in mood, mental health and emotional well-being.” American Psychological Association. That’s why it’s so important to try to spend at least 10 meaningful minutes outside each day. The health benefits of spending time outside Getting a breath of fresh air can do more than improve our lungs—there are many proven benefits for the whole family to spending time outside. Benefit: Increased serotonin Exposing the body to sunshine naturally increases serotonin levels—those "happy" boosters we produce that impact things like our memory, stress, digestion and sleep.   Benefit: Increased Vitamin D Sun exposure is also a great way to naturally absorb vitamin D. We need vitamin D for healthy bone growth but also to help control cancer cell development, infections and inflammation in our bodies.   Benefit: Reduced cortisol levels
 Cortisol is the hormone that helps give us the energy we produce to wake up in the morning and also helps us fall asleep and rest as levels lower in our body. When we have high levels of cortisol we can suffer from things like anxiety, weight gain and heart disease.   Benefit: Burned calories
 Exercise outdoors has the added benefits of natural inclines, wind resistance and varying terrain—all of which add to more calories being burnt from something as simple as a stroll around the block.   Benefit: Improved memory, focus and attention Studies show that nature directly contributes to enhanced brain development in children who spend quality time outdoors. Nature itself helps to decrease the heart rate and blood pressure, regulate body temperature and helps with cognitive skills, memory and attention.   Benefit: Decreased risk of heart disease The combination of increased vitamin D, reduced cortisol and easing physical tension in our bodies from time spent outdoors contributes to a decreased risk of developing heart disease.   Benefit: Improved sleep Falling asleep can be difficult when your body isn't in the right rhythm or is too wound up to get restful sleep. Spending time outdoors helps our brains sync with a sleep/wake cycle and fall into a more healthy pattern of day/night energy.   Benefit: Eased depression symptoms
 Spending more time outdoors increases the likelihood of feeling connected to nature—and can therefore lead to feeling less isolated and depressed.   Benefit: Boosted immune function
 It's not just a breath of fresh air that helps us feel better as we escape from indoor germs and bacteria—sunlight may activate T cells in our immune system to fight infections and some plants release immune-boosting phytoncides into the air.   Benefit: Increased happiness and peacefulness When we soak up natural sunlight, breathe fresh air and appreciate the beauty of nature on a consistent basis, we increase our ability to feel true happiness and peace. We feel more connected, less confined and at ease from all the benefits of spending meaningful time outdoors regularly. Make it a habit to get outdoors every day Try to make it a habit to spend time in nature every day by starting small and finding others to motivate you and your family. Take a little extra time as you do your daily activities outside—like when you are walking into work, school or running errands. Find accountability buddies or communities with like-minded goals and inspire others while you achieve yours! Soon, it will become "natural" to spend more time in nature and you will reap the benefits of improved mental, physical and emotional well-being. Want to view more studies and learn more? We think this article is a great resource. Looking for a fun way to support our Hike it Baby program? Check out the Totally Tubular Comfort Shell from our partner, Turtle Fur! ABOUT OUTGROWN OutGrown is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to create a world where everyone can enjoy the physical and mental benefits of spending time outside. We are focused on creating opportunities and removing barriers to access so families with babies and young children can take their first steps outside. We believe all families have the right to connect with nature, benefit from spending time outdoors and be inspired to a lifelong love of nature. Since its grassroots inception in 2013, OutGrown is a growing community of 280,000 families and over 300 volunteer Branch Ambassadors. More information on all of our programs can be found at WeAreOutGrown.org    EDITORS NOTE: We hope you enjoyed reading this article from OutGrown. We’re working hard to provide our community with content and resources that inform, inspire, and entertain you. But content is not free. It’s built on the hard work and dedication of writers, editors, and volunteers. We make an investment in developing premium content to make it easier for families with young children to connect with nature and each other. We do not ask this lightly, but if you can, please make a contribution and help us extend our reach.

Downloadable PDF with resources for promoting and joining the Spring Sensory Celebration.