Until the Streetlights Come On: How a Return to Play Brightens Our Present and Prepares Kids for an Uncertain Future

It may shock you to learn that we spend an average of 4-7 minutes outside each day—while we spend 4-7 hours using devices with screens. Needless to say, our physical, mental, emotional, and relational health has suffered. But there is a ready solution: get outside! A homeschooling mother of five and founder of the global 1000 Hours Outside movement, Ginny Yurich explains how we got to this point—and how to get back to a healthier, more engaging relationship with the world outside. With a mom’s heart and an educator’s eye, Ginny shows you· the importance of unstructured play for children· what boredom actually contributes to our brains· the value of sunlight and social play· the role of play in lifelong learning· how to make time outside more attractive to your child than screentime· and much moreIf you want your kids to grow up curious, resilient, and with a sense of adventure and community, it’s essential to make outside play a priority. This book shows you why and how.***”Ginny didn’t ask me to endorse this book. I asked her if I could because I’m such a big fan of her work. This is an important book today, but I believe it will be even more important tomorrow and next year. Why? Because it’s going to get easier and easier to isolate inside as technology continues to give us avenues to hide from the great outdoors. What will you find in this book? An invitation to explore. An invitation to be brave. An invitation to be different. An invitation to answer that quiet voice in your heart that says, ‘Could we go back outside?’ You can. You should. You must! At least until the streetlights come on.”—Jon Acuff, New York Times bestselling author of Soundtracks