Digging Into Nature: Outdoor Adventures for Happier and Healthier Kids

You know your child would benefit from more time spent outside and less spent on a screen. But how important is it really? And what can you do to make it happen? In Digging Into Nature, pediatricians and nature advocates Drs. Pooja Sarin Tandon and Danette Swanson Glassy make the evidence-based case that your whole family will be happier, healthier, and more resilient when you spend time in nature. They offer a wealth of suggestions for age-appropriate, nature-based activities and guidance to help prioritize outside time. In addition to being doctors, Drs. Tandon and Glassy are also busy parents and grandparents. They recognize that your family might face challenges with regard to time, access, and more, when trying to get more green time. Their inclusive approach will help you address those obstacles will ensure your children reap the gifts that the great outdoors offers.

Pooja Sarin Tandon, MD, MPH, FAAP, is a general pediatrician and researcher at the Seattle Children’s Research Institute, associate professor at the University of Washington’s School of Medicine, and Director of Health at the Trust for Public Land. She has published widely on the importance of physical activity, outdoor time, and nature contact for health. She lives in the Seattle area with her husband and two children. 

Danette Swanson Glassy, MD, FAAP, is a primary care pediatrician and child advocate. She is the co-founder and board president of the not-for-profit BestStart Washington and leads it’s Project Nature initiative–a program to support pediatric medical providers as they encourage children to spend time in nature. She is the co-editor of Caring for Our Children: National Health and Safety Performance Standards; Guidelines for Early Care and Education Programs, 4th edition. Dr. Glassy lives in the Seattle area and enjoys exploring nature in the Pacific Northwest with her 2 grandchildren.