RE: https://mastodon.scot/@kim_harding/115819893488078946

This! 💯 %!

#MoreGreenTime #LessScreenTime #ReadingIsFundamental

#Nature’s Prescription for Our Future

Why caring for nature is caring for ourselves

By Dona Bertarelli October 31, 2025

Excerpt: "Nature’s ability to sustain us is not only ecological. It is deeply personal. More and more studies show that spending time in natural environments reduces stress, lowers blood pressure, and strengthens the immune system. A large study in the United Kingdom found that those who spent at least two hours a week outdoors were 59 percent more likely to report good health and 23 percent more likely to report high well-being, regardless of age, income, or location. Other research shows that even brief moments in nature, a walk in a park, the sound of birds, the sight of water, can already ease stress, steady the mind, and sharpen our attention."

Read more:
https://nautil.us/natures-prescription-for-our-future-1245190/?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us

#SolarPunkSunday #MoreGreenTime #LessScreenTime #GreenBathing

More students head back to class without one crucial thing: their phones

Sequoia Carrillo, September 1, 2025

Excerpt: "In Texas, every public and charter school student will be without their phones during the school day this fall. Brigette Whaley, an associate professor of education at West Texas A&M University, expects to see "a more equitable environment" in classrooms with higher student engagement.

"Last year, she tracked the success of a cell phone ban in one west Texas high school by surveying teachers throughout the year. They reported more participation by students, and also said they saw student anxiety plummet – mainly because students weren't afraid of being filmed at any moment and embarrassing themselves.

" 'They could relax in the classroom and participate,' she said. 'And not be so anxious about what other students were doing.'

"The findings in west Texas align with results from many of the states and districts that are heading back to school without phones: Students learn better in a #PhoneFree environment. Getting cell phones out of the classroom is a rare issue with significant bipartisan support, allowing a rapid adoption of policies across red and blue states alike.

"Some 31 states and the District of Columbia now restrict students' use of #CellPhones in schools, according to Education Week."

Read more / listen:
https://www.npr.org/2025/09/01/nx-s1-5495531/more-states-now-ban-cell-phones-in-schools

#TechAddiction #SmartPhoneAddiction #ReadABook #TalkToAFriend #TakeNotes #Handwriting #PayAttention #LessDistractions #LessScreenTime

More students head back to class without one crucial thing: their phones

September 1, 2025

"Some 31 states and the District of Columbia now restrict students' use of cell phones in schools, according to Education Week."

Read more:
https://www.npr.org/2025/09/01/nx-s1-5495531/more-states-now-ban-cell-phones-in-schools

#MoreQualityTimeLessScreenTime #MoreGreenTimeLessScreenTime #LessScreenTime #BeingPresent #SmartphoneAddiction #SolarPunkSunday

So, part of my ideal* bedtime routine involves turning off the computer, maybe watching a little Iron Chef or ASMR videos, then turning off the TV, making the rounds, check on kitty, change into comfy PJ's, rearrange the plush pals, and then read for a bit. On nights when my eyes are too tired to read, I'll listen to NPR on my clock radio (which has a timer).

* And yeah, I don't always stick to that routine, and when I don't, my sleep suffers.

#LessScreenTime #LightPollution #WindingDown #ReadABook #ListenToTheRadio #SleepDisruption

Speaking of #LightPollution...

#ScreenTime Before #Bed Is Ruining Your Child’s #Sleep (Here’s What Parents Need to Know)

by Don on February 26, 2025

"Establishing a Screen-Free Bedtime Routine

"Creating a peaceful bedtime routine doesn’t have to be complicated. Start by setting a consistent bedtime and work backward about 30-45 minutes to begin your routine. Replace screen activities with calming alternatives that help signal to your child’s body that it’s time to wind down.

"Begin by dimming the lights throughout the house to support natural #melatonin production. Choose quiet activities like reading stories together, listening to #GentleMusic, or practicing simple #BreathingExercises. Many families find success with a warm #bath or shower, followed by putting on comfortable pajamas and brushing teeth.

"Consider incorporating #mindful activities like #GentleStretching, #coloring, or #QuietPlay with #NonElectronicToys. Some children benefit from a brief #CuddleTime or sharing their favorite moments from the day. Keep a consistent order of activities to help your child feel secure and know what to expect.

"Remember that transition times can be challenging. Give clear, gentle reminders about upcoming routine steps, and offer praise when your child follows along. If your child seems resistant, try making it fun by turning routine tasks into simple games or using visual schedules for younger children.

"Store all devices in another room to avoid temptation, and make the bedroom a #ScreenFreeZone. This helps create a sleep-friendly environment and reinforces healthy boundaries around technology use."

Read more:
https://www.kidsmentalhealth.ca/screen-time-before-bed-is-ruining-your-childs-sleep-heres-what-parents-need-to-know/

#Parenting #LessScreenTime #ReadABook #Storytime #Bedtime #ChildhoodDevelopment #SmartPhoneAddiction #SleepDisruption

Why the Brain Prefers to Read on Paper

by Kris deDecker, October 25, 2013

" 'Beyond treating individual letters as physical objects, the human brain may also perceive a text in its entirety as a kind of physical landscape. When we read, we construct a #MentalRepresentation of the text in which meaning is anchored to structure.

"The exact nature of such representations remains unclear, but they are likely similar to the mental maps we create of terrain—such as mountains and trails—and of man-made physical spaces, such as apartments and offices.

"Both anecdotally and in published studies, people report that when trying to locate a particular piece of written information they often remember where in the text it appeared. We might recall that we passed the red farmhouse near the start of the trail before we started climbing uphill through the forest; in a similar way, we remember that we read about Mr. Darcy rebuffing Elizabeth Bennett on the bottom of the left-hand page in one of the earlier chapters.

"In most cases, paper books have more obvious topography than onscreen text. An open paperback presents a reader with two clearly defined domains—the left and right pages—and a total of eight corners with which to orient oneself. A reader can focus on a single page of a paper book without losing sight of the whole text: one can see where the book begins and ends and where one page is in relation to those borders. One can even feel the thickness of the pages read in one hand and pages to be read in the other.

"Turning the pages of a paper book is like leaving one footprint after another on the trail—there’s a rhythm to it and a visible record of how far one has traveled. All these features not only make text in a paper book easily navigable, they also make it easier to form a coherent mental map of the text.' "

https://www.notechmagazine.com/2013/10/why-the-brain-prefers-to-read-on-paper.html

#SolarPunkSunday #TechAddiction #Books #PhysicalBooks #ASMR #FullyEngaged #NeoLuddites #LessScreenTime #LibrariesRule #ReadABook #PaperMaps #PhysicalLandscape #Handwriting

So, this is very interesting... I know I used to find making clay balls in pottery class would help keep me focused and calm...

The #Meditative Art of #Hikaru #Dorodango: How Japanese Schoolchildren Turn Mud Into Shiny Spheres

A developmental psychology professor discovered hikaru dorodango in a Japanese schoolyard in 1999, and the practice is still inspiring artists worldwide today.

By Marla Mackoul
Aug 12, 2025

Excerpts: "No one is quite sure how hikaru dorodango originated, but it’s clear that it wouldn’t be as prominent as it is today without the efforts of Japanese developmental psychology professor Fumio Kayo. In 1999, Kayo was visiting a Kyoto nursery school to observe children at play when he noticed them deeply concentrated on forming playground dirt into shining spheres. It was a painstaking process even teachers would join in on. After working so long and so hard to create them, the dorodango would become treasured possessions of the children.

Making a dorodango involved locating the perfect soil, mixing it into mud, molding it into a sphere, and finally polishing it to perfection. The art requires patience, trial and error, and resourcefulness, causing it to be praised for its beneficial impact on early childhood development. Indeed, Kayo both published academic papers on the subject as well as developed a simple methodology that allowed him to introduce the activity to children across Kyoto. Hikaru dorodango was featured by Japanese public broadcaster NHK in 2001, and it has slowly gained prominence internationally—and among adults—since then.

"Other artists around the world have also found creating the mud balls to be both an excellent creative outlet as well as a grounding meditative practice. Artist Kiyoko Miki, for instance, uses different soil types and paint to create colored pastes, turning her dorodango into every color of the rainbow. She even drills holes into some to make charming flower vases."

Learn more:
https://www.mentalfloss.com/art/how-to-make-hikaru-dorodango-mud-ball?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us

#SolarpunkSunday #Japan #WorkingWithNature #ArtByHumans #MeditativeArt #MoreMudTime #LessScreenTime #ChildhoodDevelopment #Calming #Creative

#WikiHow - How to Beat an Addiction to Cell Phones: Tips to Get Off Your Phone

What to do if you think you have a phone addiction

Co-authored by Tiffany Douglass, MA and Aly Rusciano
Last Updated: March 19, 2025

"How do you stop being addicted to your phone?

- Schedule when and how long you can use your phone.
- Turn off notifications for apps and social media.
- Put your phone somewhere you can’t access it.
- Replace phone habits with new hobbies or constructive activities.
- Ask your loved ones for support to keep you accountable."

Learn more:
https://www.wikihow.com/Beat-an-Addiction-to-Cell-Phones

#SolarPunkSunday #TechAddiction #SmartPhoneAddiction #LessScreenTime #SpendTimeInNature #BoardGames #TheLudditeClub #MoreGreenTimeLessScreenTime

#Massachusetts - Learn, tinker and play at the #SpringfieldMuseums this summer

Ashley Potter
Fri, July 11, 2025 at 7:25 AM EDT

SPRINGFIELD — "Families can turn up the heat on summer fun while staying cool in air-conditioned halls at the Springfield Museums.

"Now open seven days a week through Aug. 15, the museums are offering a slate of activities including hands-on exhibitions, live entertainment on the Quadrangle Green, and music inspired by cultures from around the globe.

"Most summer activities are included with Museum admission, and that cost is waived for Springfield residents with proof of residence.

" 'I am hoping that visitors and their families leave the museums this summer thinking ‘I’ve learned something new,' said Abby Garner, Family Engagement Coordinator for the Springfield Museums, in an interview with The Republican.

" 'Whether that is from the #planetarium, one of our #musical performances, the additional activities we are offering, or from one of our visiting exhibits.'

"Some of the Museums’ summer activities are returning favorites, like the return of Giant Bubbles with Mr. Vinny, a show on the Quadrangle each Friday afternoon that encourages children to watch, chase and pop bubbles. The Toe Jam #Puppet Band, a children’s entertainment troupe that combines #music, #puppetry and #storytelling, also returns.

"Other activities, like hands-on experiences in the Cat’s Corner, Hasbro Games Art Discovery Center and #SparkLab, were curated by the Museum’s education staff for this year’s summer programming.

"In the Cat’s Corner, located inside of The Amazing World of #DrSeuss Museum, guests can read some of Ted Geisel’s stories and take part in facilitated art activities. In the Hasbro Games Art Discovery Center, located inside of the George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum, guests can participate in activities that range from arts and crafts to dress-up and puppet play. In the Spark!Lab, located inside of the Springfield Science Museum, make projects inspired by inventions and innovations in American history, or invent something totally new.

" 'Activities can change from week to week in our drop-in spaces, so there are new experiences often for visitors looking to visit more than once this summer,' Garner said.

A focus on music

"The summer schedule also offered the opportunity for more live music at the Museums.

" 'We’ve had musical performances on and off throughout the years, and they’re always really special events, especially when the weather’s nice and we can have them out on our #QuadrangleGreen and kids can dance and #sing and #play,' said Larissa Murray, Director of Education for the Springfield Museums. 'But we wanted to make it more of a featured event, something that you could plan for as opposed to it just happening now and again.'

"Wednesdays are a strong turn-out day for the Museums, Murray explained, making it the perfect opportunity to test out a new music program.

"As a result, the Springfield Museums are offering a 'Music on Wednesdays' program this summer, with a different group or performer scheduled each week. The live music begins on July 9 with the Community Music School of Springfield performing #BombaYPlena music from #PuertoRico and #WestAfrican-inspired drumming and dance."

Source:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/learn-tinker-play-springfield-museums-112542385.html

#SolarPunkSunday #LessScreenTime #Creativity #MultiCultural #MakeArt #BuildingCommunity #GlobalCommunity