3 Super Simple Ways To Get Your Kids To Hug More Trees

Ah, the great indoors. These days, our kids are growing up expert navigators of touchscreens, smartphones, and technology—all between four walls. But the reality is that they'll be inheriting a planet that (still) needs all the love it can get.

While this is a far cry from the carefree younger years that many of us enjoyed—you know, playing in the front yard with the neighborhood kids until we had to go back inside for dinner and homework—the good news is that science is on our childhoods' side. For starters, playing in the dirt is great for kids' immune systems, and there's lots of evidence showing that children who run and play for over an hour a day develop better cognitive skills than those who don't. The even better news is that there's no right or wrong way to add a bigger dose of nature to your lives.

But in honor of National Love A Tree day, we can think of one place that provides all the magic and fun you need to help your kids get active and learn about the environment—our forests. With more than 190 million acres accessible from both the 'burbs and urban sprawls, forests are amazing playgrounds for kids to discover their natural world—and grow to become good stewards of the Earth.

Immersing your kids in nature starts with just getting out of the house—but instead of saying, "Let's go on a hike," which can sound like a lot of work, just say, "Let's find somewhere fun to explore."

We get that walking a flat road is kinda…boring. Find a local forest for a micro adventure: Winding trails are interesting, there are endless trees to hug, and it's even better if there are lakes or streams close by to throw rocks into. Your kids can roam, get dirty, climb real rocks, and feed their hungry minds while they're at it.

Fire up their imaginations with stories that put the spotlight on our planet and its unique ecosystems like our forests: They'll feel engaged learning about its fascinating science, funny animals, and real-life environmental themes. A crop of beautiful new children's books focus on the sensory worlds and critters of our forests—check out this New York Times book list and this Good Reads book list for recs.

Sharing the woodsy adventures with friends helps enrich your child's experiences and builds memories that feature nature as the backdrop. It doesn't have to be a huge lift, either: Plan a monthly outing to check out a nearby trail and pack a picnic, or design a scavenger hunt for the kids to collect "nature finds." Pick items that will foster educational conversations, and don't forget a little prize for discovering each one.

If you can't make it out—simply just get together and learn about our U.S. Forest Service and how to support nonprofits like the National Forest Foundation.