When I was growing up, a garden was plants - and almost entirely food at that, other than the border of marigolds that were supposed to keep the rabbits out and the weeds we grudgingly picked. I've been watching my own daughters interact with our gardens this summer and have been amazed at their independent curiosity and creativity. In the process I've learned, right along with them, that a garden is much, much more than plants.

Our garden is a sanctuary. Birds visit our pond for refreshment during hot summer days. Butterflies visit our flowers to fulfill their biological destiny of spreading pollen. Bugs, slugs and worms work their own magic, whether it be good or evil. While my daughters love watching the plants - picking the flowers and food - they have spent countless hours scavenging for other life forms.

They look under rocks to find beetles and slugs.


They gleefully hold their prized (temporary) prisoners (in this case, slugs - one of which fell off my daughter’s hand and almost down the front of my shirt. Boy, did they get a laugh out of my shriek of fear.)



They’ve also taken a "dead zone” of our beds and turned it into a fairy village. I came up with the idea, but they've taken it far beyond what I imagined. It's been a space hidden in shade behind their play house, in poor soil that simply nothing wants to live in - no matter how hard we try. This year I threw up my hands and decided to incorporate natural material we’d gathered from hiking to create an inviting space for fairies. Even if the fairies don't show up, they've drawn faces on rocks to populate the village with little stone citizens.


It has become a very natural (and more imaginative) version of Legos. And, we keep adding to it with new twigs and bark and rocks and such that we find on our very regular nature hikes.


This new perspective of gardening beyond plants has been extraordinary - one of many moments in my children's lives that they have been my teachers. I feel like as we age we get these very clear, focused lenses on life, like looking through a microscope or binoculars. We get so used to seeing life in this way, we forget the grand landscape that exists outside our restricted view. But, life is diversity and every single moment and molecule is tied to so many others. We miss everything by focusing on a simple something.

I don't see our garden as simply plants anymore. Now, I see everything - the food, the flowers, the bugs, the slugs, the ant colonies, the dirt, the rocks, the intentional architecture, the natural chaos - an entire planetary microcosm.

You can read more from Janelle at Healthy Child Healthy World, follow her on Twitter at @greenandhealthy, and find her on Facebook.

Summer is coming to an end. Have you enjoyed a fun break with your family? If your answer was "I wish!", we should talk. You don't have to go far from home to have a restful trip that teaches your kids about the world outside of your daily routine. By shifting our pre-child mindset of vacationing into a parenting one, we can see how these breaks can be well within reach with a little planning and prioritization, and without great expense.

Our family recently returned from a really fun, short vacation at a location about three hours from home. As we were driving back, I thought about how valuable these breaks are for us as parents, and how important it is that we recognize and honor what relaxation time means for families.

Long-distance trips (like Hawaii) or exciting outdoor adventures (like rafting the Grand Canyon) can be less relaxing when our children are small. Every heard anyone say: "I need a vacation from my vacation?” There’s no need to set yourself up for exhaustion!

Since my youngest was born, we have focused on short trips that don’t require long-distance travel. What is important for us is to step away from the home front and experience some enjoyment doing things that we love. For us, that is biking, hiking, canoeing and other outdoor pursuits. For you, it might be something different.

Just taking time to be together away from all the distractions of work, email, phone calls, bills arriving in the mail, and home management can reconnect a family. Also, it teaches kids important life skills like how to relax, take time for enjoyment and how to be present with people rather than just being productive.

Even on short trips, your kids are learning about the greater world beyond your daily routine. Even if you visit a spot close to home, the richness of new experiences are vital to their learning and growth. Think about what you would like for them to experience - nature, art, music, interesting geography, a physical challenge (like hiking), meeting people who have a different lifestyle - and pick a location that matches your goals.

Even if you are planning your trip around your kids, the perspective you can gain from just a couple of days away from home is priceless. You are likely to return with a new idea, a refreshed sense of gratitude and a bit more energy for home and work life.

Summer is almost over! Be sure to make time for a short, restful break - even if it's just a Saturday or afternoon trip into some unknown territory or a favorite nearby spot - before the fall arrives.

Are you gearing up for summer fun with your family? What kinds of trips will you be taking this year?

In our family, we love to go camping. Spending family time outdoors, appreciating the natural world and connecting in a slower-paced environment brings us closer together. It also teaches our kids how to respect and protect nature and gives them a personal relationship with our geographic area.

As you probably know, camping with kids is different than camping without kids! It is in many ways more fun. But it also requires extra planning and consideration.

Here are some tips to making your camping trip more kid-friendly:

1. Plan the trip as a family and get input from everyone – especially the children. To browse and reserve campgrounds, try Reserve America or the U.S. government's portal for campground reservations. Most states have a Web site for state park campgrounds, so try a Google search for yours!


2. Think about activities, not just scenic vistas. What do your kids like to do? Fishing? Swimming? Hiking in the woods? Try to find a camping spot with good activity options that will engage all members of your family. Educate yourself a bit about the place you're going, and be prepared to translate some local knowledge into exploratory activities relevant for your child's age. Looking for birds or bugs, dissecting a pine cone... whatever you'd enjoy exploring in your own back yard, only more so! And encourage your kids to leave most all of their toys behind. There will be plenty to explore!


3. Keep it short and sweet. Two to three nights is usually plenty for young children. As for the distance to your destination, avoid locations that require more than two of driving to get there, if possible. This gives your kids an opportunity to know your "neck of the woods" better, and shifts the balance of time away from traveling to and fro in favor of time spent at your destination.
   
4. Do a practice round. If your kids are new to camping, consider doing a backyard campout first, to practice setting up the tent and sleeping outside.


5. Come prepared to teach and model good stewardship. Depending on the camping arrangements, you may need bags to pack out your trash, to help kids understand the responsible and safe use of fire in camping, and avoid transporting firewood, buying locally or gathering it on-site instead.


6. Pack a simple first aid kit, including any medicines (especially prescriptions) you might need for fever, cough or allergies. We tend to bring herbal and homeopathic remedies. And remember the bug spray! We like the herbal spray Buzz Away.


7. Teach your kids what to do if they get lost. The most common advice is for them to stay right where they are if they are lost. Consider giving younger children a whistle to wear and blow if they need help.


8. Take clothing that can be layered so that you can adjust as the temperature changes. Plan for rain so you have fun even if it comes.


9. Bring several flashlights so the kids won’t fight over them. They are also fun to play with in the dark! Remember to bring extra batteries.


10. Bring more water than you think you will need and pack a small bottle for each child to carry.

Do you have tips from previous camping experiences with kids? What do you wish you had remembered to take? What was the best camping trip you took with your kids and why?