"Taking the kids outside was like some kind of parenting magic. It
made everything easier. We had happier kids who were more fun to be
around. Outside, they played more
creatively and they rarely argued. As the year progressed, we found that
we were calmer, less stressed and more grounded...
"To our surprise, the kids stopped asking for the iPad. They stopped
asking to watch TV. After a while, they started noticing the birds.
Phoebe was only one, but she had soon learned the names of all the
different birds that visited our backyard... Outside our children would
run. They would chase each other or ride their bikes for hours. And soon
they started asking to go to bed earlier.
"On one warm spring
night, the little boy from next door called out to Ezra across the
fence. “Ezra, have you had your dinner yet? Do you want to come back out
and play?” Ezra stuck his head out the back-door and called back,
“Sorry Lucas, I can’t. I’m tired and I’m going to bed.” It was 5.15pm."
