About this episode

Ginny Yurich discusses the importance of outdoor play and homeschooling in children's learning and development.

Ginny Yurich, founder of 1000 Hours Outside, joins Sissy and David to explore how outdoor play, movement, and hands-on experiences prepare children to learn and grow. She shares how homeschooling has shaped her understanding of education, emphasizing that children learn constantly through their interests, relationships, everyday responsibilities, and time in nature. Ginny also explains how outdoor play builds problem-solving skills, agency, confidence, and the ability to assess healthy risks. In a rapidly changing, technology-driven world, she encourages parents to focus less on performance and more on developing distinctly human strengths such as creativity, empathy, communication, practical skills, and meaningful relationships. Resources mentioned: 1000 Hours Outside tracker sheets Homeschooling: You're Doing It Right Just by Doing It by Ginny Yurich Until the Streetlights Come On: How a Return to Play Brightens Our Present and Prepares Kids for an Uncertain Future by Ginny Yurich Smart Moves: Why Learning Is Not All in Your Head by Carla Hannaford Dumbing Us Down by John Taylor Gatto Learning All the Time by John Holt UnSelfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All-About-Me…

People in this episode

Hosts: Sissy, David

Guest: Ginny Yurich

Topics covered

• outdoor play
• homeschooling
• child development
• education
• parenting
• nature

Keywords

• outdoor play
• homeschooling
• child learning
• problem-solving skills
• creativity
• empathy
• nature

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: 1000 Hours Outside

Books & works: Homeschooling: You're Doing It Right Just by Doing It, Until the Streetlights Come On: How a Return to Play Brightens Our Present and Prepares Kids for an Uncertain Future, Smart Moves: Why Learning Is Not All in Your Head, Dumbing Us Down, Learning All the Time, UnSelfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All-About-Me World, The Self-Driven Child: The Science and Sense of Giving Your Kids More Control Over Their Lives, Simplicity Parenting: Using the Extraordinary Power of Less to Raise Calmer, Happier, and More Secure Kids

More episodes of Raising Boys & Girls

• Episode 409: Creating Community for Kids in Time of Grief with Toni Collier · September 10, 2026 · 40 min
• Episode 408: What Grief Looks Like at Different Ages with David and Sissy · September 8, 2026 · 30 min
• Episode 407: Joyful Anyway with Kate Bowler · September 3, 2026 · 34 min
• Episode 406: What Grief Looks Like in Kids with David and Sissy · September 1, 2026 · 24 min
• Episode 404: Our 5 Favorite Tips for Parent Teacher Conferences · August 25, 2026 · 24 min
• Episode 403: The Importance of a Family Devotion with Michael and Melissa Kruger · August 20, 2026 · 36 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Raising Boys & Girls podcast page.