As parents, we all know the benefits of getting our kids outside, but sometimes it’s easier said than done. Between school, sports, screen time battles, and just trying to survive daily life, it can be tough to make outdoor time a priority. That’s where these books come in. I’ve rounded up a collection of outdoor parenting books that’ll give you the tips, inspiration, and gentle nudges we all need to get back into nature (without feeling like a complete failure for not doing it already). Whether you’re looking for advice on how to peel your kids off the couch or just need a good read to remind you why nature is actually worth the effort, this list has something for you. Because let’s be honest—we could all use a little extra encouragement to make outdoor time happen, and these books are the perfect place to start.
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The benefits of spending time outside
You are probably already familiar with the multitude of reasons why getting kids outside is important—it boosts their mood, improves focus, builds confidence, improves health, and gets their little bodies moving! Outdoor play helps kids develop in ways that screens and indoor activities just can’t.
Mentally, being in nature helps reduce stress and anxiety, something even the smallest kids can feel (hello, temper tantrums). Fresh air and open spaces are calming and give kids a chance to decompress. Studies have shown that outdoor time can improve focus and concentration, making it easier for kids to tackle schoolwork or daily challenges with a clearer head. It also encourages creativity and problem-solving, since nature invites them to explore, imagine, and figure things out in a way that structured indoor play can’t match.
Physically, outdoor play gets kids moving their bodies in all the ways they should—running, jumping, climbing, balancing—all of which helps build strong muscles, bones, and coordination. It’s not just about burning off energy (though, let’s be honest, that’s a big plus). Regular time outside promotes better sleep, helps combat childhood obesity, and improves overall fitness. Kids who spend more time in nature also tend to develop stronger immune systems because of exposure to different environments.
Developmentally, outdoor play is crucial for building social skills, independence, and resilience. When kids are free to explore, they learn to take calculated risks, work through frustrations, and solve problems on their own, which boosts confidence. Plus, when they play outside with others, they learn teamwork, cooperation, and communication skills in a natural, less structured setting. All of these factors combine to help kids grow into well-rounded, capable, and confident humans who understand that the world is bigger than the screens in front of them.
Best books for raising outdoor kids
Getting outside is good for you…but don’t just take my word for it! There’s a mountain of research and countless books that back this up. I put together this list of some of our favorite outdoor parenting books to give you practical advice, fresh ideas, and a little inspiration to help make getting outside easier and more enjoyable for your whole family. These books break it down, offering guidance on how to make nature a regular part of your routine, creative ways to get your kids engaged, and some pretty amazing real-life stories that’ll remind you why it’s all worth it.
Two types of outdoor books
In this post, I’m sharing two different types of books that are absolute game-changers for getting your family outside more often.
- Outdoor Parenting – First, there are the practical parenting and advice books—full of tips, tricks, and strategies to help you make outdoor time a regular part of your family’s routine without losing your sanity.
- Adventure Stories – Then, there are the adventure stories and memoirs—perfect for when you need a little inspiration from families who’ve made nature a priority in their lives (and lived to tell the tale).
From parenting how-tos to tales of adventure, these books are sure to spark your imagination and help you discover new ways to bring a little more fresh air into your family’s day-to-day life. Because if we’re being honest, we could all use a bit more time outside!
Outdoor Parenting Books
When it comes to outdoor parenting, sometimes we all need a little help figuring out how to get the kids out the door. That’s where these outdoor parenting and advice books come in. Packed with practical tips, relatable stories, and strategies that actually work, these books are like having a seasoned outdoorsy parent whispering in your ear, reminding you that getting your kids outside doesn’t have to be a Herculean effort. Whether you’re trying to balance screen time with fresh air, looking for ways to make nature a part of your daily routine, or just want to understand why outdoor play is so important for your child’s development, these books offer a treasure trove of advice that’s down-to-earth, supportive, and totally doable. Here are a few of our favorite books on raising outdoorsy kids.
How to Raise a Wild Child: The Art and Science of Falling in Love with Nature
by Scott D. Sampson
This book, written by a paleontologist and host of PBS’s Dinosaur Train, is a guide for parents, teachers, and caregivers on fostering a lifelong love of nature in children. Sampson discusses the increasing disconnect between kids and nature (nature deficit disorder), and offers practical tips for becoming a “nature mentor” to help reverse this trend. The book explores how adults can help kids reconnect with the natural world, whether through technology as an ally or by finding urban nature spots. Sampson uses personal anecdotes and research to provide strategies for all ages, with 10 “secrets” to building a stronger connection with nature.
Balanced and Barefoot: How Unrestricted Outdoor Play Makes for Strong, Confident, and Capable Children
by Angela J. Hanscom
Written by a pediatric occupational therapist, this book emphasizes the critical importance of unstructured outdoor play for children’s development. Hanscom argues that modern children, often confined to indoor spaces and structured activities, are missing out on essential physical and emotional benefits. She outlines how unrestricted play helps build strength, confidence, and sensory integration, improving children’s physical health and mental well-being. The book also offers parents practical advice on encouraging more outdoor time, free play, and balancing indoor activities with time in nature.
Free-Range Kids, How to Raise Safe, Self-Reliant Children (Without Going Nuts with Worry)
by Lenore Skenazy
Lenore Skenazy, known for her advocacy of giving children more independence, writes about the benefits of allowing kids to explore, take risks, and become more self-reliant. She pushes back against the culture of fear that keeps children indoors and overprotected, arguing that kids need the freedom to roam, play, and discover the world on their own terms. With humor and insight, Skenazy provides tips for raising confident, capable children without succumbing to the anxieties of modern parenting.
There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather: A Scandinavian Mom’s Secrets for Raising Healthy, Resilient, and Confident Kids
by Linda Åkeson McGurk
This book is a blend of memoir and parenting advice, where the author contrasts the American approach to raising children with her native Scandinavian culture’s emphasis on outdoor play in all weather conditions. McGurk shares the philosophy of “Friluftsliv” (open-air living), advocating for outdoor time as essential, no matter the weather. She offers practical tips to encourage parents to embrace outdoor adventures year-round, debunking myths about needing perfect conditions for outdoor fun. Her personal experiences and research provide inspiration for fostering resilience and a love of nature in kids.
Free to Learn: Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life
by Peter Gray
Peter Gray explores the role of play in children’s development. He argues that allowing children more freedom to play, explore, and take risks is essential for their emotional and cognitive growth. Drawing from research in anthropology, psychology, and education, Gray critiques modern schooling and structured activities that restrict children’s autonomy. He makes a compelling case for free play as a powerful, natural form of learning, helping children develop critical life skills like problem-solving, creativity, and independence.
Coyote’s Guide to Connecting with Nature
by Jon Young
A practical and spiritual guide for parents, teachers, and mentors, this book focuses on the practice of “nature mentoring” to inspire a deep connection with the natural world. Jon Young and his co-authors combine indigenous wisdom with modern environmental education techniques, offering exercises, games, and activities to foster curiosity and a lasting relationship with nature. The book is designed to help children and adults alike rekindle their love for the outdoors through observation, storytelling, and hands-on experiences.
Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder
by Richard Louv
This groundbreaking book coined the term “nature-deficit disorder” to describe the growing disconnect between children and nature and is usually the first book recommended to outdoorsy parents. Louv links this alienation to rising rates of childhood obesity, ADHD, and depression. He argues that direct exposure to nature is essential for healthy childhood development—physically, emotionally, and intellectually. Through data and personal anecdotes, Louv emphasizes how critical it is for parents, educators, and society to prioritize getting kids back into nature, which offers benefits ranging from reduced stress to improved cognitive skills. His message is clear: spending time outdoors isn’t just fun; it’s necessary for a healthy life. This book is considered a must-read for parents and has sparked global conversations about reconnecting kids with the natural world.
The Nature Principle: Reconnecting with Life in a Virtual Age
by Richard Louv
In The Nature Principle, Richard Louv expands on his previous work, emphasizing that adults, not just children, need nature for emotional, physical, and mental well-being. He offers solutions for how individuals and communities can restore their relationship with nature, even in the midst of our tech-obsessed world. Louv provides practical ideas for making nature a part of daily life, showing how reconnecting with the outdoors can improve health, creativity, and happiness.
The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative
by Florence Williams
Florence Williams explores the science behind how nature impacts our mental and physical health. Drawing on research from around the world, she shows that time spent in natural environments can lower stress, boost mood, enhance creativity, and even improve cognitive function. Williams visits a variety of places—from forests in Japan to wilderness therapy programs—to demonstrate how different cultures embrace nature to enhance well-being. The book is a mix of storytelling, science, and practical advice on incorporating more outdoor time into our busy lives.
Your Brain On Nature: Become Smarter, Happier, and More Productive, While Protecting Your Brain Health for Life
by Eva M. Selhub and Alan C. Logan
This book dives into the impact of the natural world on brain health, explaining how exposure to nature can improve cognitive function, emotional well-being, and physical health. Selhub and Logan use scientific research to support their claims and offer practical ways for people to incorporate more nature into their daily routines. They also highlight how spending time in natural environments can help with stress reduction and even prevent certain mental health issues.
Vitamin N: The Essential Guide to a Nature-Rich Life
by Richard Louv
In this companion to Last Child in the Woods, Louv offers a practical guide filled with ideas and tips for incorporating more nature into everyday life. The “N” stands for nature, and this book provides hundreds of activities and strategies for families, schools, and communities to connect with the outdoors. Louv emphasizes the importance of fostering a nature-rich life, offering advice for parents and educators on how to create a lasting relationship with the natural world.
Outdoor Kids in an Inside World: Getting Your Family Out of the House and Radically Engaged with Nature
by Steven Rinella
A practical guide for parents who want to inspire their kids to spend more time outdoors in an era dominated by screens. As a seasoned outdoorsman, Rinella offers a refreshing approach to modern parenting by sharing ways to re-engage children with nature, no matter where you live—whether in an urban, suburban, or rural setting. The book emphasizes the physical, mental, and developmental benefits of outdoor activities, offering ideas such as camping, gardening, fishing, and even hunting (with a focus on sustainable practices). These activities help kids develop resilience, patience, self-reliance, and a deeper connection with the natural world. Rinella’s advice is both hands-on and down-to-earth, with suggestions for how families can incorporate more outdoor experiences into their daily lives. From conquering fears around the campfire to teaching the value of hard work through gardening, the book provides tips for building tough, curious, and capable kids while creating lasting family memories in nature.
The Green Hour: A Daily Dose of Nature for Happier, Healthier, Smarter Kids
by Todd Christopher
The National Wildlife Federation, on its website GreenHour.org, recommends that parents give their child a “green hour” every day–a time for unstructured play and interaction with the natural world. Whether in the backyard, the local park, or a green space farther afield, time spent outdoors is essential to the healthy development of young minds, bodies, and spirits. Todd Christopher, the creator of GreenHour.org, has filled this book with activities designed to encourage discovery, creative play, and a wonder of nature. Here, you’ll find a range of projects, fun facts, and science lessons meant to engage and invigorate your child, as well as practical advice for parents that makes getting outdoors easy and worry-free. With creative, science-based ideas for a variety of natural settings, getting your family’s daily dose of nature just got easier.
Let Them Eat Dirt: Saving Your Child from an Oversanitized World
by B. Brett Finlay and Marie-Claire Arrieta
This book explores the importance of exposing children to microbes for their long-term health. Drawing on the latest scientific research, the authors argue that modern hygiene practices, while important for fighting infections, have gone too far, potentially leading to an increase in chronic conditions like allergies, asthma, and obesity. The book explains how exposure to natural environments, pets, and even dirt can help build a child’s immune system. It offers practical advice for parents on matters like childbirth, breastfeeding, and diet to support their children’s microbiome. This engaging read challenges conventional ideas about cleanliness and advocates for a more balanced approach to raising healthy, resilient kids in a hyper-sanitized world.
UNPLUGGED: 15 Steps to Disconnect from Technology and Reconnect with Nature, Yourself, Friends, and Family
by Jason Runkel Sperling
What if a few new activities could completely transform your family? Imagine waking up in the morning feeling excited to take on the day. This book will show you how to increase your happiness, health, and connection with a few simple steps. This book covers 15 steps to improve your connection with nature, the great outdoors, yourself, friends, and family, such as how to apply the Law of Attraction to help you unplug, build your tribe when you’re starting from zero, utilize your circle of influence to inspire motivation, and disconnect from technology to focus on what really is important.
Adventure Stories (and parenting along the way)
Adventure stories have a special way of sparking our imagination and reminding us of the possibilities that come with spending time outdoors. In this section, we’re diving into books that blend tales of adventure with the ups and downs of parenting. These books don’t just entertain—they inspire us to pack up the kids, hit the trails, and embrace the messy, unpredictable joys of family life in the wild. They’re a great read when you’re in the mood for adventure or in between adventures.
Whether it’s epic journeys through remote landscapes or heartwarming stories of small backyard discoveries, these adventure memoirs remind us that parenting and outdoor exploration go hand-in-hand. Along the way, these authors share wisdom about resilience, patience, and the beauty of experiencing nature with our children, even when things don’t always go as planned (because, let’s face it, they rarely do). So, if you’re in need of a little inspiration to take that next big (or small) adventure with your kids, these books are for you.
2,000 Miles Together: The Story of the Largest Family to Hike the Appalachian Trail
by Ben Crawford
2,000 Miles Together is the story of the largest family ever to complete a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail, defying skeptics and finding friends in the unlikeliest of places. On the trail, Ben Crawford battled not only the many dangers and obstacles presented by the wilderness – snowstorms, record-breaking heat, Lyme disease, overflowing rivers, toothaches, rattlesnakes, forest fires, and spending the night with a cult – but also his own self-doubt. In an effort to bring his family closer together, was he jeopardizing his future relationship with his kids? When the hike was done, would any of them speak to him again? The Crawford family’s self-discovery over five months, thousands of miles, and countless gummy bears proves that there’s more than one way to experience life to the fullest. You don’t have to accept the story you’ve been shown. By leaving home, you’ll find more than just adventure – you’ll find a new perspective on the relationships we often take for granted, and open yourself up to a level of connection you never thought possible.
This One Wild Life: A Mother-Daughter Wilderness Memoir
by Angie Abdou
This personal memoir of self-discovery tackles the problems of modern parenting in a digital age. Disillusioned with overly competitive organized sports and concerned about her lively daughter’s growing shyness, author Angie Abdou sets herself a challenge: to hike a peak a week over the summer holidays with Katie. They will bond in nature and discover the glories of outdoor activity. What could go wrong? Well, among other things, it turns out that Angie loves hiking, but Katie doesn’t. Hilarious, poignant, and deeply felt, This One Wild Life explores parenting and marriage in a summer of unexpected outcomes and growth for both mother and daughter.
The Curve of Time
by M. Wylie Blanchet
The 50th anniversary edition of this coastal British Columbia classic, now in beautifully illustrated hardcover, will make a timeless keepsake. This is a biography and astonishing adventure story of a woman who, left a widow in 1927, packed her five children onto a 25-foot boat and cruised the coastal waters of British Columbia, summer after summer. Muriel Wylie Blanchet acted single-handedly as skipper, navigator, engineer and, of course, mother, as she saw her crew through encounters with tides, fog, storms, rapids, cougars and bears. She sharpened in her children a special interest in Haida culture and in nature itself. In this book, she left us with a sensitive and compelling account of their journeys.
Wonder Year: A Guide to Long-Term Family Travel and Worldschooling
by Julie Frieder, Angela Heisten, Annika Paradise
If you’ve ever dreamed about an epic family adventure and heading out on the road for a few months or more, Wonder Year is for you. Part inspiration and part how-to, this book demystifies the seemingly outrageous prospect of embarking on a long-term family trip and using the world as a classroom for your kids―a trailblazing approach known as worldschooling. Packed with practical information, Wonder Year offers invaluable guidance to help transform your dream into a well-planned reality for your family. Woven throughout the book are evocative travelogues and photos from families sharing worldschooling experiences. Paddling a wild and scenic Oregon river, stargazing in New Mexico, and visiting World War II sites in France are just a few of the colorful stories that will no doubt stir you to envision your own journey.
Portage: A Family, a Canoe, and the Search for the Good Life
by Sue Leaf
When as a child she first saw a canoe gliding on Lake Alexander in central Minnesota, Sue Leaf was mesmerized. The enchantment stayed with her and shimmers throughout this book as we join Leaf and her family in canoeing the waterways of North America, always on the lookout for the good life amid the splendors and surprises of the natural world. The journey begins with a trip to the border lakes of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, then wanders into the many beautiful little rivers of Minnesota and Wisconsin, the provincial parks of Canada, the Louisiana bayou, and the arid West. A biologist and birder, Leaf considers natural history and geology, noticing which plants are growing along the water and which birds are flitting among the branches. Part travelogue, part natural and cultural history, Portage is the memoir of one family’s thirty-five-year venture into the watery expanse of the world.
Wild Mama: One Woman’s Quest to Live Her Best Life, Escape Traditional Parenthood, and Travel the World
by Carrie Visintainer
When Carrie Visintainer became a mother at the age of thirty-two, she worried it was all over, that her adventurous life was done. World travel? Adios. Solo explorations in the mountains? Ciao. Creative outlets? She wondered, are diapers my new white canvas? Immersed in a whirlwind of sleeplessness and spit-up, she was madly in love with her new baby, yet she also felt her adventurous spirit and core identity crumbling. So Carrie laced up her boots and set out on a soul-searching journey, with revelations near and far. Inside a local Walmart, she realized that new motherhood is like traveling to a foreign country, with a new vocabulary, unknowable customs, and extreme jetlag. Lying in a yurt in the Colorado forest, she came to terms with her postpartum depression. While sailing on a gullet off the coast of Turkey, she examined feelings of guilt about leaving her child in pursuit of adventure. And then, while perched in a handsome stranger’s motorcycle sidecar in the Mexican jungle, she found herself face-to-face with her central quandary: Domesticity vs. Wanderlust. Finally, she discovered she could—and should—have both.
Up: A Mother and Daughter’s Peakbagging Adventure
by Patricia Ellis Herr
When Trish Herr became pregnant with her first daughter, Alex, she and her husband, Hugh, vowed to instill a bond with nature in their children. By the time Alex was five, her over-the-top energy levels led Trish to believe that her very young daughter might be capable of hiking adult-sized mountains. In Up, Trish recounts their always exhilarating–and sometimes harrowing–adventures climbing all forty-eight of New Hampshire’s highest mountains. This is, at heart, a resonant, emotionally honest account of a mother’s determination to foster independence and fearlessness in her daughter, to teach her “that small doesn’t necessarily mean weak; that girls can be strong; and that big, bold things are possible.”
Moms Who Hike: Walking with America’s Most Inspiring Adventurers
by Heather Balogh Rochfort
Moms Who Hike celebrates the athleticism, wisdom, and skill of over twenty of America’s most inspiring adventurer mothers ranging from legends to rising stars of today. The book is both inspirational and aspirational as each adventurer tells her story in her own words through featuring their favorite hike, highlighting personal challenges, accomplishments, and philosophy, as well as providing readers with practical how-to suggestions on maximizing not only their own potential in hiking but in life. The profiles are complemented by stunning color photographs. Each profile includes a map of the hike being profiled, hike specs, miles and directions, GPS coordinates to the trailhead, and a sidebar of something noteworthy about the hike, the location, or the adventurer.
World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishments
by Aimee Nezhukumatathil
From beloved, award-winning poet Aimee Nezhukumatathil comes a debut work of nonfiction – a collection of essays about the natural world, and the way its inhabitants can teach, support, and inspire us. As a child, Nezhukumatathil called many places home: the grounds of a Kansas mental institution, where her Filipina mother was a doctor; the open skies and tall mountains of Arizona, where she hiked with her Indian father; and the chillier climes of western New York and Ohio. But no matter where she was transplanted – no matter how awkward the fit or forbidding the landscape – she was able to turn to our world’s fierce and funny creatures for guidance. “What the peacock can do,” she tells us, “is remind you of a home you will run away from and run back to all your life.” The axolotl teaches us to smile, even in the face of unkindness; the touch-me-not plant shows us how to shake off unwanted advances; the narwhal demonstrates how to survive in hostile environments. Even in the strange and the unlovely, Nezhukumatathil finds beauty and kinship. For it is this way with wonder: it requires that we are curious enough to look past the distractions in order to fully appreciate the world’s gifts.
Il Bel Centro: A Year in the Beautiful Center
by Michelle Damiani
When Michelle Damiani dreamed of living in Italy, she imagined her family as it was in Virginia – her husband filling every moment with work, her teenage son experimenting with sarcasm, her daughter smiling at the scent of lilacs, her baby-cheeked son methodically clicking Legos together, and herself hovering over the happiness of them all – only surrounded by ancient cobblestone alleys and the sound of ringing Italian. What she didn’t know was how Italy would work to change them all.
Home Grown: Adventures in Parenting off the Beaten Path, Unschooling, and Reconnecting with the Natural World
by Ben Hewitt
When Ben Hewitt and his wife bought a sprawling acreage of field and forest in northern Vermont, they were eager to start a self-sustaining family farm. But over the years, the land became so much more than a building site; it became the birthplace of their two sons, the main source of family income and food, and even a classroom for their children. Through self-directed play, exploration, and experimentation on their farm, Hewitt’s children learned how to play and read, test boundaries and challenge themselves, fail and recover. Best of all, this environment allowed their personalities to flourish, fueling further growth. In Home Grown, Hewitt shows us how small, mindful decisions about day-to-day life can lead to greater awareness of the world in our backyards and beyond. In telling the story of his sons’ unconventional education in the fields and forests surrounding his family’s farm, he demonstrates that the sparks of learning are all around us, just waiting to be discovered. Learning is a lifelong process—and the best education is never confined to a classroom.
Before They’re Gone: A Family’s Year-Long Quest to Explore America’s Most Endangered National Parks
by Michael Lanza
A longtime backpacker, climber, and skier, Michael Lanza knows our national parks like the back of his hand. As a father, he hopes to share these special places with his two young children. But he has seen firsthand the changes wrought by the warming climate and understands what lies ahead: Alaska’s tidewater glaciers are rapidly retreating, and the abundant sea life in their shadow departs with them. Painfully aware of the ecological—and spiritual—calamity that global warming will bring to our nation’s parks, Lanza sets out to show his children these wonders before they have changed forever. He takes his nine-year-old son, Nate, and seven-year-old daughter, Alex, on an ambitious journey to see as many climate-threatened wild places as he can fit into a year. Through these poignant and humorous adventures, Lanza shares the beauty of each place and shows how his children connect with nature when given “unscripted” time. Ultimately, he writes, this is more their story than his, for whatever comes of our changing world, they are the ones who will live in it.
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants
by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Drawing on her life as an indigenous scientist, and as a woman and mother, Kimmerer shows how other living beings―asters and goldenrod, strawberries and squash, salamanders, algae, and sweetgrass―offer us gifts and lessons, even if we’ve forgotten how to hear their voices. In reflections that range from the creation of Turtle Island to the forces that threaten its flourishing today, she circles toward a central argument: that the awakening of ecological consciousness requires the acknowledgment and celebration of our reciprocal relationship with the rest of the living world. For only when we can hear the languages of other beings will we be capable of understanding the generosity of the earth, and learn to give our own gifts in return.
Best books for outdoorsy parents
These favorite books are perfect for nature-loving parents who want to inspire their kids to spend more time outside. Whether you’re looking for a great read full of useful tips, benefits of spending time outside, or a great way to motivate your family to take more camping and road trips, this book list has something for everyone. From practical parenting advice to adventurous memoirs, these books cover all the great things nature has to offer—no matter the age of your children. They are the perfect books to borrow from your local library or add to your book lists for future outdoor adventures.
Whether you’re planning your next family adventure or just looking for a great read to help you prioritize outdoor time, this roundup is full of great things that will resonate with both first-time and seasoned parents alike. So grab one of these books, hit the library or bookstore, and get ready to reconnect with nature!