Michelle Obama get American children off video games & into National Parks

Best-selling children’s author asks Michelle Obama to make her next priority a national school Nature Program, to ensure children spend time in nature. Children need to replace time with TV, smart phones, and video games with nature to boost creativity, exercise, and reduce stress.

St. Paul, USA – April 7, 2016 /PressCable/ —

Michelle Obama championed better food in schools, and best-selling author Geoffrey Saign feels it is imperative she also champion the minds and spirits of children with a national school Nature Program. “Children are being told that their happiness depends on screen time–video games, TV programming, and smart phones.” Saign believes Michelle should dispute that, and help children realize happiness depends in part on time spent in nature. Research shows that time spent in nature soothes stress, provides exercise, develops creative minds, and gives endless beauty, free of charge.

Author of best-selling WhipEye Chronicles, Saign asserts, “We are raising a generation that is disconnected from nature, wildlife, and the beauty of this planet. Nature has become just another tourist amusement spot. We need the current generation of kids to fall in love with the planet, and want to take care of it, and that won’t happen if they don’t spend time outdoors. More, we need students to understand their health of mind and body depend on spending time in nature.”

In the U.S., 90% of children do not spend time outdoors on a regular basis;18% of children in the U.S. are obese. A recent poll showed 3/4 of UK children spend less time outside than prison inmates. A national school Nature Program would ensure students spend daily time in nature—whether at a local wildlife refuge, state park, national park, or any other protected area of nature. Children must learn that nature is as important as mathematics or any other subject. Many families do not have access, time, or the inclination to take their children into nature regularly. Thus, Michelle Obama should champion a national Nature Program as vigorously as she pushed for healthier foods in school lunches. Saign, a longtime educator, said he was often dismayed that while teaching students about healthy nutrition, they were then served food at lunchtime with low nutritional value. He is just as dismayed that so many of his students spend so little time outside in nature, and are stuck inside at desks all day when they need exercise and exposure to nature.”

Saign’s award-winning middle-grade fantasy novel, WhipEye, (Book 1, WhipEye Chronicles), captured the 2015 International Book Award for Children’s Fiction (U.S. Book News) and the 2015 Outstanding Children’s Fiction (IAN Book of the Year Awards). His goal in writing the fast-paced fantasy series was to inspire children to fall in love with nature and wildlife, as seen through the eyes of the main character, animal nerd Samantha Green. WhipEye Chronicles includes 100 species of wild animals in each book to spur reader interest, and to educate. The quirky, sometimes humorous books have a unique blend of fantasy, action, and nature, and seek to instill in children a deep sense of protection and care about this beautiful planet. The main characters, Samantha and Jake, risk everything to protect nature and wildlife.

Saign has worked in special education for decades, teaches a cutting-edge self-awareness class, and worked hard to get children involved with nature as much as possible. He hopes young readers will identify with the main characters, Samantha and Jake, and then want to spend time outdoors. Children have become afraid of feeling discomfort, dealing with bugs, or going into forests. “The adults in education need to change their perspective and show students the beauty and value nature has to offer, instead of viewing it as just a commodity for business and tourism.”

Geoffrey Saign has a degree in biology, and spends time daily hiking, swimming, and looking at wild critters. He has sailed as far away as Australia. He is also the author of Green Essentials; What You Need to Know About the Environment, African Cats, and Great Apes.

For more information about us, please visit http://www.geoffreysaign.net

Contact Info:
Name: Geoffrey Saign
Email: geoffreysaign@centurylink.net
Organization: KiraKu Press
Address: 1342 W. Maynard Dr. Apt. 495, St Paul, MN 55116
Phone: 651 698 5097

Release ID: 109216