MANILA, 13 July 2021 — Organizers of parks and institutions that provide children with rich and instinctive environmental learning will gather virtually to encourage families to engage more with nature-based activities amid the pandemic on the 53rd episode of “Stories for a Better Normal: Pandemic and Climate Change Pathways,” with the topic, “Restore Our Earth (Children’s Edition).”
 
The program, conceptualized and hosted by three-term former Senator, now Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda, will air on Thursday, 15 July 2021, 10:00 AM via Facebook Live at facebook.com/CCCPhl and facebook.com/iamlorenlegarda.
 
Joining the online conversation are managers of children recreational facilities including Bambi Mañosa-Tanjutco,  President and CEO of Museo Pambata, with daughters Isabella and Natasha Tanjutco of Kids for Kids; Edeline Payawal, Manager of Hiraya Childhood Playfarm; and Shawi Cortez, Founder of Forest School Philippines, to discuss fun activities for kids while at the same time providing environmental awareness and learning.
 
Nature plays a significant role in a child's growth. It is said that having physical contact with the natural world can positively impact a child’s acquisition of knowledge and development.
 
However, as the urban lifestyle progresses, people slowly become disconnected to the natural world, and the pandemic further shifted the life of children completely indoors that made learning and playing primarily through gadgets. The lack of sensorial stimulation and learning from touch, smell, and feel in nature is seen as breeding apathy towards environmental concerns.
 
The upcoming episode will provide tips to viewers, especially parents and teachers, on how to bring their children and students closer to nature towards raising them to have a healthy relationship with the world around them and teaching them the role of the youth in restoring the Earth.
 
As an online discussion to promote health, environmental consciousness, and climate-adaptive practices, "Stories for a Better Normal" aims to change the mindset of individuals, families, and communities by demonstrating ways in which a ‘better normal’ can be realized within our communities.
 
This online discussion is organized in partnership between the Office of Deputy Speaker Legarda and the Climate Change Commission, with support from the Department of Education, Philippine Information Agency, Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, The Climate Reality Project-Philippines and Mother Earth Foundation.