woods behind his house and making pictures of nature. “So we worked together to find ways he could go outside more often and learn to listen to his mind and body. Now, when he feels sad, he knows it’s time to go outside for a dose of nature.” Nature might even help kids with asthma. Dr. Renjilian says there have been studies showing that kids with asthma who spend more time around trees appear to have fewer symptoms. Dr. Renjilian says he talks to all the families in his practice about the benefits of outdoor play. He also offers help to find activities and safe places where kids can be outside. “I even talk to grown-ups about getting outside more often when they’re in the office with their kids,” he says, “because if I prescribe outdoor activity to kids, their parents want to do the same thing.” —By Healthy Outlook staff St. Raymond of Penafort Catholic School 19 Illustration by Zakirah Woolard-Bryant, St. Martin de Porres Healthy Saint NaturePHL offers a guide to Philadelphia parks and outdoor events on its website: www.naturephl.org