“The child in nature is an endangered species,” writes Richard Louv, author of “Last Child in the Woods,” which links the rise in childhood obesity, attention deficit disorder, as well as childhood depression, to children’s estrangement with nature.
As the spring season is upon us and we have the urge to air out the winter staleness that lingers, this theory is well worth our contemplation. Do you have fond memories of building a fort in the woods, seeking out a good climbing tree or catching frogs in a pond? There is a new movement aptly entitled Leave No Child Inside, which suggests today’s children need more good, old-fashioned carefree playtime in the great outdoors.
Our children need to be reunited with their natural environment.
Many of the activities that they engage in outdoors are structured and adult-directed. There is actually a body of research that confirms personal experiences with nature are essential to healthy physical and emotional development. Going to soccer camp is not the same as an adventure in the woods armed with only your senses and a good imagination.
It seems like just common sense that children get outside and have fun, but there are many obstacles standing in the way, and, in reality, children are often deprived of this essential need. The list of barriers is long and includes our addiction to a wired world, our fears of what dangers lurk in the woods, the inflexible schedules we keep and the growing scarcity of green spaces.
Here are 10 ideas, summarized from “Last Child in the Woods,” to get you started on reuniting your child with the natural world.
For the cost of a video game, you can buy dirt or sand. Add a few shovels and buckets and no further instructions will be needed.
Discover what lives in your backyard. Place a piece of board on bare dirt in your yard and after a few days, return to see what is living under there.
Take a walk in the rain and teach your children the joy of puddle jumping.
Take a family walk at night and enjoy sky gazing.
Adopt a tree and observe its growth and changes. Record observations with photos or drawings.
Keep a Wonder Bowl. After a hike in the woods, deposit specimens such as pinecones, acorns or stones in the bowl.
Put up birdhouses in the yard and then spend quiet time just listening to the sounds of different birds.
Design a family vegetable garden to plant and maintain together.
Invite butterflies into your garden by planting Hollyhocks to attract the painted lady, lupine for the Karner blue butterfly and milkweed plants to attract monarchs.
Join the Great American Backyard Campout at www.backyardcampout.org.
The authors have a combined 75 years of teaching experience in kindergarten, first, second and third grade in area schools. Their book, “Kitchen Table Time: Recipes for Success” can be found at I Love Books in Delmar and The Book House in Stuyvesant Plaza in Guilderland.
