Children in nature
It feels weird that I sat down at my computer today to write a column about the importance of engaging in nature and playing outside. Reading books on the subject is also theory instead of practice, but I am going to give you some suggestions on that front anyway. Sometimes a good book can even have the power to make you close it, and go out to play.
It is a well-established premise in our 21st century lives that playing outside is good for children. Playing outside contributes positively towards good mental, physical and spiritual well-being. Kids exist in an increasingly screen-filled world. For single-parent families, as well as those with two working parents; the moments of outdoor free play are fewer and further between. I am not writing about this subject to shame anyone, and certainly not because I am the perfect model of raising little green-thumbed, tree climbing adventurers. I know how hard it is to make dinner after work and how easy it is to use Netflix as a balm to the stress and emotional reflux following a hard day at school or work. I also need the reminder and reinforcement that outdoor free play is not only beneficial but also vital to raising healthy happy kids. (For a scholarly parenting book which delves much deeper into the subject, check out “The Last Child in the Woods” by Richard Louv.)
The Quebec Government recently mandated the addition of a third recess at public schools, whose purpose is to encourage kids to play outside and engage in more and more physical activity. One teacher I spoke to recently hypothesised that kids today do not know what to do with that free playtime. This varies a lot from community to community, but kids need a bit of a push sometimes to truly embrace free outdoor play. It struck me that one of the consequences of a highly supervised and scheduled childhood is that you might not have a lot of comfort with free play. This might be why we are seeing more Forest Schools popping up, inspired outdoor education which emphasizes letting children be free in the woods to explore and get messy and learn to play without adult guidance. The first book I am suggesting talks about the struggle for parents of kids who are very screenengaged and less into hugging trees.
“Dot” by Randi Zuckerberg (sister of Facebook founder, Mark) is a children’s book about disconnecting from the deeply plugged-in world in which we live, in order to recharge our mental batteries. The book uses language of the internet age; tapping, swiping, surfing and tweeting, but in terms of playing outside and connecting in real life with nature and other children. It is a somewhat simplistic book, with a small amount of text on each page, making it seem geared to pre-schoolers, but the real audience for this book is the parents reading it. It has beautiful whimsical illustrations, which will capture the attention of kids of all ages. “Dot” might be a perfect jumping off point for discussions on how much we need to strike a balance between technology’s gifts and the world of rainbows, puddles, trees and flowers.
Many children enjoy reading information-based texts. Some kids do not connect with fictional narrative as easily, or use their imaginations in a different way. I love reading books about science and nature with my children, because I often learn things and it can be a great platform for many wondering questions and the journey of answering them. Lennoxville Library recently acquired a lovely new book called “Nature All Around: BUGS” by Pamela Hickman. Pamela was born and raised in Mississauga, Ontario. She holds an Honors Bachelor of Environmental Studies and Biology from the University of Waterloo. Carolyn Gavin illustrated this book with gorgeous and artful watercolour and gouache pictures, which remind me of antique botanical art. She uses lovely colour and beautiful details. This book gives us insights into the life cycle of insects, their habitats, seasonal differences and many practical “bug watching” skills. This is the type of book that you (and your kid-folk) can take outside and use in action. It’s handy to keep close by while examining the length of antennae and whether or not a body is hairy or smooth. This book also provides instructions for constructing a bug feeder so you can encourage even more observation. There are twice as many insects in the world as all other types of animals combined. Children have lots of feelings about bugs, but why not explore something in nature so readily available in our own back yards.
The Lennoxville Library has recently acquired a number of books from “Kids Can Press” which are new releases. These books were donated on the condition that some of them be reviewed in The Record. We would love for some of these reviews to be written by children or youth, and I (Shanna Bernier) have volunteered to help coordinate those reviews and print some in the kid-lit editions of the Good Reads Column. If you or a kid in your life is interested in reading and reviewing a book for the Library please send an email to bibliolen@gmail.com. Don’t forget to check out the weekly kid activities at the library; you can find details about them on the library website - bibliolennoxvillelibrary.ca