Nurturing a love of the great outdoors
Prioritize the natural world for kids by showing great enthusiasm for it
Spring is in full swing: The buds on the trees have opened, birds are chirping, and children are eager to go outside and get muddy.
Unless, that is, they are like the fourth- grader author Richard Louv spoke to for his book Last Child in the Woods.
“I like to play indoors better ’cause that’s where all the electrical outlets are,” the child told Louv.
According to research Louv and others have conducted since the 1980s, spending time in nature has tremendous benefits — including improved concentration, better motor co-ordination and a greater ability to engage in creative play.
To that end, in 2008, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a statement saying 60 minutes of daily unstructured free play is es- sential to children’s physical and mental health.
Yet educator Erika Christakis, author of The Importance of Being Little: What Preschoolers Really Need from Grownups, cites an alarming trend.
A 2011 study published in the Journal of Pediatrics revealed that on weekdays the average U.S. preschooler spends more than four hours in front of a screen.
For older children, the numbers are even worse. According to a 2015 overview from the Pew Research Center on teens, social media and technology, 92 per cent of U.S. teens report going online daily.
“Active learning (and especially outdoor play in nature) is essential to healthy human development,” Christakis said via email. “But needing play and knowing how to play productively can be two different things … We often err in assuming that natural behaviours like play unfold effortlessly without cultivation and support, and that’s simply not true.”
Children also benefit from the sensory experience of time in nature, experts say. The feeling of the wind on your face can be a starting point for a chat about science and the movement of air.
The smell of impending rain is a way to teach your child about weather.
And the sound of various songbirds can teach your child about the diversity of the natural world.
So how do we get them outside? Here are some suggestions:
Simply be in nature: Parents need to increase the amount of time their children spend playing outdoors and with free objects found in nature, Christakis says. Try to give kids the time and space to explore and create their own adventures.
Inspire by being inspired: One way to prioritize the natural world is to show great enthusiasm for it. Children take cues from their parents, so when they see their parent stop, bend down and observe a caterpillar with interest, this thing suddenly becomes more interesting to them.
Look to the skies: Check out The Cloudspotter’s Guide from your local library, pack a comfortable blanket to spread in a field and spend the afternoon identifying cirrostratus and cumulonimbus clouds. Discuss weather events and the clouds that precede them. Encourage children to use their imagination to tell you what they see in the clouds. If all else fails, just enjoy the view. At night, look up stargazing websites that can direct you to the constellations, then go out and try to spot them.
Explore a pond or stream: Bring a net, a jar and a shovel to dig for creatures in the mud, and encourage your child to catch small creatures to observe. Your child will find joy discovering the minnows, salamanders, crayfish, snails and insects that are abundant in these habitats.
Take a hike: Go for a walk in the woods with your child. To extend attention spans during longer hikes, bring a small magnifying glass and a bug jar. Look for creatures along the way. Take your time. Try to spot 10 different insects, mammals, animal tracks or signs of animals hidden away.