A few years back I read an urgent call-to-action book by Richard Louv, The Last Child in The Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder. Nature-deficit disorder? Never heard of that before… but then reading Louv’s words struck a chord:
“A kid today can likely tell you about the Amazon Rainforest – but not about the last time he or she explored the woods in solitude, or lay in a field listening to the wind and watching the clouds move.”
I thought to myself – when was the last time I lay in a field? And I could not remember. I could remember that grass was itchy and how the feel of grass on my neck irritates me, but I couldn’t recall a single time I enjoyed a quiet moment of observation of the sky. I don’t think of myself as disconnected from nature. I’m always walking, on the move, hiking out to the lake, hiking back to snacks… I intentionally get outside on purpose knowing it’s good for me and my kids to be active. But I’m not outside regularly enough for it to become something that includes leisure. Do you remember laying in a field? Have your kids done that?
Research has been showing the benefits of time spent in nature, for attention, for mental health, for over-thinking (linked with mental illness) and more cognitive functions. More research is considering how nature can be used as therapy for behavior or sensory issues and disorders in children, specifically children with autism and ADHD.
Between 2015 and 2016 over 11,000 Americans participated in a study of how they interact with nature or are disconnected from nature, as part of an effort to understand the changes in our society and perhaps facilitate better interactions with our environments. The Nature of Americans National Report: Disconnection and Recommendations for Reconnection found that the majority of those surveyed thought they benefited from time spent outdoors. Some interesting findings between kids and adults surveyed were that adults tended to have a perceived inaccessibility to nature – often that nature was far off in remote places waiting to be enjoyed alone. Kids thought of nature as the bushes by the front stoop, the pile of leaves in the backyard. And overwhelmingly for all age groups experiences of nature were remarked upon and remembered because of the simultaneous social experience that coincided because the walk outside was with a relative or the camping trip was with friends.
Two really important things we can do as parents are
1. Remember nature is all around us.
Kids don’t need a long drive to the expensive Grand Canyon Hotel to experience wonder in nature. It’s us as desensitized adults who need to be reminded of how cool Earthworms are in our own yard or how crazy it is that Roly-Polys turn themselves into a ball for protection! The habit of observing nature in small doses with our kids brings joy to them and to us.
2. Go outside together.
Inside our homes theres always something to do, something to pick up, something to clean… but if we go outside to a park with our kids we can immerse ourselves in an experience that calms our minds, allows our attention to focus on less stimulations that demand a response from us! We can focus on them, too. It’s easier to have quality time together outside.
Check out our 7 nature play activities to inspire kids off of technology and our Adventure Bingo series!