A Case for Nature-Based Play

One of my most favorite books of late is Richard Louv's Last Child in the Woods. In it he discusses the implications for children and our society as a whole when children do not develop a relationship with the great outdoors. The effects of a society that has no relationship with Mother Nature can be seen in how we communicate, the technologies we use on a day-to-day basis, our regard for the environment (or lack thereof), and in our spiritual, physical, social, emotional, and cognitive health.

In the past 20 years we have seen a tremendous paradigm shift in our society and in how we relate to one another - everything is digital - from video and computer games to texting and tweeting. Even this post is proof positive that the very nature of how we communicate has changed.

And in our fast-paced society, we are seeing the effects of new generations of children who have virtually, and by virtually I mean literally no connection to the outside world. Increased incidence of attention disorders, obesity, lack of 21st century skills (like problem-solving!)...the list goes on and on.

In fact, this lack of connection with the natural world was one of the major reasons I too decided to make a paradigm shift from a developer of educational technology (standards-based curriculum, assessment, and content for game consoles and online environments) back to my beginnings as a teacher - and back to what really matters to me - the early learning foundations of children.

Today, the vision for The Well-Rounded Child embraces a nature-based education that is deeply rooted in Social Constructivism - both of which require children to be learning in natural settings (i.e. the great outdoors!) and from one another, without texting, blogging, tweeting, or emailing.

I love the suggestions Mr. Louv provides on his website about how to connect children with nature and the benefits of doing so:

View nature as an antidote to stress. All the health benefits that come to a child come to the adult who takes that child into nature. Children and parents feel better after spending time in the natural world-even if it's in their own backyard.

Indeed, I am a true believer in nature-based play and as such, we spend as much time as possible outside. Moreover, I often take my own son on outdoor adventures where he can explore the environment in an ill-structured way. This past weekend we hiked in the hills of Crow Canyon in the midst of a major windstorm. Aside from getting blown to bits (along with our dog!), my son learned many new things about nature:

• Ticks like to hang out in oak trees and tall grass
  
• Grazing cattle are important for soil health and to prevent erosion
• Animals leave different kinds of droppings - insect parts, seeds, and hairs can been seen in them (we look, but don't touch and we stay up wind!)
• There is a vast array of wildlife in the grasslands

He also learned what not to do:

• Never get between a mother cow and her baby calf (he read about that on a sign posted on our trail!)
• Watch for snakes - stay out of the tall grass and on the trail. Don't step over logs. Wear long pants with long socks, and preferably hiking boots that cover the ankle.
• Be mindful of how far you have hiked, what direction you are heading, and how to return to the trail head. Bring water and take breaks often.

Of course, he discovered some things on his own too:

• If you spit into the wind, it will fly back into your face
• If you spread out your jacket really wide on a windy day, it will act like a sail and lift you lightly off the ground (if you weigh 45 pounds of course!)
• Keep your eyes on the animal scat (or cow droppings). Wet scat is quite large and mushy - and difficult for mom to get off of shoes
• Standing on the peak of a hill and looking out over the entire valley is a breathtaking, humbling experience, and in my son's words, "Boy, Mom, isn't that a beautiful view? Ah, it just makes me so happy!"

In addition to the animal and plant life we explored, we got 60 minutes of exercise, a peaceful activity in which being quiet allowed us to really hear the living beings around us, time with one another, and the opportunity to make a deeper connection with Mother Nature.

Some of you may not think you have the skills or knowledge to create a natural play environment for your children, but you do! Instead of allowing your children to watch TV, play on the computer, or spend the afternoon texting and tweeting with friends, turn it all off and invite them outside for a family walk, a game of kick ball - anything that gets you outside, even if it is only for 15 minutes.

Add this green time to your daily routine - after homework is done, just before dinner, or if you and your family are early birds, before school and work. The positive effects are endless!



As The Well-Rounded Child deepens its roots in the San Ramon Valley, we hope to share with all of you the joy of a nature-based education, being your child's first teacher, and helping create a foundation for learning that is embedded in a mindful respect for the natural world and supportive of each child's individual stage of development.