Image © Ernst Vikne
Thankfully, there is hope as Louv discusses. I haven’t read his new book, but Last Child in the Woods includes numerous examples of people and programs that are making this connection between children and nature a priority. The growing number of Roots and Shoots-based gardens around the country as well as those with an individual, local focus such as Red Hook Brooklyn’s Added Value are continuing to reach out within their local community. Some programs, such as the Edible Schoolyard, get a PR bump when headed by a famous face like Chez Panisse’s Alice Waters, but these programs and their tangible results (in the forms of better grades and behavior in the children who participate in them) are making their own names.
Organized programs aside, Louv and other experts stress the importance of time spent in nature in general. So plan a day-long family hike or an afternoon picnic or even fifteen minutes watching fireflies. Put away your own electronic devices and show them how much you enjoy being in nature. If they are resistant to the idea, ask them to bring their toy or electronic gadget outside as a first step. Even sitting on a porch or stoop together will inevitably result in questions and remarks: “What animal is making that kind of noise? Look, there’s a chipmunk. How many different birds do you see?”
As adults, many of us have been accustomed to sitting in front of a screen for hours, and, if we drive to work, barely even spending a moment’s time outdoors. You will undoubtedly feel the effect of your family’s outdoor explorations, even if that means reading The Giving Tree or making mud pies in your own backyard.
So brush up on some of Inhabitots hints for how to get kids excited about gardening or creating a nature mobile , or just follow your children’s lead and see where a little dirt, fresh air, and creativity take you.
Lead Image Flickr user Savannah (OpenFocusPhotography)
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