Nature & Child Reunion

Written by Jodi Hiland of Happy Trails Family Nature Club

For the past two to three decades, a profound change has taken place in our culture, and in cultures around the world.  This change has come on gradually, yet in the vastness of human history it has occurred at an amazing pace.  This change is one in which human beings, in developed nations, are no longer growing up with a constant connection to the natural world.  The following is taken from the Children and Nature Network's Report on the Movement to Reconnect Children to the Natural World, and other sources.  Some of my own views are sprinkled in, as well.

Overview

Most of us remember playing outdoors when we were kids.  Of course, for many American children, neighborhoods were unsafe, even in the "good old days".  But many of them still managed to be out and about more than today.  Also, there were enough other kids around the country playing outside to keep the general trend in balance.  Today, we are a country - a world - out of balance. 

In the last few years, many disciplines have been converging to create what is known as the Children and Nature Movement.  For a long time, those working and volunteering in areas such as environmental education and conservation have been quite aware of the downward trend regarding children's outdoor play and discovery.  Today, others of us are beginning to "wake up" to what is happening.  Childhood obesity, depression and other health issues are quite well-known.  More is being studied about learning and attention issues.  And, of course, climate change has us asking, "What happened?" 

In 2005, author Richard Louv's phenomenal book Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Defecit Disorder blew the children and nature issue wide open.  Louv's book, now in it's second, revised edition, is being called a must-read for everyone.  The issue of preserving, protecting and reconnecting children's opportunities for free play in the natural world is something all of us should be concerned about. 

We are now looking at a situation today in which there are young parents who themselves were not outside much as kids.  Without a conscious shift, we would soon be having generation after generation of human beings growing up with little appreciable relationship with the natural world.  What is needed most is to raise awareness about how our day-to-day choices are shaping this trend, so we can begin turning the tide.  We seem to be at a "tipping point", in terms of the nature and child reunion, and I believe it is tipping toward a beautiful new future! 


Why Children Need Outdoor Free-Play

Children today live a very different inner life than when today's adults were kids.  The number of kids taking mood-altering medications outnumbers that of adults in this country.  Childhood obesity, and often resulting diabetes, are on the rise.  Kids have impaired social skills, poorer cognition, creativity, and problem-solving skills, lower self-esteem, and, I believe, a loss of connection to that un-nameable, spiritual, "something greater out there".


Why the Earth Needs Children

We care more for something with which we have a relationship, than something we don't.  Children who lack a connection to the natural world will not be invested in protecting it.  Studies show that adults today who work to preserve the environment, had some kind of transcendant experience in nature as children.  Many of us can recall a memorable vacation somewhere, or even a special place outside in our neighborhood, where something in the natural world touched us beyond words.  With all the media attention on hurricanes, West Nile virus, climate change, melanoma, stranger danger, etc., it's no wonder that kids are not interested in being outside. 

If the generations of kids who hold the future of the planet in their hands are going to be in charge of protecting it, they first need to know nature intimately, on some level.  Schools, and other programs, focus a great deal of resources teaching children (often when they are too young) that they should "save the rainforests".  The rainforests of the Earth are critical to it's survival, but in order for a child to really "get it", they need to already be connected with the nature right outside their door.  Nature, as Richard Louv says, is too much of an abstract idea with today's kids.  Curriculums would do well to focus on the watersheds, canyons, forests and fields right in the kids' own neighborhoods. 

Barriers to Outdoor Free-Play

There are myriad barriers to children's outdoor free play, and these must be addressed in every corner of society.  Times may never be what they once were for children, but we must create a new, balanced reality.

Parental Fear
One of the biggest reasons children are seen less outdoors is parents' perceived "stranger danger."  I say "perceived", because while child abductions do occasionally occur, it is not nearly as often as people believe.  The modern media have gone overboard in their reporting of these incidents, and with internet news spreading like wildfire, it is now to the point where we think abductions are happening far more than they are.  In fact, most abducted children are taken by someone the child knows, like a family member.  And, the number of these hasn't increased since the 1970's (when I was a kid).  Of course, any child being taken is a horrible tragedy.  But to keep our nation's children locked indoors isn't the answer.

There are other kinds of fears parents have that prevent many kids from going outside to play.  Parents' own views have a tremendous influence on whether or not kids like the outdoors, or get the chance to play there.  Adults' own aversions to strangers, bugs, weather, getting dirty, darkness, and more will greatly decide how often and where kids play.  Often, parents may believe their child will be less likely to come in contact with germs at a Burger King playplace.   Nature's "germs" are actually beneficial, whereas the ones with which kids come into contact inside a well-used play structure are probably more harmful.

So what can we do?  I think we, as parents, need to be creative, and also face our fears.  How can we get our kids' outdoor needs met, and still feel fairly comfortable?  We need to take a moment to look at our family's life, our schedules, and make outdoor time a top priority, instead of a "nice extra".  Perhaps we can examine our fears, and realize we can't always protect our precious children, every moment.  It wasn't meant to be that way.  At some point, we need to let them roam a bit, if at all possible.  And we can go outside with them!  We can leave them alone, but be nearby.  We can delete a few things from their scheduled lives, and create large chunks of "free time".  Far from being a waste of time, these hours are actually necessary for optimal development, and happiness.  Professor of Social Ecology at Yale, Stephen Kellert, says experience in a surrounding home territory, especially in nearby nature, is linked to shaping children's cognitive maturation, including the developed abilities of analysis, syntheses and evaluation.


Not So Much Natural Space
Another barrier to children's free-play in the natural world is the lack of natural spaces, close to home.  Development in the last few decades has been so widespread, that kids have very few places to roam anymore.  Disappearing are the vacant lots, cornfields, wetlands, streams, trees and more that children used to practically live in, away from home.  Even if many kids have access to parks, etc. somewhere else in their town, there needs to be green space where the children live.  In his book Children's Special Places, David Sobel explains why it is crucial for a child's developing sense of "self" to have places to go to alone, such as a fort, tree house, a hidden shrub, etc.  He writes, "During this period of middle childhood, the self is fragile and under construction and needs to be protected from view of the outside world.  The self, like the metamorphosing butterfly, needs to be wrapped in a cocoon before it emerges into the light.  Thus, the places that children seek out are places where they cannot be seen, places to begin the unfolding of the self."

Excessive Electronic Media
Yet another reason we see far less children wandering about outside today is that they are "plugged in" to a wide array of electronic media.  Today, there are so many technological gizmos vying for kids' attention, that they are not very interested in the natural world outside their front door.  In our country, children spend an average of 45 hours a week in front of a screen.  That's the equivalent of a work week!  Again, this is where I think it is our job as parents to step in and create balance.  There need to be firm limits on the number of hours and minutes texting, updating My Space, playing Xbox, and watching "Zach and Cody".  Sadly, kids today often spend more time texting their friends, and less time actually talking to them in person. 

Of course, kids learn how to be in the world by watching their parents.  The "I'm the parent, you're the child" idea may seem logical when it comes to t.v. viewing limits, for example, but their lifelong habits will be greatly influenced by what they see us doing (or not doing!).  Would it be so weird to shut off the t.v. and go for a family stroll?  I know with my little ones, it is all too easy to leave TPT on while I get one more thing accomplished around the house.  But I do my best to shut it off, even if it means they get into some mischief while I'm putting clothes in the dryer! 

Overscheduling
By far one of the biggest reasons kids are not freely playing outside is due to a packed schedule.  For many families, there isn't much choice, as the parents work several jobs, or the kids live in an unsafe neighborhood.  But for scores of other kids, the scheduling is due to well-meaning parents, wanting their children to have many kids of experiences.  They may have dance class, music lessons, soccer, football, t-ball - you name it.  The kids do homework in between, play a little Playstation, watch t.v., then go to bed.  Day after day.  In a given week, when did these children have time to be bored for a moment, and wonder what to do?  And when did they hang out outdoors?  For how long?  Parents often think that soccer games, for example, provide plenty of outside time.  However, organized sports are not "free time", in which the children are free to wander about, with the kids themselves making up the play.


Societal Fear of Lawsuits
Our litigous society is another issue surrounding kids' lack of access to outdoor play spaces.  It used to be that a child up in a tree was a cause for congratulations, or even so ubiquitous as to be hardly noteworthy.  Nowadays, if an adult sees a child in a tree, the child is usually scolded, told to get down, that they are being dangerously foolish, and the panic of a potential lawsuit ensues.  The fear of being sued is so pervasive that playgrounds on schoolyards are asceptically boring to kids.  One American school went so far as to post a "no running" sign! 

Studies show that playgrounds with a fair amount of "green space" have less incidences of playground bullying and violence, and much more cooperative interactions.  Children in very poor, inner-city neighborhoods often face the issue of little access to green space, or at least, little safe passage to it.  And lest anyone think wealthier, suburban kids have lots of green spaces in which to roam, they, too, often face roadblocks.  Covenants in many subdivisions expressly forbid children being in certain areas, up in trees, building forts, etc.,and there are few, if any, natural areas - just manicured landscapes.

No Child Left Behind
Ask most any school teacher (or parent), and it is obvious that the controversial "No Child Left Behind" policy is greatly impacting kids' outside time.  Due to greater work loads and preparation for testing, curriculums in schools have all but eliminated environmental education.  Field trips?  A thing of the past.  Science is often being taught later.  Recess is either short, or non-existant.  And when the kids get home from school, they often have piles of homework to get to, instead of heading outside to play.


The Nature and Child Reunion

While the issue of kids not spending as much time in nature seems like a huge one, the exciting news is that there is a strong Children and Nature Movement building, around the world.  Countries everywhere are experiencing the same issues, and they are collaborating in different ways to create a new reality. 

Since there are many barriers to children's outdoor play, the answers will have to be met where those barriers originate.  It will take efforts at all levels of society to make change.  For example, a housing developer in Woodbury, MN purposely included natural spaces for children in his development.  However, children still aren't using these areas.  What will it take for those children to go out?  Possibly a change in the family, such as loosening family schedules, parents working through some of their fears/dislikes abut the outdoors, etc. Or perhaps policy change at the governmental level will bring more balance to the homework situation.  It's probably many things.
 

Many organizations exist that already are in the business of children and nature, and they need more support.  These include Scouting groups, 4-H clubs, nature centers, state parks, etc.  I didn't realize how little time Scouting groups actually spend in nature these days, including camping!

We need to make our views known to city planners and developers about how we want our natural spaces to look, and how to redevelop other areas. 

Homeowners and renters can push for looser restrictions on covenants that prohibit natural play. 

We can ask parks commissions to naturalize current and new parks.

Our society needs protection against rediculous lawsuits.

There are many types of organizations who are in a position to educate, and call for change.  Faith-based groups, non-profit organizations, corporations and more, can all make a big difference.

Since school is where the majority of kids spend their whole day, reforms need to happen there.  We can support educators who are already trying to work within the system to bring nature to children.  Schoolyards need to include green space, and natural play areas.  We can support our local nature-based schools, like Dodge Nature Preschool and Garlough Elementary in West St. Paul, the preschool at Tamarack Nature Center in White Bear Lake, and the Michael Frome Academy in Woodbury.

The study of Natural History is vanishing from college course offerings.  These need to be re-established soon, as the nature experts we have benefitted from across the country are retiring.

Health care providers of all types are an important influence in how much nature time kids experience.  This can actually be prescribed to complement, or even replace, other types of therapies or medications.

Let us honor and learn from the indiginous cultures with whom we are fortunate to share the Earth.  May we restore what is theirs, and not remove any more. 


I believe the best thing we can all do right now is to... go outside!  I know I feel nature's restorative quality the minute I get "out there".  Let's work together as a culture, within our own families, and in our own hearts, to "go back to the land". 

May the future lives of our world's kids be always full of "loose parts" with which to play!