“What’s important is that children have an opportunity to bond with the natural world, to learn to love it and feel comfortable in it, before being asked to heal its wounds… If we want children to flourish, to become truly empowered, let us allow them to love the earth before we ask them to save it."
-David Sobel, American Education Writer
-David Sobel, American Education Writer
connecting with nature
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In today’s society, it is evident that many children have lost their connection
with nature and the outdoors. Children are often not given many opportunities to connect with nature. Connecting with nature has proven to have many positive effects on child development. It creates positive effects for your child because it:
Supports Multiple Developments: By connecting with nature, children develop emotionally, socially, spiritually, intellectually and physically.
Supports Creativity and Problem Solving: Playing in nature sparks more creative forms of play in predominantly green areas. It also develops a child’s ability to problem solve.
Improves Nutrition: Children who are given the opportunity to grow their own food are more likely to eat more fruits and vegetables. This inevitably could lead to a healthier eating habit.
Improves Academic Performance: Studies have shown that having outdoor classrooms or lessons and allowing students to explore the outdoors significantly improves student grades.
Improves Social Relations: Children are able to get along with others as they have the opportunity for “free and unstructured play” in the outdoors (Natural Learning Initiative).
Improves Self-Discipline & Reduces Stress: Connecting with nature increases a sense of “peace, self-control and self-discipline” (Natural Learning Initiative). Having access or opportunities for natural play significantly reduces students stress level.
Increases Physical Activity: Providing students with open ended space within nature allows them to be more physically active in a less confined area.
with nature and the outdoors. Children are often not given many opportunities to connect with nature. Connecting with nature has proven to have many positive effects on child development. It creates positive effects for your child because it:
Supports Multiple Developments: By connecting with nature, children develop emotionally, socially, spiritually, intellectually and physically.
Supports Creativity and Problem Solving: Playing in nature sparks more creative forms of play in predominantly green areas. It also develops a child’s ability to problem solve.
Improves Nutrition: Children who are given the opportunity to grow their own food are more likely to eat more fruits and vegetables. This inevitably could lead to a healthier eating habit.
Improves Academic Performance: Studies have shown that having outdoor classrooms or lessons and allowing students to explore the outdoors significantly improves student grades.
Improves Social Relations: Children are able to get along with others as they have the opportunity for “free and unstructured play” in the outdoors (Natural Learning Initiative).
Improves Self-Discipline & Reduces Stress: Connecting with nature increases a sense of “peace, self-control and self-discipline” (Natural Learning Initiative). Having access or opportunities for natural play significantly reduces students stress level.
Increases Physical Activity: Providing students with open ended space within nature allows them to be more physically active in a less confined area.
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Some learning activities to do in nature!
Looking at Leaves: Take kids outside and ask them to find 3-5 different leaves to analyze.
The Shape of Things: Asking students to find different shapes in nature.This also encourages mathematical thinking in nature.
Web of Life: Have students find living things including different plants and animals in an area with lots of nature to observe.
Adopt a Tree: Ask students to adopt a tree in a forest which they will analyze and observe.
Soil Stories: Find an area with soil. Observe the colour, feel and smell of the soil.
Check out: https://www.forestfoundation.org/family-activities-in-nature for other cool ideas!
Looking at Leaves: Take kids outside and ask them to find 3-5 different leaves to analyze.
The Shape of Things: Asking students to find different shapes in nature.This also encourages mathematical thinking in nature.
Web of Life: Have students find living things including different plants and animals in an area with lots of nature to observe.
Adopt a Tree: Ask students to adopt a tree in a forest which they will analyze and observe.
Soil Stories: Find an area with soil. Observe the colour, feel and smell of the soil.
Check out: https://www.forestfoundation.org/family-activities-in-nature for other cool ideas!
Nature Books
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"The Nature Connection: An Outdoor Workbook" by Clare Walker Leslie is an excellent book for students between the ages of 8-13 to help them connect wit nature. This is a great resource for teachers and parents to help students learn how to become naturalists. This book provides
1. different ways to connect with nature which can include observing the sky, animals, air, soil, water and other things in their surroundings.
2. ideas of items students can pack within their outdoor adventure kit, for example a magnifying glass,
binoculars, field guides and pencils and paper to draw or make notes on their observation.
3. ideas for teachers on how to link nature activities to other units in the curriculum, for example creating a nature journal for language arts.
1. different ways to connect with nature which can include observing the sky, animals, air, soil, water and other things in their surroundings.
2. ideas of items students can pack within their outdoor adventure kit, for example a magnifying glass,
binoculars, field guides and pencils and paper to draw or make notes on their observation.
3. ideas for teachers on how to link nature activities to other units in the curriculum, for example creating a nature journal for language arts.
![Picture](/uploads/2/3/5/5/23555366/3887733.jpg?1383683591)
“Last Child in the Woods” by Richard Louv.
This book is a good read as it provides examples of how a child connecting with nature is essential to their development. The author directly creates a connection between children’s disconnection with nature which he refers to as “nature-deficit” and trends of obesity, attention disorders, and depression. This book contains research that emphasizes how connecting children with nature is healthy for their child development which includes their physical and emotional health.
This book is a good read as it provides examples of how a child connecting with nature is essential to their development. The author directly creates a connection between children’s disconnection with nature which he refers to as “nature-deficit” and trends of obesity, attention disorders, and depression. This book contains research that emphasizes how connecting children with nature is healthy for their child development which includes their physical and emotional health.
Nature Video
Check out this neat video! It's a great short clip that describes how the best things in life aren’t things. Enjoying the outdoors can help children enjoy life!
References
Louv, R. (2013). Last Child in the Woods. Richard Louv. Retrieved From http://richardlouv.com/books/last-child//
Natural Learning Initiative. (2012). Benefits of Connecting Children with Nature: Why Naturalize Outdoor Learning Environments. Natural Learning Initiative. North Carolina:USA. Retrieved from http://www.naturalearning.org/sites/default/files/Benefits%20of%20Connecting%20Children%20with%20Nature_InfoSheet.pdf
Sportrecwa. (Producer). (2010, Nov 29). Nature Play Promo. Youtube clip retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4OSOAdpoAE
Main Page Image: Euphoria. (2013). Euphoria Family Day Care. Retrieved from http://www.euphoriafamilydaycare.com.au/family-day-care
Figure 1& 2: Natural Learning Initiative. (2012). Benefits of Connecting Children with Nature: Why Naturalize Outdoor Learning Environments. Natural Learning Initiative. North Carolina: USA. Retrieved from http://www.naturalearning.org/sites/default/files/Benefits%20of%20Connecting%20Children%20with%20Nature_InfoSheet.pdf
Figure 4: Louv, R. (2013). Last Child in the Woods. Richard Louv. Retrieved From http://richardlouv.com/books/last-child//