April 07, 2018

Quote of the Week

"Come forth into the light of things, let nature be your teacher." --William Wordsworth

8 Of The Most Important Lessons Nature Teaches Kids

Eco-psychologist Bill Plotkin says that the best template for human maturation from birth through old age is equal parts nature and culture. Culture is learning from family, elders, religion, teachers, and now media. Nature is learning to be in and with the limits imposed by the natural world. Indigenous cultures struck a balance between the two as a result of living in the natural world in tribes, clans or villages. Today, however, kids learn almost 100% from culture – family, community and mainstream culture. This dramatic shift away from nature has reduced our ability to be adaptable and emotionally resilient. As a wilderness therapist for many years, Krissy Pozatek observed kids resume their emotional development as a result of outdoor learning skills and living in the natural world.  This week's article by Pozatek, author of Brave Parenting:A Buddhist-Inspired Guide to Raising Emotionally Resilient Children, describes 8 of the most important lessons nature teaches kids.

Reading Corner

Title: The Tiny Seed
Author: Eric Carle
Recommended Ages: 3 and up

Eric Carle’s The Tiny Seed is a beautifully simple introduction to the life cycle of a seed for any age group. It’s the story of one seed, and describes all the dangers that surround it, from people stepping on it to birds eating it. It also shows how important the right weather is for making the seed grow strong and how, when the seed grows, it produces a new plant which, in turn, produces more seeds. I loved sharing all of Carle's beautifully illustrated books with my son when he was a little boy. The Very Hungry Caterpillar was another favorite of ours, and teaches kids about the life cycle of a butterfly.
 

Be the Change

Plant seeds with your children and watch them grow! Take a hike and just let your children explore nature at their own pace. Kids examine nature with ALL of their senses, so put your cell phone away and just watch them dive into whatever interests them, whether it's a stick, a rock, a bug or a mound of dirt. This link provides great ideas for simple backyard nature explorations with your kids.