Nurture Your Children Through Nature

BBC Wildlife Magazine recently conducted a survey of 700 children in which they were asked to identify common animals and plants. The results were quite startling. Only 45% could identify an oak tree and even more shocking, less than two-thirds could identify a frog!

If you've read this blog in the past, you know that I am a huge advocate for getting children outside, digging in the dirt, and getting fresh air and exercise. So far this seems to be working for my family. Just the other day my children were building sand castles in their sandbox and then running cars into them when my 2-year-old daughter spied an ant amongst the sand...she was less than thrilled.

I said, "Martha, it's OK to have ants outside, we just don't like them in the house." And then my 4-year-old son August added, "Yeah Martha, we don't want ants to become extinct or anything. Other creatures rely on them for food." All knowledge he's collected over his short life through time spent off the couch and learning through nature alongside my husband and myself.

I once read in a book that when you are out for a walk with your children and you're discussing different trees or weather patterns (my husband and I are both geeky so yes, this does happen with us), that when you spy an ant carrying a load, you then become quiet and still because you are done teaching and the ant has begun. So simple, yet so profound.

To read BBC Wildlife Magazine's full article on their survey, visit bbcwildlifemagazine.com. You will also find great links to similar study results and websites! I hope this inspires you to spend a bit of time outside today, whether it's with sunscreen at a park or playing in rain puddles!