[Singlemom619]

I'm reading this book and thought I should share it with as many parents as I can... The book is simply about how kids need to be outside and experience nature...


One quick thoughts/notes were that kids should have 1 hour outside every day - and now that the weather is getting better that's more of a possibility.



The new edition even has a long section about how to help things in the community and your family.


And on that note - this weekend we went out for a walk in the woods and I gave each child a grocery bag for trash (there were several children with us) and I said I'd give a dollar to the child who filled their bad first. I ended up paying two of the kids - and I think it was the best 2 dollars I've spent in awhile Not only were they picking up trash other kids that weren't part of our group were running around picking up trash to help and at the end they were frustrated with how much trash was out there and wanting to get more (without being paid.)



Here's the excerpt from the book:


Last Child in the Woods is the first book to bring together a new and growing body of research indicating that direct exposure to nature is essential for healthy childhood development and for the physical and emotional health of children and adults. More than just raising an alarm, Louv offers practical solutions and simple ways to heal the broken bond—and many are right in our own backyard.
This new edition reflects the enormous changes that have taken place since the book was originally published. It includes:

• 100 actions you can take to create change in your community, school, and family.
• 35 discussion points to inspire people of all ages to talk about the importance of nature in their lives.
• A new progress report by the author about the growing Leave No Child Inside movement.
• New and updated research confirming that direct exposure to nature is essential for the physical and emotional health of children and adults.

Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder has spurred a national dialogue among educators, health professionals, parents, developers and conservationists. This is a book that will change the way you think about your future and the future of your children.


An overview of the book Last Child in the Woods, by Richard Louv

[mommieof2cuties]

I agree, kids should be outside! It is sad that at least in Florida kids in school get no outside since free play and gym have been cut for years! I think it has added to the weight gain issues we have! We are always outside doing stuff So I fully agree...kids need outside time

[Fran27]

I agree that it would be great if kids could be outside more. In practice it's not that easy though... depending on where you live there isn't always lots of outside space available, and it's harder now to trust your kids to play outside alone... And with the weather, *I* have big issues with going out when it's below 30 or 80, so I'm not too sure what we will do during the Summer and the Winter.

It kinda worries me to be honest. I'm not used to such an extreme weather!

[crick]

I am a huge advocate for outside time, even if it's cold and they can only go out for 15 min. It does wonders for the mind and emotions, imo.

I do need to get my kids more involved with the community. We used to do a lot when they were part of boy & girl scouts.

[GoddessDanu]

Excellent! I'm going to see if our library has a copy. Thanks.

[Amber76]

My son LOVES going outside! In fact, he sleeps better at nap time and is generally in a great mood any time we get to go out for walks or to the playground. (Of course, he's always a champion napper, but he seems to move around less and sleep a bit sounder after outdoor time). When he was very young and crying, taking him outside would stop his tears instantly. He still calms down the instant we go outside on the very few occasions when he actually gets upset. I love being outside with him too!

[devildogwife]

I think that would be good in theory. However, when your child is medically fragile (and can't regulate their own body temp indoors) and it's below freezing outside, that doesn't really work. I'm like Fran. Our weather is too extreme and it would be nuts to take my son out in this weather.

When it does warm up though, I am SO looking forward to us taking long walks outside.

[Fran27]

Yes it's finally getting nicer, I think we'll be out every day until this Summer!

[OakShannon]

I go a little nuts when we can't get outside! I'm glad we live in a temperate climate.

We've been going for "toddler walks" every morning. I think walking with David is a lot like how it would be to take my cat for a walk. We go to the community garden or one of the local parks and I set him down and let him wander while I follow along. He watches the squirrels, picks up sticks, tries to chase after the geese (they can outpace him without much effort). And then we go home and he crashes for a nice long nap.

We live in a big city and it's very important to me that David grow up knowing that the whole world isn't made of concrete!

[jules17]

Originally Posted by OakShannon

I think walking with David is a lot like how it would be to take my cat for a walk.

Oh, it SO is with my 2 sons!! I tell Tony they are like herding cats. But it's so fun to spend 10 minutes inspecting a blade of grass that I otherwise would have just walked on. We got the boys little magnifying glasses the other day, so they can "inspect" more closely.

[Quesita]

Liana is a city girl who thinks that all animals other than pigeons and squirrels and cats and dogs live in the zoo. We need to get out to the country.

She is, however, really interested in nature. Today we had a walk "looking for signs of spring!" All the snow has melted, I hope for the last time, and it turned into water and the water made puddles!!! So we splashed in the puddles. We found a few buds on some branches, and we looked at them and said that the trees will be waking up soon, and the buds will turn into leaves, and then there will be greeen leaves all over the trees! We also found some flower greenery pushing up in the gardens in front of the buildings that line our street. We talked about the fact that there will soon be flowers that are white and red and pink and other colors.

We had a leaf collection in the fall, and she is currently really into rocks. If she sees a dirty rock on the street, she wants to bring it home.

She is also REALLY into the moon, and we are going to miss it when it starts coming up way past her bedtime. She knows the cycles of the moon, (people do a double take when they hear a two year old kid exclaim "Look Mommy! There is the crescent moon!"), and she can find Venus in the evening sky.

But yeah.... we need to get out into nature. If I don't expose her to the natural world, which she is clearly drawn to, I will be cheating her out of something very important.

[devildogwife]

Originally Posted by OakShannon

I go a little nuts when we can't get outside! I'm glad we live in a temperate climate.

Oh my goodness. Last year I wouldn't be able to leave the house for 6 days at a time sometimes. It was hard. It still is. During synagis season (Octoberish-Aprilish), the only public place Cameron goes is to our Children's hospital. I wish we lived in a temperate climate.

[jules17]

Originally Posted by Quesita

She is also REALLY into the moon, and we are going to miss it when it starts coming up way past her bedtime. She knows the cycles of the moon, (people do a double take when they hear a two year old kid exclaim "Look Mommy! There is the crescent moon!"), and she can find Venus in the evening sky.

That is my Sam! He loves all the phases of the moon, and it is one of our favorite things. He can tell you all about crescent moons! Love it!

[OakShannon]

Originally Posted by devildogwife

Oh my goodness. Last year I wouldn't be able to leave the house for 6 days at a time sometimes. It was hard. It still is. During synagis season (Octoberish-Aprilish), the only public place Cameron goes is to our Children's hospital. I wish we lived in a temperate climate.

I've had that thought reading your posts about everything you and your little boy have gone through together. When it rains for a week at a time and we can't get out I start to get cabin fever. Then I read about you and Cameron and wonder how that is for you during such long stretches. And I know that's just the tip of the iceberg for you. You are so strong for him, but it must be hard sometimes.

[OakShannon]

Originally Posted by jules17

Oh, it SO is with my 2 sons!! I tell Tony they are like herding cats. But it's so fun to spend 10 minutes inspecting a blade of grass that I otherwise would have just walked on. We got the boys little magnifying glasses the other day, so they can "inspect" more closely.

David spent a good five minutes today inspecting the little flowers on a rosemary plant. There was a spider web with some leaves caught in it and he was fascinated. It's very sweet to watch.