Richard spoke about the boundaries and obstacles to children spending time in nature. Some of these boundaries included the culture of fear we live which is media amplified, the absence of nature in our cities and access to nature and the increasing level of technology in our children's lives which is decreasing the amount of free time they have to play. There was an underlying current of deep concern for the worlds environmental issues but also hope that the answers may be within our children.
For many years we have hit children with the facts of the worlds environmental issues and as a high school student in the 1990's I remember this well. However Louv advocates for a different approach and I agree with him. Instead of overwhelming our children and having them grow up believing it's all too late, what if they develop a deep love and connection to the natural world first? What about an approach that sees the natural world as a place of mystery and discovery? A place for quiet contemplation, reflection and experience.
Many of the questions raised were about how as educators we can cut the red tape and let the children play. Rather than learning about the environment in a class room, how about we encourage children to use all their senses and experience it up close and personal. Like any system change can be slow and there will be plenty of red tape. I feel that as a parent I can do so much and so much rests in my own hands. I don't have red tape to cut, I can take my children into the bush and they can play without anyone else telling me they are too high or they shouldn't throw rocks. I can make nature a priority in our lives and create the time we need to spend it freely there.
This morning I packed our backpack with food, water and first aid kit like I do every week. We sometimes play in the bush close to the house or the local creek, sometimes we drive further afield to enjoy a bush trail or river. Just as I was about to step out the door, my daughter asked if she could do something on her own. "Like what?" I asked her. She came up with a few suggestions such as riding her bike down our road. I wasn't comfortable with several suggestions until she mentioned our Sit Spot. For those of you who read my blog you know it is a place we frequent a lot. For the past two years I have participated in a Sit Spot challenge where I go to the one spot and spend time there everyday for a month. My children have always come with me to this spot and it is close to our house but surrounded by bush. I had a brief moment of fear and I question that fear and thought about Louv's talk regarding boundaries. My daughter knows this place, she knows the trail and she would still be within my sight. So I said yes and she was excited to go.
Off she went down to the Sit Spot, then after a few minutes she called out asking if she could go further. I hesitated briefly and then said yes. She beamed at me and ran off down the back of our property. I could just see her with my camera to take this photo. She stopped to build up the shelter we always make together.
Then off she went until I could no longer see her. It was the first time I've knowingly let her go. It was the first time she has asked to go alone. She wasn't gone long but when she came back she decided she needed to be better prepared. She took some food and a drink and off she went again. Filled with excitement she ventured down into our bush with confidence. This time she was gone for 20 mins. I knew she was safe, she has walked this trail many times and she is on our property. I was given this freedom as a child and so was my husband, I wanted her to have it as well. Her need to go it alone in the bush seemed to intersect with my renewed knowledge of boundaries and fear.
When she got back she had stories to tell. We heard all about the Orb spider whose web she had to go around to avoid, the incomplete nest she found on the ground, the sticks she dragged over to continue building the shelter and the tree she decided to climb. She created her own adventure and came home with increased confidence and ability.
After hearing Louv speak last night I had come away with a mix of despair and hope. Then today I woke up to watch my daughter take a big step beyond where I had led her. It felt really good to me but she owned this adventure and I know it made her feel even better.
Nature is one of the best antidotes to fear.
Last Child in the Woods
