Experiencing the Natural World

Introducing your children to nature one step at a time

By Stacey Bloomfield

I look back down the trail and my son has stopped to investigate a fallen crab-apple. He is squatting close to the ground as he turns the yellow spotted fruit in his hand. After a few turns he takes a bite. I am aware of what he is doing, making sure it is safe but I keep my distance allowing him his independence. This is the first time that he is tasting food that he has foraged himself. He looks towards me with a huge smile, he knows he has done something important. It is something inherent in all humans this foraging, latent now with our refrigerators and fast food restaurants, something ancient.

On this hike we have stopped to climb over a log that was soft with age, pausing to pull at some lose fibers ending up with hand fulls of golden wood pulp. There were puddles to be splashed in until we emptied them leaving only a slick of mud and leaves. There was even a fuzzy black and auburn caterpillar who we followed as it inched up the trail. Three months ago he was barely toddling to the end of the block, now he's hiking ridge trails. The change is seamless, I barely remember when he could only crawl.

He is completely at home in the woods. This comes from his Papa and I taking him out and sharing our love of it with him. The comfort he has comes from familiarity. We take him out into the woods often, first in a carrier now on his own feet. We model for him our mix of delight, interest and caution.  In response we watch as he tests a log before he climbs it to reach one last green leaf that is tucked against it's bark.

We may not be taking the long hikes we used to but we have not "given it up for the baby". There is no reason we should. In fact there are many reasons that we need to continue to go these places, and take him with us. My son is learning to respect and love nature. We want to give him what Erich Fromm describes as"the passionate love of life and all that is alive." We do not want him to look at the world thinking that a television screen is the only place (or any place) to find excitement and joy. By introducing him early to the natural world it becomes part of his understanding of the world, part of what he is comfortable with.

Beyond this connection to nature he is gaining confidence as an individual and strengthening his muscles. Each time I take him out I watch as he learns and challenges himself. Reaching the interesting rock may be a few steps for me but it is an adventure over and under sticks and stumps for him.  Through negotiating these obstacles he is improving his coordination and toning his muscles. So many kids are kept in car seats and strollers well past the time when they should be walking on their own. I want my son to have complete understanding of his body to be able to use it to things and know it's limitations. These trips out are perfect times for him to experiment.

There is a recent myth that children are fragile and that they should be kept in sterile environments. These "safe" places may actually be doing more harm than good. Environments that are so controlled offer no place to touch and feel the world, to gain independence and get exposed to new things.  Beyond this they are finding that all of this antibacterial stuff we have been using is part of the reason that there are more and more strains of antibiotic resistant illnesses.  A little dirt never hurt, and it seems it might even help.

Of course you can not be negligent when you take a child out into the woods. Most important is that you already feel comfortable there yourself. The point is for everyone to enjoy being there if you are just doing it because you heard that it was good for kids but you are uncomfortable there yourself maybe you could find someone else who is comfortable in the woods to take you all, someone you trust who can open these places up to both you and your child. Also, knowing some basic first aid and wilderness safety is a good idea. There are many short courses that the Red Cross and various hospitals offer in first aid and your local forest district or parks and rec might have a wilderness class, if your children are older you might consider taking the class together, especially if you are a little nervous about the whole endeavor. 

If you are taking a toddler out there are some additional concerns, ones you already deal with at home. Even if you are giving them the space to be independent remember to watch if they stick anything in their mouths. Notice where they are putting their hands, nettles may taste good in soup but they have a nasty sting.  Most important you should have the patience to move at their pace and not expect them to cover long distances, little legs take more steps and even the most energetic child will start to stumble when they are tired or rushed.

Experiencing the natural world with your children is important, for them, for you and for your connection with each other. Take advantage of the nice days and visit a nearby park or woods.  Give them these moments while their lives have not been filled with extracurricular activities and social life. Hopefully it will stick.

My son is bringing me his find, the small yellow-green apple. He pushes it towards my mouth wanting to share with me this discovery of taste. This food he has discovered himself. He shows me where to bite, giving me the whitest flesh of the fruit, sharing with me his secrets of these woods.

Stacey Bloomfield is a staff writer for TravelsInParadise.com and lives in Bennington, Vermont. She can be contacted at

Resources:

Children & Nature Network http://www.cnaturenet.org/
American Red Cross Courses http://www.redcross.org/services/hss/courses/index.html
Wilderness Medical Associates http://www.wildmed.com/

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