Connecting Kids to Nature

With Nature-Based Experiential Learning

It is no secret that kids today have lost a connection to nature. Parents feel the pressure to keep kids in organized sports, lessons, and structured activities of every kind to keep them “busy.” While there is nothing wrong with these activities, it can lead to over-scheduling and a loss of a child’s inherent ability to be creative and spontaneous.

Teachers often find their hands tied as they feel enormous pressure to raise student test scores. They find themselves teaching a curriculum revolving around a standardized test rather than helping students to make connections to the world around them.

To top it off, children spend a majority of their time with indoor activities and electronics, about six and a half hours a day (5). In fact, only six percent of children age 9-13 play outside on their own (1). Wow! That is CRAZY. I remember as a child being outside all the time. I played in the pasture, the ditches, and the trees. I made mud pies and pretended to be a horse in our barn. My sisters and I watched tadpoles grow up in the puddles in our pasture. We learned the cycle of birth and death with the myriad of animals and plants raised at home. We made up games of various kinds and played outside till dark catching fireflies until our mom called us in.

Sadly, we have a generation that doesn’t understand where their food comes from, which has contributed to an epidemic of obesity, heart disease, mental illness, and diabetes (just to name a few). I have talked to kids that don’t realize that the hamburger they are eating comes from a cow or that chicken nuggets are actually chicken. It’s all too easy to go to the grocery store and grab a steak and not think about how and where that animal was raised and how it was treated up to its death.

They also lack the ability to make a connection between the earth and themselves. This absence of association can lead to a curtailment of reverance and stewardship for the earth and one another. Disconnected youth are more likely to lead to disconnected adults.

Connecting with nature and our food sources provides many benefits including (but not limited to):

Supporting multiple development domains. Nature is important to children’s development in every major way—intellectually, emotionally, socially, spiritually and physically (2).
Improving academic performance. Studies in the US show that forms of nature-based experiential education support significant gains in social studies, science, language arts, and math. Children in outdoor science programs improved their science testing scores by 27% (2).
Increasing physical activity. Children who experience diverse natural settings are more physically active, more aware of nutrition, more civil to one another, and more creative (2).
Improves nutrition. Children who grow their own food are more likely to eat fruits and vegetables and to show higher levels of knowledge about nutrition. They are also more likely to continue healthy eating habits throughout their lives (2).

A 2006 Cornell University study, published in the most recent issue of the journal, “Children, Youth and Environments”, revealed the best way to raise children who actively care about nature is to give them lots of time for nature (or natural) play before they are 11 years old (3).

So, what are those who care about the growth and development of kids to do to help create a connection to the natural environment? Here are a few tips.

Take a hike, but not just any hike, make it interactive. Equip kids with the tools to record what they see, if they want to (some kids just like to observe, don’t force the experience). They can record the sightings of nests, birds, and other wildlife. Collect various items including twigs, seeds, and leaves to make a nature project. Some craft ideas can be found HERE.

2. Grow a garden. This doesn’t have to be anything huge or extravagant. Using pots and containers is a great place to start. Allow kids to choose what kind of plant they would like to grow and allow them to be responsible for it. Talk to them about what it takes for this plant to grow and thrive. Have a picky eater, who won’t eat veggies? When kids, and adults, take responsibility for their food, they are more likely to try it.

3.Make room for downtime. As a whole, this society is constantly on the go. We always have someplace to be and kids are often shuttled from one activity to another. Quiet time alone is either very limited or lacking in most households. When they do get downtime, they do not know what to do with themselves, and the “I’m bored,” rears its ugly head. Teaching kids how to be alone is a chance for children to relax and enjoy simple activities that require thinking and self-direction. This is a critical part of childhood development (4).

4. Provide a Classroom Pet. I remember when I was in grade school we had a bunny as a classroom pet. Each weekend a different student got to bring it home over the weekend. Even though we had a plethora of animals at home, I was very excited when it came to be my turn.

5. Just Play. Free, unstructured play increases physical fitness and mental well-being. Allow kids to just be. Let them freely explore the world around them.

There is no substitute for what happens in the outdoors. We inherently know that kids need to spend more time outside, but it can be a challenge. Triple F Animal Adventures can help your kids make those connections with nature. We provide a hands-on experience that will leave a lasting impression on children. From learning about where our food comes from with our farm animals to learning about how animals adapt to their environment, we can provide a custom program for your classroom, summer camp program, VBS program, or even a birthday party.

With Nature-Based Experiential Learning

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