Mom Is Teaching

I mentioned a couple weeks ago that I have been reading Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv. I am really enjoying reading this book, and a bit ashamed that I did not read it sooner. This is definitely one that everyone should read.

One part that I recently read has stuck out in my mind, mostly because of the recent “socialization issues” that have been tossed at homeschoolers. It was a section discussing some of the emotional and mental health benefits that people gain by being out in nature.

One reason for the emotional benefits of nature may be that green space fosters social interaction and thereby promotes social support. For instance, a Swedish study shows that children and parents who live in places that allow for outdoor access have twice as many friends as those who have restricted outdoor access due to traffic. [p. 49]

My sons playing under a tree in an empty lot.

It should be no surprise that spending more time outside would help one to get more friends. The sunshine and fresh air boosts happiness, and when we are feeling happy we are more sociable. How could you not want to smile and chat with everyone when the sun is on your back and there is a breeze blowing your hair?

We enjoy going outside as often as we can. Most of the time it is just to our own backyard, but there are also daily walks around the neighborhood and trips to the park when we can. Our closest park is all flat grass and huge plastic toys, so we have to make a bit of an effort to get to a park across town that has trees and flowers and a creek filling up the space. But the effort is worth it when I can watch them chasing butterflies and comparing fallen leaves. Sure I’m a bit of a tree hugger so that rubs off on them, but there is also something magical about nature to children.

My favorite memory is the giant apple tree that grew in my grandmother’s backyard. It was huge and ancient to me. I would climb that tree for hours, sometimes by myself and sometimes with the few nearby kids that lived there. I still recall playing with Erin, the preacher’s daughter. We would sit in the tree and giggle while our parents looked for us, chase tracks in the mud that to us were left by mighty lions, and rest in shade. I was shy and nervous as a child, but under that apple tree I felt complete freedom.

That freedom is something that I hope to pass on to my sons. When they are outside playing I stay back and let them go. Sometimes they play alone, sometimes they find friends. Sometimes they fall, and sometimes they fly. No matter what they do I know that being out in nature they are getting something special. It is a lesson they could never learn sitting behind a desk.

Last Child in the Woods, nature, outsid, play, children, socialization