Photo by Jo
When people ask me what I write about — what I do — I often get strange looks. It appears that dedicating oneself to unstructured play and connecting children (and adults) with nature can be perceived as a frivolous thing. I get that. I mean, it is play, after all. People tend to associate play and exploration with fun. In turn, they associate fun with anything but serious. But here’s the thing: This subject is anything but frivolous. In fact, I propose it is quite serious.
If you think about it, if you take the issue of today’s childhood — the well-documented and increasing gap between children and nature — and look at it in its entirety, it’s really quite an enormous issue. A societal issue requiring a societal response. Here are just a few lenses we can use to look at the issue. Each of these is a post or series of posts in their own right, so these are simple “thought bubbles” for the moment. Consider:
Public Health: Childhood obesity rates are skyrocketing, as is the medication of children for ADHD. Childhood and adolescent depression are also on the rise. Consider how spending time in nature, being active outdoors, playing, and having fun might impact these health problems and be part of a wellness and disease prevention paradigm.
Education (and reform): Mandatory recess. Establishing reasonable and thoughtful homework policies that impact not only the lives of students, but of educators, parents, and families. Protecting play-based learning in Kindergarten. On and on. We cannot expect kids to get outside and play if we do not provide opportunities for them to do so, or value those opportunities in the learning readiness of all students. Additionally, environmental education is a vital, viable win-win educational opportunity to enrich the school environment. Its hands-on, real-world approach is a powerful tool for engaging all learning styles.
Urban Planning: Planning community green-spaces, nature trails and community-connecting bike and walking paths. Creating safe walking routes to school. Sidewalks in neighborhoods. Traffic patterns. You name it — urban planners have a great power to create and refit healthy communities that foster time outdoors.
Social Justice: How are poor areas impacted in greater ways? Is it safe to go outside some places? What can be done about that? In areas heavily populated by recent immigrants with a different, and often more deep connection to the land, how are we engaging them in programs and efforts? What could we do better? What do they need?
Conservation: Without a connection to nature, what will the next generation do? One cannot protect what they do not know. Who will take the jobs of the people retiring in the conservation field, if kids grow up with no interest or connection? Who will vote to protect land, species, etc.? Who will become members and donors of NGOs that work on conservation issues?
Quality of Life: This one is key. Time outdoors. Unplugged time. Time to make connections to the land, ourselves, our families, and our communities in more meaningful ways. Time to recharge our batteries. Time to simply be. Time for children to play, which is how they restore. This time — this magic time of unplugging and connecting — is a powerful way to be a happier, healthier person. Doing so can help you be a better parent or mentor, a better employee or employer. A better you. How can society not be served by better versions of us all, young and old alike?
Steeped in awe and wonder, time spent playing and exploring the outdoors is indeed, quite fun. It is also a very important issue, and quite serious. It requires all of us to work together — professionals from a variety of disciplines, parents and grandparents, educators and caregivers, and concerned citizens. I hope you will join me. We have lots of work to do. But luckily, much of this worthy work is, as it turns out, PLAY!
See you outside! – The Grass Stain Guru
Great post, Bethe (as was the last one!). You so “get it,” and I’m glad that you’re blogging to reach more and more people about these important issues. I look forward to more!
Awesome Post. I’m so excited to meet you on April 28-29th at the No Child Left Inside symposium @LewisGinter!
Great work you are doing! Tweet ya later!
Wonderful post, as always. You do such a great job tying the importance of play to all aspects of our lives.
Great post! I don’t like the question “What do you do?”, I think the question we should be asking when we meet someone new is “What do you enjoy doing?” That said, YOU are DOING a great service to all of us! Everyone needs to be educated on the importance of play! Thank you and keep up the good work!
Great post, I agree 100%.
A big part of the problem is parents. Kids will do whatever it is parents do and learn by watching and participating in whatever is going on in the family. My kids absolutely love being outdoors and a huge reason for that is because I do too. Rather than becoming soccer moms/dads shuttling our kids to some activity, sitting on the sidelines while our kids run around on the field, we should be pursuing outdoor activities that can be done together.
@balmeras: New post @ The Grass Stain Guru: The Complex Issue of Children & Nature http://bit.ly/1YPEI #playoutdoors GREAT POST!! Pls RT!
RT @thatjustfigures: @balmeras: New post @ The Grass Stain Guru: The Complex Issue of Children & Nature http://bit.ly/1YPEI #playoutdoor …
Hi! In case y’all didn’t see it earlier. One of the best people in the world writing on children, nature, and play: http://bit.ly/1YPEI
RT @TomVMorris Anyone in the RT mood~The Grass Stain Guru: The Complex Issue of Children & Nature http://bit.ly/1YPEI
RT @TwilightEarth @balmeras A.K.A. The Grass Stain Guru’s most excellent post “The Complex Issue of Children & Nature” http://poprl.com/05mg
TGSG is a daily read for me. The words and feelings everyone shares about their passion for restoring play and nurturing young children’s connections with nature fill me with hope. Bravo to TGSG and the TGSG community!
In case U missed it — post @ The Grass Stain Guru: The Complex Issue of Children & Nature http://bit.ly/1YPEI #playoutdoors #edrefom
Really great article RT @balmeras @ The Grass Stain Guru: The Complex Issue of Children & Nature http://bit.ly/1YPEI #playoutdoors #edrefom
RT @balmeras: In case U missed it — post @ The Grass Stain Guru: The Complex Issue of Children & Nature http://bit.ly/1YPEI
RT @NNUS: great article RT @balmeras @ The Grass Stain Guru: The Complex Issue of Children & Nature http://bit.ly/1YPEI #playoutdoors
RT @balmeras The Grass Stain Guru: the complex issue of children and nature http://bit.ly/1YPEI (via @balmeras)
at least noone’s commented how mommy needs to get her fat ass into the gym. I hope those spin classes I’ve been taking have been working. UGH.
It’s a poodle litter
There will be no putting down of anyone’s bum here at The Guru! You are beautiful inside & out.
[...] Note: Recently, I wrote about urban planning as one of the key barriers to today’s children spending time outdoors. I am so excited to [...]
I could not have said it better. I only wish other parents would get this. I remember when my mom would “throw” us out while she cleaned, we would ride bikes,play hide n seek, soccer, football,baseball anything to keep busy. There was at least fifteen of us at any time hanging out. Those were the days!
RT @ChildrenNature @balmeras: Blog closet: The Complex Issue of Children & Nature http://bit.ly/3MAHgj #parent #playoutdoors #conservation
RT @balmeras Great blog: The Complex Issue of Children & Nature http://bit.ly/3MAHgj from someone whose 'work' is play.
@familyonabike familyonabike
RT @balmeras Great blog: The Complex Issue of Children & Nature http://bit.ly/3MAHgj #parent #play#greenplay
RT @familyonabike RT @balmeras Great blog: The Complex Issue of Children & Nature http://bit.ly/3MAHgj from someone whose 'work' is play.
The Complex Issue of Children & Nature by @balmeras http://bit.ly/3MAHgj #nature #kids #playoutdoors
ECE students–> The Complex Issue of Children & Nature <and play!> http://bit.ly/190XLe from @balmeras #ece
RT @balmeras: Blog closet: Th Complex Issue of Children & Nature http://bit.ly/3MAHgj #parent #playoutdoors #conservation
Why play is a serious issue for kids & conservation RT @ChildrenNature @balmeras http://bit.ly/3MAHgj #playoutdoors #conservation
RT @klsnature
The Complex Issue of Children & Nature by @balmeras http://bit.ly/3MAHgj #nature #kids #playoutdoors
RT @alisonkerr: RT @klsnature
The Complex Issue of Children & Nature by @balmeras http://bit.ly/3MAHgj #nature #kids #playoutdoors
You rock, Bethe! It’s nice to have you as a leader & mentor for those of us in the “trenches” trying to simplify our kids’ lives. I often feel like I’m alone fighting the system (be it the schools, other parents, society) because I don’t want to overschedule, overstimulate or over-anything my kids. It’s nice to see I’m not alone!
Debi´s last blog ..Outdoor Counting Fun
RT @vickiehlers: ECE students– The Complex Issue of Children and Nature and play! http://bit.ly/190XLe from @balmeras #ece
I totally agree with what you’re saying here and I’m looking forward to reading more on your blog. I try to get outside with my little girl as often as possible and feel a little glow every time someone leaves a message on my blog saying they’ve enjoyed one of the parks I’ve recommended!
Kath@Parklover´s last blog ..Staffs and Worcs canal, Hinksford
RT @balmeras The Complex Issue of Children & Nature | The Grass Stain Guru http://bit.ly/3zHgc2 -we agree. Great post
RT @alisonkerr: RT @klsnature The Complex Issue of Children & Nature by @balmeras http://bit.ly/3MAHgj #nature #playoutdoors
RT@ tomorrowsyouth RT @vickiehlers: ECE students-The Complex Issue of Children and Nature and play! http://bit.ly/190XLe from @balmeras #ece
RT @Cocoxochitl
RT @Cocoxochitl RT @alisonkerr: RT @klsnature The Complex Issue of Children & Nature by @balmeras http://bit.ly/3MAHgj
Great post Bethe.
Our kids love being outdoors and a huge reason for that is because my husband and I do too. My own childhood influenced the way I decided to bring up my own children. I had a carefree childhood, my parents invested their time in taking us on forest trails, mountain hikes, scavenger hunts, rock hunting, introducing my brothers and I to the magic…nature has to offer.
My husband and I decided to limit our children s after school activities (and although all 3 children play soccer-usually Saturday mornings) our weekends are spent pursuing outdoor activities that we can to do together as a family.
RT @familyonabike: RT @balmeras Great blog: The Complex Issue of Children & Nature http://bit.ly/3MAHgj from someone whose 'work' is play.
RT @balmeras: Blog closet: The Complex Issue of Children & Nature http://bit.ly/3MAHgj #parent #playoutdoors #conservation
RT @nativegardener RT @Cocoxochitl RT @alisonkerr: RT @klsnature The Complex Issue of Children & Nature by @balmeras http://bit.ly/3MAHgj