“There is a garden in every childhood, an enchanted place where colors are brighter, the air softer, and the morning more fragrant than ever again.” ~Elizabeth Lawrence

As we launch into another new school year, I wanted to revisit the notion of the Super Kid.

I have a secret dream that all parents and educators will put the above quote on their refrigerators to remind themselves what childhood should not only look like — but FEEL like. (Um, well I guess the cat is out of the bag now!) I am not totally naive or going through life with rose colored glasses, but I do think that it is high-time the pendulum swung back the other way on childhood.

I just re-read a great article, Lost in the Meritocracy, by Walter Kirn and was once again struck by just how wrong so much of childhood is these days. In our “quest for the best,” our view of what’s best has become warped and twisted, and incredibly shallow. It might look good on paper and even open a door or two, but are they really doors that we should be aspiring to, or want for our children? Should achievement trump happiness and well-being? Not in my world.

I have written about this notion of the “Super Kid” before. We have all seen them — in classrooms or sometimes on  TV, being held-up as the ideal child. Over-achievers by age six. Children with adult vocabularies and sensibilities, often lacking the ability to connect with their own peer group, or so fearful of getting dirty or doing anything wrong they are stuck almost immobile in uncontrolled or unknown situations. Often, the “success” of these children send parents into panic mode, creating a drive to outdo or out-pace that is visited upon children.

I find it so offensive — whether it is motivated by good intentions or not. On the part of the parents who try to create them — pushing kids to excel at everything or perseverating on one identified skill that must be mastered. And on the part of education and enrichment programs that promise parents ivy-league success by 4th grade and drive young minds and hearts to near exhaustion.

The adulteration of childhood is simply not OK. Not only does it rob children of their right to childhood, but it robs adults of the joy of offering true guidance, warmth, and compassion. It’s a lose-lose situation.

So, I have a proposal. Let’s redefine the Super Kid. Let’s start with a clean slate and give the kids a break.

The NEW and improved Super Kid:

• Laughs and giggles daily more times than he/she can count
• Is in the process of learning about who they are and what they like, versus letting others define them
• Plays for play’s sake
• LOVES to learn
• Stands-up for a friend
• Is not afraid to get dirty
• Is curious, sometimes loud, and capable of dreaming big
• Understands that it’s OK to make mistakes
• Learns that it’s OK not to get everything you want
• Understands that their only job in life is BEING A KID

That, my friend, sounds like a Super Kid to me. One that has time to enjoy being a child and will arrive at adulthood with a sense of self, a capacity for happiness, and the keys to a truly bright future of their choosing.

See ya outside! – The Grass Stain Guru

photo credit: {just jennifer}

photo credit: Tim & Selena Middleton

Can you believe it is already September?! Time flies when you are having fun (and talking critters!).

So put on your thinking caps and let’s get to it! And remember — no cheating.

CRITTER CLUES:

• I am quite petite
• My call has been labled as raucous
• I range from Canada to Florida
• You will hear me more often than you see me
• I make my home in forests and orchards — I like big trees

So, what am I?

Make your guess then go to eNature for the answer and more interesting facts.

Did you get it right?

If not, no worries. You will have another chance next week!

Remember, keep your ears open for this Mystery Critter (and many others!)

What critters can you spot in your neck of the woods this weekend? Be sure to tell us!

And don’t forget! Join the Wildobs community and share your wild adventures with the world.

See ya outside! ~ The Grass Stain Guru

Last week, I wrote about being boxed in, and some of my favorite tools to break myself out of it. (And, I am happy to report that my tools worked — I am box free!)

So, I thought I would follow-up this week with a few words on happiness and life. You know, the stuff that actually matters…

Gather up your telegrams
Your faded pictures, best laid plans
Books and postcards, 45’s
Every sunset in the sky

Carry with you maps and string, flashlights
Friends who make you sing
And stars to help you find your place
Music, hope and amazing grace

Maybe what we leave
Is nothing but a tangled little mystery
Maybe what we take
Is nothing that has ever had a name

- Mary Chapin Carpenter

I couldn’t have said it better myself.

Slow down. Live your life to the fullest. Laugh until you can hardly breath. Increase your capacity for joy. Enjoy the feeling of the breeze on your face.

Focus on experiences and people versus things and labels. Wiggle your toes in the sand and mud.

Unplug and PLAY. Jump for joy, and pass it on.

In your pursuit of happiness you have to remember that it’s always there inside of you. Even on days you scarcely believe it possible. Even when you are inside that box.

Sometimes, you just have to kick off your shoes and go look for it.

Now, if you will excuse me, I need to go feel the sun on my face and walk barefoot through the grass. How about you?

See ya outside! – The Grass Stain Guru

photo credit: LadyDragonflyCC -Loving the Summertime!!!

Ever feel boxed in?

You know the feeling, right? It’s not a good one, but I have come to realize over the years, it is an incredible useful one — the feeling of being boxed in.

It hit me this weekend. Feeling boxed in. Under-inspired. Again, like an old acquaintance that you would rather avoid, but once you agree to that cup of coffee with them, you realize they are in your life for a reason.

Hello box, shall we dance?

Over the last few years, I have found some really useful tools to help me turn that feeling into an opportunity to break the box.

One was starting this blog, and giving my voice a place to live other than inside a meeting room or simply inside my head.

My favorite tool to fight the box is my passport, and letting the girl with the crooked smile and the phrase book wonder off on her own to see what there is to see. Naturally, this tool is not always accessible, but I really do try and keep it dust-free.

Often, I turn to the words of others as useful tools for busting the box that I have made. In books, poems, or songs I seek inspiration. Volunteer work is another great tool — giving back or trying something totally new.

Oddly enough, some of my favorite tools come to me via You Tube, which amidst the funny cat videos and cover songs of earnest young musicians, hides a treasure trove of box-breaking tools and footholds for those in need.

Favorites include Elizabeth Gilbert and Sir Ken Robinson, of course. And the list would not be complete without Randy Pausch. If you have never watched his final lecture — or if it’s been awhile — find some time to do just that and give yourself the permission to dream. Again.

Today I am not TGSG, simply Bethe, who is writing and dreaming her way out of the box.

See you out there…
photo credit: futureshape

Can you believe this is our 55th case together, nature detectives?! Time flies when you are having fun (and talking critters!).

So put on your thinking caps and let’s get to it! And remember — no cheating.

CRITTER CLUES:

• I may be small, but I have a lot to say.
• I find tree sap delicious!
• I’m not something you can see any old time you want.
• Some have told me I have bulging eyes, which while true, really is quite rude to say, if you think about it.

So, what am I?

Make your guess then go to eNature for the answer and more interesting facts.

Did you get it right?

If not, no worries. You will have another chance next week!

You will hear this Mystery Critter long before you see it. What critters can you spot in your neck of the woods this weekend? Be sure to tell us!

And don’t forget! Join the Wildobs community and share your wild adventures with the world.

See ya outside! ~ The Grass Stain Guru

photo credit: Harclade

As readers of this blog know, I am the #playoutdoors pied piper in the social media world, and a firm believer in the benefits of play, time in nature, and unstructured time for kids and adults alike. So, when the great folks at SC Johnson’s Shout asked if I wanted to partner on their new Go Play initiative, I jumped at the chance!

Go Play is dedicated to getting children and families outside to play – it’s that simple. Whether it’s going on a nature scavenger hunt , building a fort in the backyard, playing Frisbee, or running through a sprinkler, Go Play encourages families to make the active decision to unplug and head outside for some active fun.

Research indicates that children who play outdoors regularly:

• Have stronger immune systems
• Have reduced stress levels
• Are more creative
• Sleep better
• Are fitter and leaner
• Have a greater respect for themselves, others, and the planet

Naturally, time outdoors and play offers lots of benefits for adults too – including decreased stress levels! Who doesn’t need that these days?

I applaud Shout  for recognizing the importance of this issue for the health and well being of today’s children and families, and kicking off this initiative. You can follow the conversation on Twitter – we’ll be using the hash tag #GoPlay.  Also, make sure to keep up with the Go Play news on Shout’s Facebook page.

To kick off this initiative, Shout is launching the Go Play Sweepstakes. One lucky winner per week (for four weeks) will win a $200 gift card for Growing Tree Toys. One grand prize winner will receive a  Sunshine Castle II, which is a Best Seller from Rainbow Play Systems Inc.

Click here to enter!

Sending you lucky vibes. See ya outside! ~ The Grass Stain Guru

Disclosure: The Grass Stain Guru is a proud partner of Shout and is quite happy to share the sandbox with them!

photo credit: redjar

TGSG Note: Sometimes you hear something and it just knocks your socks off. This poem, which I read today as part of a group exercise, did just that. Powerful. Beautiful. I will let it speak for itself.

See ya outside! ~ The Grass Stain Guru

Being Human

I wonder if the sun debates dawn
some mornings
not wanting to rise
out of bed
from under the down-feather horizon

If the sky grows tired
of being everywhere at once
adapting to the mood swings of the weather

If the clouds drift off
trying to hold themselves together
make deals with gravity
to loiter a little longer

I wonder if rain is scared
of falling
if it has trouble letting go
If snowflakes get sick
of being perfect all the time
each one trying to be one-of-a-kind

I wonder if stars wish
upon themselves before they die
if they need to teach their young to shine

I wonder if shadows long
to once feel the sun
if they get lost in the shuffle
not knowing where they’re from

I wonder if sunrise and sunset
respect each other
even though they’ve never met

If volcanoes get stressed
If storms have regrets
If compost believes in life after death

I wonder if breath ever thinks
about suicide
I wonder if the wind just wants to sit
still sometimes
and watch the world pass by

If smoke was born knowing how to rise
If rainbows get shy backstage
not sure if their colors match right

I wonder if lightning sets an alarm clock
to know when to crack
If rivers ever stop
and think of turning back

If streams meet the wrong sea
and their whole lives run offtrack
I wonder if the snow wants to be black

If the soil thinks she’s too dark
If butterflies want to cover up their marks
If rocks are self-conscious of their weight
If mountains are insecure of their strength

I wonder if waves get discouraged
crawling up the sand
only to be pulled back again
to where they began

I wonder if land feels stepped upon
If sand feels insignificant
If trees need to question their lovers
to know where they stand

If branches waver in the crossroads
unsure of which way to grow
If the leaves understand they’re replaceable
and still dance when the wind blows

I wonder where the moon goes when she is hiding
I want to find her there
and watch the ocean
spin from a distance
Listen to her
stir in her sleep

— Naima Penniman

photo credit: Roman Keller

The Guru is on the go again!

I am excited to be attending the Children & Nature Network’s Grass Roots Gathering this week in Princeton, NJ. Passionate professionals and advocates from all over North America will gather this week to discuss what is going on in the movement to connect children with nature and to plan our next steps.

What’s brewing? What’s next? Stay tuned, and I’ll keep you posted!

@RicharLouv, @OutdoorAfro, @NatureRocks & @ChildrenNature will be there — along with a host of others. Look for tweets marked #GG2010.

Click here to see last year’s attendance list and some of the topics discussed.

Don’t worry — we’ll take time out to unplug and go play!

Are you going?! If so, add your name to the comments below.

See ya outside! ~ The Grass Stain Guru

photo credit: badkleinkirchheim

photo credit: WellspringCS

Michele (@OCPlayParks) is a big fan of  Mystery Critter and wanted to contribute a special critter from her neck of the woods (Hint, hint).

So put on your thinking caps and let’s get to it!

CRITTER CLUES:

• I am dark blue and silver.
• My eyes are large.
• I can glide hundreds of feet in the air.
• I fly for self-defense.
• Fishermen are likely to spot me south of California’s central coast.

So, what am I?

Make your guess then go to eNature for the answer and more interesting facts.

Did you get it right?

If not, no worries. You will have another chance next week!

Even if you can’t make it to Pacific Ocean any time soon, there are amazing wild wonders awaiting you. So, unplug and go spend some time outdoors. It’s good for mind, body and soul.

And don’t forget! Join the Wildobs community and share your wild adventures with the world.

See ya outside! ~ The Grass Stain Guru

Michele points Orange County parents in the direction of local playgrounds on her Fun Orange County Parks blog. Then she dares them to explore more of the natural world around them. She blogs as Play Mom for OCFamily.com and started her own family nature club this year. You can follow their adventures at NaturePlayClub.com.

photo credit:

Perspective. Practicing what I preach. At the beach. At play. Critters and sandcastles. Happiness. Joy.

See ya outside! ~ The Grass Stain Guru

At The Beach

You roll down the window
And even before you see it
You smell that salty, ocean scent
You already know your there
At the beach

Where the breeze is best
Where the sun is most powerful
Mother Nature’s birthplace
At the beach

There so much to do
Starting from building sand castles
To finding shells so odd looking
To riding tsunami on your surfboard
To tanning yourself like bread in the toaster
To fishing with your grandpa
To snorkeling with fish
To going on cruises
To riding a dolphin
Just so much to do
The list is as big as space
As long as infinity
At the beach

As you walk on the shore
You see the sky red as the sun sits on the water
You feel the sand filling the gaps between your toes
You hear the soothing sounds of the waves
At the beach

Some claim to see the most wondrous things
Like beautiful mermaids sitting on rocks
Or the mysterious Loch Ness Monster
And even the lost city of Atlantis
At the beach

There nothing better than the beach
Where beauty was given its name
Where Happiness cannot be expressed
At the beach

~ Khalid