A back-to-nature guide for kids

[fgoodwin 23]

A back-to-nature guide for kids

 

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/fea/healthyliving2/stories/DN-nh_brief3_0304liv.ART.State.Edition1.4654a22.html

http://tinyurl.com/26pyvm

 

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Leslie Garcia

 

Richard Louv's book Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder (Algonquin Books, $25), discusses the consequences of the disconnect between children and nature. Not just obesity, but also emotional and mental health.

 

That said, we offer five ways to keep such trauma at bay and to get kids enamored of the outdoors. We nabbed them from the March issue of Texas Parks & Wildlife.

 

1. Yoo-hoo, butterflies! Over here! What is cooler than a butterfly in your yard? How about a swarm? Bring 'em home by planting lantana, black-eyed Susans, purple coneflowers. Migrating species need flowering plants even through November.

 

2. Branch out. Find gnarled, sturdy-branched trees and hoist a kid's fanny up into the branches. C'mon, you remember how it's done. Bring a book if you'd like, or just imagination.

 

3. Collect your thoughts. OK, enough about thinking. Instead, encourage kids to start real collections: Rocks, shells, leaves, frogs. Egg cartons make good storage spots (except for the frogs).

 

4. Time wades for no one. Teach 'em the fun of wading in a moving stream. Yes, a slowly moving one. If it moves too fast or is too deep, find another.

 

5. If I had a hammer. Help a kid build something. A fort. A treehouse. Heck, a birdhouse made with Popsicle sticks would do just fine.

[struax 10]

A Leader is one that can find adventure in a mud puddle

 

what a great quote!!!!!!!

 

scott