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I’ve now read 20+ (literally) books on international adoption. (The best by far was The Complete Book of International Adoption: A Step by Step Guide to Finding Your Child, by the way.)  I’ve also read the two tomes, What to Expect in the First Year and What to Expect in the Toddler Years. But probably none of these books have been as impactful as one given to me by my mom: Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder.  I had heard of Last Child in the Woods, and now I have my copy inscribed with “To my child of the woods.” Thanks Mom!

So the basic summary of the book is this: Children today spend increasing amounts of time in secondary experiences, in front of TV and computer screens (44 hours a week average.)  These same kids are spending less and less time outside, discovering the joys of nature in free and creative play.  They don’t know where their food comes from… they have closer connections to pets but less of an understanding of wildness.  They get that tigers come from the jungle, but they have no idea what lives in their own backyard.. no intimate connection.  Parents wrap their kids in bubblewrap and don’t let them climb trees or build forts, worried they will get hurt.  Their lives are more scheduled and goal focused, but they don’t develop the first hand experience, creativity, and compassion for the natural world as those that spend time outside.  The results?  Increased child obesity,  depression sue to a lack of sun and fresh air, and a lack of realworld maturity from taking risks.

That’s the jist of it.  I’ve included some of my journal notes on the book, for you to have a look at and consider.  To throw this into the positive realm, I’ve made a commitment that my children will not much watch much TV at all before they go to kindergarten, not play on the computer.  No Baby Einstein, sorry.  We’ll try to spend a lot of time outside, experiencing new things, like making leaf prints, catching bugs, creating collections with their dad (Jrock had this crazy book of deer pictures when he was a kid!)  and fishing with grandpa.  I hope my children will have the same joy of nature that my parents cultivated in me.. and that Jrock will miss for the first time when he changes jobs (to inside only work.)

Jrock and I are debating right now if we will live downtown once we get to Kelowna (so we can walk everywhere and be healthy that way) or live in the countryside and build ourselves a little piece of paradise.  Land isn’t cheap in the OK though! so we’ll see.  The power went off in our whole town last night, and I was reminded again of our goal to try to build and move towards off-the grid energy self-reliance, at least.

Anyway, I digress.  If you don’t have kids, I hope you’ll consider spending some time in a green space (even the garden!) to celebrate Earth Day.  For those of you that do have kids, check out these great resources for introducing your young ones to the great big wonderful world:

Daily activities to do with your kids during a Green Hour outside!

Research supporting the importance of nature to children’s development.

Video Interviews with Richard Louv on CBS.

 Read an excerpt from “Last Child in the Woods” and then buy the book!