Wild Bound

Image by Ken Lund via Flickr

Yesterday we went out for a run with Samuel strapped in the jogging stroller. We spotted a bald eagle flying above the cliff near our house.  We ran through the fountain on our way past.  We spotted a few ducks in the slough.  I know running is good for me.  I know I much prefer to run outdoors than to run on a treadmill.  I wonder if riding in a jogging stroller is enough for a child to connect with nature.

What do you think?  What does it take to connect children and nature?  Is there a formula or a frame work?

Here are my thoughts, in no particular order:

• Give what you can.   Not everybody lives in an outdoor adventuring mecca, but you should do the best you can with what you have.  That may be as small as a flowerpot with a tomato growing on your balcony or even a coke-bottle terrarium in your kitchen windowsill.  For connecting children and nature, that is better than nothing.
• Ideally, a child is presented with a lot of different ways to connect with and experience nature.  Free play is important, but so is formal study.  Some natural connections are best done with a “kid pod” (a.k.a. Jogging stroller, child carrier, etc).
• Artificial or man-made experiences can be a good jumping off point for further learning.  For example, going to the zoo can be a good addition to studying the African savanna if you can’t visit there in person.
• Connecting children and nature takes time.  Parents have to make space in the family schedule to find time for nature.
• As a parent, it’s hard to judge when to get in there and when to get out of the way.
• One of the biggest challenges to connecting children and nature is overcoming my own ignorance in the face of his insatiable curiosity.

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Today I am guest posting over at Adventure Tykes, be sure to head over there and see what Melissa has to offer.

And

If you are new here at Wild Bound.  WELCOME!  I hope you enjoy the show.

While you are here, make sure to check ou these great articles on Wildbound.com

• What is The Wild Bound Project?
• Backpacking with A toddler without losing your mind.
• Turn Your Oven into a Food Dehydrator
• Helping a Child Overcome their fear of water
• Camping Food On a Budget

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Now that it is August, we are finally getting some temperatures that look like Summer.  I really think we live in the only corner of the United States that is not facing record breaking summertime highs.  The water is finally warm enough to get in.  There are no fires nearby, so the air quality is still good.  These are the prefect days of summer, and last night was the perfect sort of night to go kayaking.

Brenton complained about the mosquitos.  He wanted to clean his garage instead.  I offered some bug repellant.

He resisted.

I suggested we could fish while we kayaked.

He resisted.

I hugged him and gave him puppy dog eyes.

Still, he resisted.

Samuel wedged himself between our hug, looked up with his hopeful 2 year old eyes and said enthusiastically, “Yet’s go kayaking!!!!!!”

And Brenton melted.

Within 20 minutes we were on the water.  Samuel was paddling the kayak and I was fishing.  Brenton was trying to avoid getting hit by the paddle.

As the sun started to set, I began to get nibbles on my hook.  I caught the same tiny perch at least 4 times in a row.  Finally I asked Brenton to move the kayak so I could fish a different hole.

When we came in, we threw the, still inflated, kayak on the roof of our car.  It’s sitting in our yard now waiting for us to head out on the water again tonight.

If you want to know more about or inflatable kayak, read the post How We Got Our Kayak

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Image by Steve-h via Flickr

Yesterday we headed out for a walk, around town and down by the water.  Whenever we head out for a walk, we start Samuel out walking and then when he gets tired, he goes into the jogging stroller.

Yesterday we headed out, Brenton pushing the stroller.  Me holding Brenton’s hand.  Samuel on foot.

He ran out ahead of us a bit and then giggled when he turned to run back.  He ducked under our hands, turned around and then ran out ahead again.

He repeated this a few times before I caught on to the game.

He didn’t want me to join him running, but he was running, just like Mamma does.

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I love how children are blissfully ignorant of the news.  Samuel might be a bit more aware, but we don’t do news, or even television.  While the rest of America was watching and wondering if the debt limit would be raised, we headed out to the playground.

I was thrilled because there were actually other kids at the playground!  I consider my job as a Mom is to play when he is looking for someone to play with and to get out of the way (and watch protectively) when there are other kids around.  For his social development, I don’t think there are other kids around enough.

On Monday there were kids, and Samuel took the opportunity to play.

The highlight of the morning was when another 2 year old showed up with an radio controlled monster truck!  Samuel was totally enthralled.

Trucks!

That go on their own!

That was awesome.

Then, right before we left, Samuel got to drive his first RC monster truck.  When we got home, he started looking for the batteries in his Tonka truck.

“The batteries are broken.” He told me, after the tonka truck wouldn’t go.  I couldn’t convince him that it didn’t have batteries.  He thinks I need to buy some new ones for his truck.

We rode bicycles on the way to the park, and after the park, we rode a few more miles to meet Brenton for lunch.  I love when I can sneak in a good workout without taking time away from my family.  Isn’t that the biggest challenge Mom’s face in getting healthy?

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