Image via Wikipedia
A few weeks ago, I asked “What Does It Look Like to Connect Children with Nature?”
Your responses have forced me to think.
It comes as no great surprise that most of the readers of this blog place a high value on children getting outside and getting knee deep in nature.
One lone commenter came out in defense of strapping a child in a jogging stroller and getting outside. Kelli, your comment got me thinking about my assumptions.
As a mom, it is easy to fall into the comparison trap or even thinking that there is one right way to raise every child.
Stay at home moms vs. working moms. We all have our own source of mommy guilt and mommy pride. We start out by wanting to give our children the best we know how and eventually we morph into a thought that “my way is the best way.”
When it boils down, every mom is giving her child the best she can in her own way.
The real question we should all be asking is not “What does it look like to connect children and nature?”; rather we should be asking ourselves, “How do I want to connect my children with nature?” Perhaps even “How do I want to connect my children with nature TODAY?”
We have to learn to agree upon the universals:
Children need to get outside. It is healthy for them physically, mentally, and emotionally.
We need to support, encourage, and enable one another on the particulars realizing that getting kids outside, connecting children with nature will look different in each family, in each situation, in each location, and with each child.
Sometimes it looks like playing in the dirt in the front yard while Mom watches from inside.
Sometimes it looks like a week long camping and hiking trip.
Sometimes it looks like strapping a kid in a jogging stroller to go out for a run.
Sometimes it looks like a discovery museum.
Sometimes it looks like a zoo.
Do what you can do in whatever way you can do it.
I’m cheering you on.
