Educators today are saying that children are losing their connection to nature and may be getting lost in technology. Health experts have also been expressing grave concern about North American kids and their increasing weight gain, diabetes, poor eating habits and sedentary lifestyles.
Television and computers are the biggest problems. Getting outdoors and off the couch experiencing nature can give children an added benefit of healthy exercise. The sounds and smells of the wilderness will also enliven their senses.
Eco-friendly events are activities that cause minimal impact to the environment and often have a culturally and biologically diverse aspect to them. They attract participants who have a common interest in nature, wildlife and culture and can also create a strong family bond.
Eco-Friendly Activities
Parents who are looking to take part in eco-friendly and nature sensitive activities over the Christmas and winter holiday season can try some of the following suggestions.
- Seek out parks and natural outdoor places to experience plant life and wildlife in the fresh air.
- Bird Feeding Workshops: Learn how to turn a backyard garden into a friendly year-round sanctuary for wildlife.
- Help out a park or natural area restoration group by pulling out invasive plants or rebuilding a stream or other natural area.
- Take part in a local area Christmas Bird Count. Contact the local naturalist group for details.
- Nature Walks: Experience a guided walk along forested trails or snowy paths and then enjoy warm refreshments.
- Bird Walk: Discover the birds in the neighborhood. Create a contest to see how many the kids can recognize.
- Eco-Arts & Crafts: Create earth-friendly crafts using recycled materials, leaves, tree cones, etc. Contact a local recycling center for times and locations.
- Arrange a family nature scrapbook or treasure chest to display kids' nature finds and photos.
- Go outside and have fun in the snow by making snow angels or snow creatures.
- Organize a neighborhood nature treasure hunt. How many different pinecones or seed pods can the kids find? How many different leaves can they locate?
- Create a holiday and winter wreath using discarded tree prunings, seeds and branches.
- Turn off the TV and computer for a whole weekend!!
Nature Benefits for Children
In his book, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder (Algonquin Books, 2006), Richard Louv sounds the alarm about the need for change regarding the future relationship between children and nature. Dr John Davis of Naropa University in his study called Psychological Benefits of Nature Experiences, May 2008, notes that “direct contact with nature leads to increased mental health and psychological development. Nature experiences are desirable and healthy.”
Extensive research confirms that cognitive, affective, and moral development of children is impacted significantly and positively by direct contact with nature. Something as simple as getting away from the daily house routine can be very rewarding and offer inner peace. The simplest things in life can sometimes bring the greatest pleasure!
A visit to a bird and plant conservatory is another worthwhile eco-friendly activity. Once the weather warms up, kids may also want to get involved in gardening.
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Bev Yaworski - Bev Yaworski is a published writer and photographer for magazines such as Green & Organic Lifestyles, various parenting publications such ...
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