Balancing Our Kids' Nature Deficit

Nature-deficit disorder is unnervingly common among our young people. How can you ensure that your children don't end up deprived of outdoor experiences? Here are four ideas for getting your kids away from the video games and out into nature instead.

1.Plan a Hike: Find a nearby trail and take the family for a walk in the woods. Consider bringing along a field guide or birding book so that you can work with your child to identify what you see. Remember to pack adequate amounts of water, snacks, and sunscreen.

2.Backyard Camping: The easiest place to get kids outside is literally in their own backyard. Help them set up a tent earlier in the day, pull out the sleeping bags and a flashlight at sunset, and encourage them to sleep in it for the night (stay with them if they're too young to stay alone, or if they want you to). Comment on the brisk night air, the moonlight and stars, and nature's after-dark sounds. Watch this CBS News video for more backyard-camping ideas. If you don't have a yard, head to the nearest park where it's legal to set up a tent for an overnight adventure.

3.Green Tales: You read to your child already, so let that time do double-duty by choosing children's books with nature themes. Some time-tested favorites include The Giving Tree, Bridge to Terabithia, and Island of the Blue Dolphins, but there are thousands more to choose from. You get extra credit if you find a favorite spot outdoors to read together. After the last page is turned, encourage them to write and illustrate their own "book" about nature.

4.Water Journey: Since water is such an integral (but often forgotten) part of environmental conservation, it's important to expose children to liquid ecosystems. If you live near a coast, make frequent trips with your kids to where water meets land, and to see the adjacent wetlands. Encourage young ones to examine teeming tide pools (bring a magnifying glass), to take photos, and to try kayaking or snorkeling (check the water's safety first). If you live in a landlocked state, head to the nearest river or lake instead.

Please comment: How do you encourage young people to get outdoors more?

 

 

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