Now, More Than Ever, We Need Nature

The Physical Exercise And Emotional Stretching That Children Enjoy In Unorganized Play Is More Varied And Less Time-bound Than Is Found In Organized Sports. Playtime—especially Unstructured, Imaginative, Exploratory Play—is Increasingly Recognized As An Essential Component Of Wholesome Child Development.

We Have Such A Brief Opportunity To Pass On To Our Children Our Love For This Earth, And To Tell Our Stories. These Are The Moments When The World Is Made Whole. In My Children's Memories, The Adventures We've Had Together In Nature Will Always Exist.

Our Kids Are Actually Doing What We Told Them To Do When They Sit In Front Of That Tv All Day Or In Front Of That Computer Game All Day. The Society Is Telling Kids Unconsciously That Nature's In The Past. It Really Doesn't Count Anymore, That The Future Is In Electronics, And Besides, The Bogeyman Is In The Woods.

If A Child Never Sees The Stars, Never Has Meaningful Encounters With Other Species, Never Experiences The Richness Of Nature, What Happens To That Child?

The Dugout In The Weeds Or Leaves Beneath A Backyard Willow, The Rivulet Of A Seasonal Creek, Even The Ditch Between The Front Yard And The Road-all Of These Places Are Entire Universes To A Young Child.