Springtime Green Fun

By Deirdre Wilson

Richard Louv’s 2005 landmark book Last Child in the Woods prompted widespread concern about the “nature deficit” afflicting kids today because of sedentary lifestyles, a reliance on TV and computers for entertainment, and worries about children’s personal safety when playing outdoors.

For environmentalists, the main concern about kids with no connection to nature is that they’ll grow up not caring about protecting and preserving the environment.

Unfortunately, simply relying on that well-worn command to “get outside and play!” won’t solve the problem. Today’s parents need to actively engage kids to help close the “nature deficit.”

In her book i love dirt! (Trumpeter, 2008; $12.95), nature expert Jennifer Ward offers 52 activities parents can use to help themselves and their young children commune with nature.

What to do during these beautiful soft days of spring marking the last weeks before summer's heat? Ward offers these ideas:

Go on a scavenger hunt for rocks.

Try to find rocks that are sharp, flat, bumpy, rough, smooth, shiny, dull, speckled, striped, multicolored or just one color. Compare the rocks you find and talk about their texture and appearance.

Build or create designs with rocks.

Line your rocks up into circles, squares or paths. Create buildings, a neighborhood, or even a whole town with your rocks. (You might even check out the contemporary classic children’s book Roxaboxen, by Alice McLerran and Barbara Cooney, for further inspiration.)