Get Colorado Kids Outdoors

Tips for raising kids who are wild about nature

By Julie Christensen

 Ask most adults to recall favorite childhood memories, and you’ll likely hear tales of outdoor adventures – turning over rocks to look for bugs, burrowing into piles of dry leaves, or drifting off to sleep watching the stars. A generation or two ago, children spent as much time outdoors as they did indoors. Children played traditional games like “kick the can” and “no bears out tonight” until dusk melted into darkness and bedtime called.

Increasingly, children lack regular opportunities to connect with nature. In fact, according to a Colorado State University study, 99% of Denver and Fort Collins parents report that their children prefer playing with electronics to playing outside. To combat this problem, Lt. Governor Barbara O’Brien launched the Colorado Kids Outdoor Initiative in May 2009. From May to September 2009 she met with over 600 stakeholders, including parents and grandparents, as well as representatives from public health, education, government, and conservation organizations to discuss challenges, successes, and solutions.

According to the Colorado Kids Outdoors Initiative Report Executive Summary, youth today spend over forty hours per week watching television, playing video games, or some other electronic device. This sedentary lifestyle is directly linked to rising rates of childhood obesity. The benefits of getting kids outdoors regularly are many.

Kids who regularly play outdoors have better problem solving skills, motor development, and creative thinking abilities. According to a study published in the 2005 Archives of Pediatric Adolescent Medicine, children are more resilient to stress and anxiety. They grow into strong, nurturing adults with a connection to nature and a sense of social responsibility. Fostering those connections is vital to Colorado’s future. “Kids won’t care about the environment,” says Ford Church, M.A., founder and director of the Cottonwood Institute an award-winning program that offers environmental education and service-learning programs, “if they don’t have access to nature.”

Think like a Child

Go for a walk with a child. Kids aren’t worried about time or getting to a destination. They meander joyfully from one natural miracle to the next. Intensely curious, they notice the length of their shadow on the sidewalk, the bird singing in a nearby tree, and the bug scurrying through the grass.

Slow down and rekindle your own curiosity. Point out leaves opening on a tree, tracks in the mud, or the movement of clouds across the sky. Involving kids in the natural world doesn’t require a lot of time or expensive equipment. Start small by spending even a few minutes outside with your kids every day. You’ll increase your own comfort level with the natural world and send kids the message that you value opportunities to explore nature.

Church agrees that kids need time to explore and play outside in an unstructured way. Limit scheduled activities and electronics use so kids get at least 30 minutes of unstructured outside play every day.

 Get Growing

Kids are natural gardeners. Give your kids even a small plot or a few pots on the patio to grow seeds.  Kids are fascinated by the wonder of a small seed becoming a plant, especially if that plant is something they can eat. Easy to grow vegetables include tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers or, if you have more room, pumpkins. When kids care for a garden, they learn valuable lessons in work ethic, responsibility, and earth stewardship. If you don’t have space for a garden or some pots, consider taking part in an urban garden. 

Join a Nature Club

Groups across the country are forming nature clubs. These clubs offer parents and kids the opportunity to make new friends and explore natural settings in a secure environment. O’Brien’s commission discovered that many parents, especially newcomers to Colorado, feel intimidated by our rugged terrain. Others expressed concerns about safety and security. Nature clubs address both these concerns. Groups are often led by an experienced naturalist who can choose appropriate outings and offer advice on gear and safety.

Create Wild Zones

Beautifully manicured yards make home owners associations happy, but don’t do much to foster a child’s sense of natural wonder. Save a space in your yard for natural exploration. Kids need opportunities to build tree houses or just play in the mud.  

Julie Christensen spent her childhood exploring the woods and streams of southern Idaho. She still counts frogs and fireflies as friends.

Resources for parents:

Nature Clubs: Downloadable tool kit for starting your own nature club. www.childrenandnature.org

Wild Zone: More information on the concept of wild zones. www.wild-zone.net

Denver Urban Gardens: Denver Urban Gardens has ninety gardens throughout the metro area. www.dug.org

National Wildlife Federation: Features everything from research and statistics to activities and lesson plans. www.nwf.org

Colorado State Parks: Learn about state parks, find trail maps and make camping reservations. www.parks.state.co.us

Land Help Info: Go to ‘Next Child in the Woods’ for ideas and links, including the publication 40 Outdoor Neighborhood Adventures, by Delwin E. Benson, Professor and Extension Wildlife Specialist, Colorado State University. www.landhelp.info

Cottonwood Institute: Classes for youth and adults on camping, survival skills, and environmental issues. www.cottonwoodinstitute.org