Black-tailed deer in Northern California.
I went outside to play wiffle ball with my friend’s seven-year-old child. As I followed him out to the grassy yard he turned back to me, “There’s a bunny rabbit in our yard.”
How exciting! But before we could spend any time watching it, the rabbit hopped off into the bushes. “C’mon let’s play!” I chimed as I started into the yard.
From behind me I heard his worried voice, “Can you make sure it’s gone?”
I turned back in surprise. He wore a worried expression. It never occurred to me that a seven year old would be afraid of a cute little bunny. I reassured him that it was gone and it was more frightened of us than we were of him. We walked into the yard and played ball.
This article by Chris Kilham appeared recently on the Fox News Website (Why more people are afraid of the outdoors). The writing is a little dry, but the article raises some intriguing questions.
Our increasingly urbanized children are developing phobias to the outdoors. If this trend continues, it will have two important consequences. Studies show that people who spend time in nature are healthier, have improved immune function and reduced levels of stress hormones. This is something we can all benefit from. The second concern is that being so abstracted from the outdoors will result in a new generation of adults that won’t care what is happening in our increasingly imperiled natural environments.
Fortunately, there is an easy cure! It is to take our children into the woods often. It is fun, inexpensive, conveys health benefits, and opens up a world of new experiences. Just what the doctor ordered!
Share your thoughts:
What are your favorite activities to do with kids in the outdoors? How often do you get a chance to “play” with your children in a wilderness setting?
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