When I was a child, I'd spend hours outside playing at the local parks, climbing trees and riding my bike around our neighbourhood. We were lucky enough to have a cottage where I learned how to fish and garden with my dad. I also learned not to fear nature. As a teenager, we lived on a street opposite the Scarborough Bluffs. I used to wander over to the grounds of the Guild Inn and write poetry and take pictures of flowers and trees. Nature was my greatest influence and it certainly brought out a creative side - much to my own surprise.
Several teachers at Clairlea have been inspired by Richard Louv's book Last Child in the Woods. Louv makes a very strong case that today's children are not spending nearly enough time outdoors as they should be. Here is a blurb from the back of the book: "This new edition updates the growing body of evidence linking the lack of nature in children's lives and the rise in obesity, attention disorders, and depression." Louve talks about how children today are being raised as "container kids," shuttled back and forth in cars from one indoor space to another, spending too much time parked in front of the TV or computer and not enough free range time exploring the world outside.
I am reading this book right now and as a parent and teacher, it's already forcing me to make changes in the way I spend time with our young son as well as my class at Clairlea. We will definitely be spending more time learning in outdoor classroom over the next few months. To read more about this book visit http://richardlouv.com/last-child-woods I may be including some of Louv's discussion points on upcoming posts.
Stay fresh and green,
Erin Hawkins
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