Michele Thompson, MS

In his book Last Child in the Woods, Richard Louv lists 100 actions that you can incorporate into your life to help bridge your children (and self) to nature, to transform communities to be more nature-centric, ways professionals and educators can promote nature in their work, goals for government support, and steps to build local and global movements connecting children to nature. You can start today. Here are 10 ways to become involved in putting a stop to nature deficit disorder.

1. Invite native flora and fauna into your life. Christiana B., mother of three, says, “Our family as a whole has a great appreciation for nature. Just today [my middle child] was helping his daddy fix the sprinklers in the backyard so that he and I could plant seeds to watch flowers grow. He loves to water flowers and talk about his surroundings and we encourage it by allowing him to get dirty and play in leaves and dirt.” She adds, “The joy of watching my son get excited about planting seeds and watching flowers grow reminds you of the simple things that are so important!” In addition to planting a garden, you can also maintain a birdbath or birdhouse or even an insect board (drop a piece of wood on a wet patch of grass and leave it for a couple of days – insects will collect underneath). For more ideas, visit the National Audubon Society’s Invitation to a Healthy Yard or the National Wildlife Federation’s tips to make your yard a Certified Wildlife Habitat.

2. Encourage your kids to camp out in the backyard. Pitch tents and leave it up all summer. Give them journals or recorders and tell them to keep track of the nighttime sounds, the changes in the sky and the drop in temperature. Share with them your experiences camping when you were young (and if you didn’t have a chance to camp in your youth, join your kids in the tent and experience it with them). For more adventures in nature or if you don’t have a backyard, visit www.recreation.gov to find campgrounds in your locale.

3. Create a daily green hour. Allow your children to spend an hour of unstructured play and interaction in nature. Sarah C., mother of two, says, “We turn off the television and my son and I chase each other, dance around, or when its warm enough, we go for walks.” Kids don’t need constant structured play. Encourage independent exploration to help your children develop new skills and self-confidence.

4. Go for a family walk when the moon is full. Take along a flashlight and a map of the constellations. Point out the astral wonders and teach your kids the names of the various constellations. Go for a walk again the next full moon and see how many they remember. You can also star and moon gaze from the comforts of your backyard or patio.

5. Invent a nature game. Go for a hike or visit a nearby park or lake and play the “name game.” Ask your children to tell you the names of various flora and fauna. You can also play the “find game.” Have your children find 10 mammals or 10 fish or 10 insects. Point out animal tracks, nests or other indications of wildlife and ask them to tell you the animals associated with them.

6. Go digital with nature photography. Digital or even disposable cameras are invaluable tools to learn about nature – and they are fun for all ages. Chris T., father of two, regularly hands a disposable camera to his oldest son and tells him to go outside and take pictures. He says, “When my son comes home from taking photos, we download them and talk about the trees, grass, animals or other outdoor things he’s photographed.” Take it a step further and make a nature scrapbook, letting your children include stories about their pictures. Allow your children to explore and experiment with their photography. Resist telling them how to aim and shoot. Let them do their own thing.

7. Teach your children to hone their senses. Explain to your children they have five senses – hearing, sight, smell, touch and taste – and to use their senses to learn about their natural environment. Have them sit outside – in your backyard or some other outdoor location in nature – and use all of their senses to describe their experience. Have them tell you what they heard, saw, smelled, felt and tasted (obviously, taste is subject to safety).

8. Embrace the winter. Connecting to nature is not exclusive to summer or perfect weather. Bundle up and go romp in the snow. Have your kids build snow sculptures or go snowshoeing. When it rains, put on the slickers, grab the umbrella and let your kids observe the effects rain has on the earth and animals as well as the many sounds it makes as it pitter patters on the rooftops, ground, grass or through the trees.

9. Visit farmer’s markets or farm stands. If you can’t grow a garden at home, help your kids learn about and appreciate where their food comes from. Give them a list of different fruits and vegetables and make a scavenger hunt out of your visit.

10. Get involved with scouting or programs like Camp Fire USA or 4-H. Check with your local listings for youth naturalist programs or other outdoor activities organized by local recreation and park organizations.

Read more:

• No child left behind: Putting an end to Nature Deficit Disorder