Not the Last Child in the Woods - Let's G.O. (Get Outside!)

When I worked for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, I was involved in many discussions about how to get and keep kids involved in the outdoors.  The Game and Fish is mostly funded by folks buying hunting and fishing licenses, so the future of the agency depended on a society that placed value on outdoor spaces and experiences.  I attended several presentations on a book called Last Child in the Woods, by Richard Louv.  The book does a good job of painting the picture of just how disconnected many of us have become from nature and how that correlates to some of the more disturbing childhood trends.  His theory is that this "nature-deficit disorder" contributes to obesity, attention disorders and even depression in adults and kids alike.  If you haven't read it, it's worth checking out!

As a parent, I can see the difference out play time makes in Wyokiddo's temperament.  Not only does she enjoy the outside time, but it improves her demeanor when we are inside as well.  She sleeps better, eats better and will focus on inside activities for greater lengths of time if she's playing outside in the day.

Our outside play is a little bit of everything.  We have a sandbox, playhouse and swing, as well as a small pool and water table for the summer days.  But one of Louv's points in the book is that kids need unstructured outside play, too.  They need to float sticks down a stream, kick ant piles, dig holes, splash in puddles, etc.  Set the most basic of boundaries and let them go!  Our outside rules are no touching poop and no playing by the slough (it's a mini-canyon).  She can run, yell, throw leaves, break sticks, stomp in puddles in her boots, chase the dogs, chase the birds, eat a pine cone (not so appetizing as it turns out!) and get as dirty as she wants.

Our house sits on about several hundred acres of land, leaving us plenty of room to explore and romp.  We play in the sagebrush, the tree belt and any puddle we can find.  We feed the birds and pick up sticks and try to sneak up on rabbits in the yard for a closer look.  Sometimes I'll point out something to Wyokiddo that I think she might like.  But I consider our time outside her time to explore and experience on her own.

As summer approaches, I'd encourage you to make sure your own kiddo isn't the last child in the woods. For some ideas on getting outside and exploring beyond the playground, visit Louv's Resource Guide.