Will it ever stop raining?! Chances are good that the answer is YES!!

So now that Spring is on the way, what do we do to get ready for outside fun? The first thing that comes to mind is getting my hands into some good, gooey garden soil. Planting a garden and watching the first green sprouts push through the soil lifts my spirit. I thank my mother for instilling in me the wonder of gardening and my father for the respect for all living things. Unfortunately, so many children today do not have the opportunity to get out and get their hands dirty.

All the time inside during the winter has created what Richard Louv, in his book Last Child in the Woods, called “nature deficit disorder”. Now this is not an actual medical diagnosis, but it is a way of calling attention to the challenges faced by children and youth who don’t engage and interact with the great outdoors. Some reasons why children and youth don’t go outside include parental fears, restricted access to natural areas, and the increased use of electronic media by children.

Why We Need To Connect With Nature

Have you ever watched a toddler play in the grass and pick dandelions? The simple and innocent discovery that they can blow the dandelion fluff and watch it fly in the breeze helps lay the foundation for loving nature. Viewing the world through a child’s eyes is a gift many adults overlook. Did you know that a 2-year-old says that the morning dew is “grass tears”? How about the preschool child’s discovery that “earthworms sprout after a rain”? Parents and teachers are instrumental in helping children notice, experience, and help make sense of what is changing during each season.

Children who don’t have nature-time seem more prone to anxiety, depression, attention-deficit problems, and obesity. This current generation could be at risk for having a shorter life span than their parents.

Many school districts are increasingly aware of the benefits of Outdoor Education, where school age children have access to an outside classroom where they learn about the natural world.

Ways to Connect with Spring

If you can’t do a big, in-ground garden, try these simple container planting ideas using recyclable materials. I like planting easy growing edible herbs like cilantro and basil. Of course, marigolds and pole beans are old time favorites for measuring and graphing growth.

Or you can try toilet paper roll seed starters pods – this is one of my favorites! Not only do you get to recycle toilet paper or paper towel tubes while growing seedlings, but the decomposing cardboard enriches the soil when planted outside. Folding the cardboard can be a bit tricky but it holds the dirt when small children are picking up their own personal seedling. For older, more skilled children, I use coffee filters in the bottom of the tube. The bottom is more delicate but, if handled carefully, the fine roots can spread a bit easier.

So as we march into spring this year, find ways for you and your family to connect to nature.

Louv, Richard. (2011) The Nature Principle: Human Restoration and the End of Nature-Deficit Disorder. Algonquin Books. 303pp.

Louv, Richard. (2005) Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder (Paperback edition). Algonquin Books. 335pp.

Pam Rinn is the Program Director for Community Professional Development-Instruction at Camp Fire First Texas. Pam’s philosophy is to nurture the whole person by celebrating individual uniqueness and working to strengthen the environmental system. She has more than 25 years of experience working with children families and community outreach programs and is a Certified Family Life Educator. Pam holds a Master of Science in human development and family studies and a Ph.D. in family therapy.