“
NOTHING INSPIRES KIDS TO BUILD FORTS
AND CREATE THEIR OWN GAMES MORE
THAN AN UNTOUCHED-BY-MAN SETTING.”
their plan worked. All of these to healthier play, wilder natural kids the chance to do these simple
skills are strengthened when environments such as hiking trails things. They’ll benefit immensely.
kids are allowed to play outside or woodlands are even better. independently. Nothing inspires kids to build forts
3. Active vs.
Sedentary Play
and create their own games more
5. Better Classroom
Performance
than an untouched-by-man setting. Some schools are experimenting
4. Room for Wonder
and Joy with longer recesses and more
Too many are overweight and Watching spiders spin a web. better behavior and engagement in
unfit. Too many are lethargic Catching grasshoppers in a jar. the classroom. When kids are given
and uninspired. In short, many Hearing birds sing in the trees enough time to move and play,
of our kids don’t move enough and seeing them drop bits of they’re better able to focus their
to be happy and healthy. But food into the open beaks of their attention on classroom work. They
knowing isn’t the same as doing. hatchlings. Wandering a beach, feel better, they perform better.
Parents need to push through a picking up beautiful shells or bits It’s not rocket science. In other
bit of resistance and insist that of driftwood, smelling the scent studies, it’s reported that children
our children go outside whether of grasses on a warm summer who play more outside get a better
it’s for time in their own backyard day. We all need opportunities to night’s sleep. A well-rested child is
or access to a larger natural absorb the wonder of nature and better able to focus attention and
environment. While parks can offer to experience the joy of being part “get into” lessons in class. Children
some of the necessary ingredients of the natural world. Give your who get enough chances for active
We all know the statistics on the
overall health of today’s kids.
frequent breaks in their school
day and every one of them reports
play feel more content and happy.
Happier kids have lower levels
of stress which produces better
classroom performance.
6. Self-reliance Through
Exploration
We like it when our children are
able to follow directions—when
they’re “coachable,” and that is
an important skill. But it’s also
important for kids to learn how
to operate via their own internal
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