Grandparents are the Green Experts
BY JULIE THOMAS, PHD, RETIRED SCIENCE EDUCATION PROFESSOR FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-LINCOLN
What do you do when your cell phone or computer starts acting up? You likely turn to a young child as your ready expert — just as I do. Though these little technology gurus (aged 6 and up) are amazing, some argue they are in serious need of our knowledge and appreciation of everything green. Today, children’s nature exploration and outdoor play time averages four to seven minutes a day. We remember hours of outdoor play — if only after our parents prompted us: “You kids get outside!”
In “Last Child in the Woods,” Richard Louv worried about a nature deficit or increasing divide between children and nature. Science and education research studies, however, suggest nature and outdoor free play (like climbing trees, playing catch, or collecting bugs) naturally help to improve children’s academic success and general well-being.
Thus, we can play a key role in helping our grandkids unplug from media and plug-into nature. Consider the following ideas for finding time for nature with your busy little technology guru.
Keep a blanket in the car. Be ready for impromptu opportunities to pick up a take-out meal and have a picnic in a Lincoln area park.
Introduce a game of “I Spy.” You know the rules. You supply vague clues with “I see something . . .” and encourage their noticing and thinking via warm/cold responses.
Introduce the idea of a nature museum a display area, such as a table top or old tackle box, for found nature objects. Perhaps your grandkids will curate their own natural objects!
Stash flashlights near the door. When dinner is over you will be ready to head outdoors for a novel neighborhood hike and chance to identify night sounds, like owls.
For more help with ideas about how to prompt your grandkids to notice and engage with nature, you can look to TheGreenHour.org.
Julie Thomas is a contributing writer for 55+.