K is for Kids.
Every summer we take part of a week to camp with the grandkids. We hike, cook all manner of yummy campfire foods, explore, identify plants and animals, lounge, stargaze, float leaves down the stream, harass the squirrels, bond with cousins. We sometimes have just four of them, usually eight, but all fifteen are welcome as long as they bring a couple of parents along for crowd control.
Here is a crew of them hiking around the other side of the lake after searching for frogs.
I recently picked up a book entitled Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv. Louv describes how each generation has become more disconnected from nature. He quotes a fourth grader who says: “I like to play indoors better ’cause that’s where all the electrical outlets are.”
I recently picked up a book entitled Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv. Louv describes how each generation has become more disconnected from nature. He quotes a fourth grader who says: “I like to play indoors better ’cause that’s where all the electrical outlets are.”
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What has happened?
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Unstructured play in the outdoors provided us enormous benefits to development of creativity which our children and grandchildren are losing to highly organized sports, narrowly focused summer camps, and concerns about safety on our streets. We are no longer connected to the farm. Mom no longer can say, "Go outside and play," in the same way she did when we were kids. The places we played have disappeared.
Is it any wonder that kids today think of play as having to be plugged in?
So what can we do about it?
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Take the kids for a hike. Catch a frog. (Let it go.) Lie in the grass and watch for images in the clouds. Run on the beach. Plant a garden. Climb a tree. Build a treehouse. Camp out in the backyard. Let a ladybug crawl on their finger. Identify constellations. Find out when the next meteor shower is expected and stay up to watch for it. Get up early and watch the sun rise.
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What can you add?
43 comments:
It must be fun to have grandkids:) Nice photos and it looks like you had a fun and happy day:)
What a great thing to do with your grandkids. We also try to get our granddaughters to appreciate some of the simpler things in life.
How blessed your grandkids are to have grandparents like you. Enjoy! I want to go camping and hiking with you :)
I love the story accompanying your pics. You do all the things with your grandkids that I used to love doing as a child. It's so sad that today's kids are so disconnected from the natural world. It's also a crying shame that they have to be so closely supervised nowadays. Thanks for reminding me of my childhood escapades - happy Wednesday.
I have a student who just wrote an ode to video game sports on Wii because he can play sitting and not sweat. I think the earth's greatest danger will be this disconnected generation. Love the camping with the grandkids.
Great photos. I agree it is important to teach the little ones about nature.
This is a very special post, Katney. I would add give them a roll of duct tape, a ball of string, a flashlight with new batteries, a box of tooth picks, and a bottle of Elmer's glue--creativity follows.
My daughter and son-in-law always take their son camping, fishing, biking, etc. Although the little guy enjoys TV, his little Leap Frog educational toy, and his hot wheels, he'd rather be outdoors. Thank goodness! At least so far. Great post! :D
Neat that you chose your grandKIDS -- I thought we would see your photo since your name begins with a K!!!!!!!!
I like to let the kids make mud pies. So much fun to stir that wet dirt and see if you need to add more water and whatever else from nature to top it off. Great to see a kid get dirty from playing and using their imagination. "Imagination is greater than knowledge." Einstein
my mother used to say that a little bit of dirt was good for you, but the phrase would probably be misinterpreted these days.
I'm longing to have grandchildren! I took a young friend's son for a walk in the woods and said, 'look out, a crocoilde!' and he looked at me and said, 'it's not,' as if I were a total idiot! Your grandchildren are very fortunate to have you.
My aunt also get her grandkids together each summer. They a really fortunate, both kids and adults.
Keep it up!
See my ABC wednesday here.
I am very glad that my grandchildren still can enjoy nature and play outside their homes.But the computers are taking more and more of their time too.Your grandchildren are lucky to have you taking them camping:o)
Yes! Yes! Have fun with grandchild, I love this to!
Have a nice day.
Hey Katney,
Thanks for you comment on my K ( KaaaBOOM) for ABC, you K is also fantastic yehhh kids are great always!
Greetings JoAnn
When others want to join my ABC :www.joannwalraven.blogspot.com
Even the old Romans complained about their kids and the way they behaved. The only way is to do your best (as I'm sure you do) and love them on their own terms.
Nice K...and you are a wonderfully grandma for your grandkids.
Have a nice day
Our nephews love coming to our house...they climb the trees and drive the tractor, put the geese away and play with the dogs. They love it!
Katney,
Congratulations for being such a wonderful grandparent! If only we had a lot more like you who are still connected to nature, then Earth wouldn't be in so much trouble!
Only way to be a kid is learning and playing outside...
Great Post
I love the reflection photo. I am glad we manage to keep our children and grandchildren involved with nature. It is so important to remain human.
Spesial and personal post Katney!
Nice photos. Happy wedensday.
A though provoking post. Thank you.
Love the reflection of the kids in the water.
I'm waiting for grandkids now:) My oldest som is 20 years old so maybe in a few years....I hope!
Great post!
K is really for KIDS!
Katney this is a wonderful K and a fabulous post!
...I can add: learn the names of flowers, recognize mushrooms...
Pleasant pictures and profound text!
Miss Yves
That reflection shot is beautiful. And I loved the reason for playing indoors - we NEVER played indoors!!
"watch a worm cralw out of the earth."
What a great K post for ABC.
Love the reflections too.
Thanks for visiting my blog and kind comments.
I like your 'foot' photo and the reflection one is lovely!
Love the pic of their feet!!!
Glad the frog was set free!
picnic at the lake, go swimming, walk a nature trail, listen to a park ranger, tour a cave, go to state and national parks, ride a horse, ride bikes.....
What you say is so true!
Kids is a good choice. I spent a lot of time outside growing up, but we lived in the country. Harder to spend time outdoors in the city these days, least of which for safety reasons, sadly.
Most of my best memories of childhood involved being outdoors with my parents. They were both teachers so we took long camping trips each summer and I got to learn so many things first hand. Maybe that is why I love the outdoors so much even today. And thanks for visiting my K is for kayak page. - Margy
What a wonderful experience! Kids love to learn and being in the outdoors. Keep taking those photos which I'm sure they will appreciate when they get older.
You say so many vitally important things in this post!
Lovely photos of an obviously enjoyable time.
So true. When I was a nanny the kids never wanted to go outside. They would wine and cry whenever I took them to the park. When I was a kid it was the best day ever when we got to go to the park.
It is great that you get to spend that time with your grandchildren. Keep up that wonderful tradition.
The feet angle - great post!!
It is sad that children don't go out so much these days, your grandchildren are lucky that you are there to share your knowledge with them.
Lovely post and timely reminder. And the photo of the grandKids is priceless.
Thanks for sharing.
I'm a bit late commenting on your K post. I thought I had. Love all the things you do with the Kids. Terrific entry.
I am catching up on ABC Wed.....this is a very true and sad statement of our kids...the places we played have disappeared and we are afraid our kids will disappear if we let them out to just roam...weirdos being on the prowl and all....has helped the kids become home bound....or so they say! Good post.
Our kids are our niece and nephew - we went fossil hunting and caving with them the last time they were down here. They loved it!
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