{"id":983,"date":"2018-03-18T02:39:44","date_gmt":"2018-03-18T02:39:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.consetthikinggroup.co.uk\/?p=983"},"modified":"2020-03-31T17:06:45","modified_gmt":"2020-03-31T17:06:45","slug":"rewild-the-child-how-parents-and-schools-can-inspire-children-and-teach-them-to-love-nature","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/octclients.wideeyeddesign.co.uk\/Hiking4Health\/steeltown-rambler\/rewild-the-child-how-parents-and-schools-can-inspire-children-and-teach-them-to-love-nature\/","title":{"rendered":"Rewild the Child – how parents and schools can inspire children and teach them to love nature"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last month in one of my blogs, I described how people, in particular young people, have become digitally distracted. In the children of today, there is an unquenchable thirst for instant communication, they exchange video, music, messages with barely a thought. They are tech natives, they do not remember a time before mobile phones, apps and the internet.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Now, I’m not saying this is all bad, the accessibility is great. I love it and use it as much the next person but technology has speeded up our lives, it makes us impatient for things and our reliance on it is now undeniable. Taking tech away from kids is likely to cause palpable frustration and anxiety in a way that suggests this dependence on it is something that needs redressing.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Part of this rebalancing should be to get children into the countryside where they can reconnect with nature, with others and most importantly, themselves. Life can be slowed down, dormant listening and observation skills can be tapped into so as to explore what’s around them. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Easier said than done I hear you say.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Most parents who commented my blog conveyed the ‘struggle’ they have to get their kids off their devices and out of the house. So what follows is what has worked for me and for many other people who share a passion for the outdoors. I really hope it helps!<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Step 1 \u2013 Books and Binoculars<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Before they set foot out of the house give them some sense of what they might see, what they might look for. We need to engage their minds, that sense of inquisitiveness that exists within us all. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

As children are learning to read we need to surround them with books about nature and the countryside. I had bird books available to me from an early age and I knew what a lot of birds looked like without ever having seen them in real life. I learned a bit about where they lived, the noises they made, the colour of their eggs.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I was not a great sketcher, but I liked to draw birds and animals, sparking further interest and building a sense of anticipation and desire to get out and see what’s about.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

There’s nothing wrong with children using other media for this purpose, they can learn a lot about a bird or animal on You Tube or through apps which identify bird song. The information is certainly there.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

You’ll probably find they develop their favourite animals or birds (mine is the Goshawk, love that bird!) and that gives you a focus or hook on which you can use to get them outside. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Have some kit! Binoculars are much cheaper than they once were so you don’t need to spend a fortune. Aldi and Lidl were selling decent binoculars in the \u00a315-20 range which do the job. You can pay as much as you want for a camera but children could use their phones to get good quality images. An enriching application of tech to store memories and help them build up a mental map of where to find things. We saw that bird by the river remember…<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Before we move onto step 2, a little test of your countryside knowledge. It is relevant to Step 2 plus I’m always interested in what people know about the countryside.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Quick Quiz (answers below)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

1. A stile is what?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

a) something you use to pick fruit from trees<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

b) steps that help you climb over fences<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

c) a bend in a river<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

2. Hares are said to be ‘mad’ in which month?<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

a) January<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

b) February<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

c) March<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

3. A Merlin is<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

a) a bird<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

b) a fish<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

c) an amphibian<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

4. A Dace is<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

a) a fish<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

b) a reptile<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

c) a tree<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

5. Swallows fly back to the UK each year from<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

a) Antarctica<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

b) Africa<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

c) Australia<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

6. Small, sweet relatives of Blueberries are called<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

a) gooseberries<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

b) bilberries<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

c) elderberries<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

7. Britain’s only venomous snake is called<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

a) a subtractor<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

b) a multiplier<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

c) an adder<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

8. Which of these is not a game bird?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

a) a grouse<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

b) a pheasant<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

c) a lapwing<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

9) Barn Owls are predominantly<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

a) White<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

b) Brown<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

c) Black<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

10. Rules about how you should behave in the countryside are found in<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

a) The Countryside Code<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

b) The Green Cross Code<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

c) Morse Code<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

1-3 Get out more often<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

4-7 On the right path<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

8-10 Leading the way<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Answers 1) b 2) c 3) a 4) a 5) b 6) b 7) c 8) c 9) a 10) a<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Step 2 \u2013 Do your homework and start close to home<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

We pass on many things to our kids whether we be parents or teachers. The good things we pass on tend to be the things we’re good at, confident with and knowledgeable about. So get some confidence in your knowledge of the outdoors. You don’t need a degree in zoology, just start familiarising yourself with what’s around you.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Find out what’s in the local park, keep your eyes open around bird boxes and look up anything you don’t recognise. I’m sure there’ll be an app for it! Social media can give you a lot of information about what’s living in your area. Pretty soon you’ll know a nuthatch from a treecreeper.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Locate your local woods. Most will have tracks running through them. Follow them, see where they lead and keep your eyes open. When you’re in there with the kids, don’t let them make a noise, if they have to talk get them to whisper. Get them to look up into the trees and down on the ground, not just at eye level.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Make a note of where and when you see things, the chances are you might see them again. Many birds and animals are territorial and have patterns of movement that increase the liklihood of seeing them regularly. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Lastly, be patient and don’t get discouraged if Bambi doesn’t stroll out of the trees to eat berries from your palm. There may be times when you don’t see much but there are always things to see and learn about.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Get to know the trees and you could be picking apples off them in the autumn. Recognise your sloe berries and you could be brewing gin or making jam from plums.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

It is an amazing thing to get to know a woodland and its inhabitants. It’s hugely rewarding for oneself but also to pass that knowledge on to someone and observe their fascination is equally as cool. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The bottom line is, if find your own passion for wildlife, you’ll pass it on to your kids.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\"\"<\/p>\n

Step 3 \u2013 Rewarding the observant and creative<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Have a rewards system! <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

My dad used to drive me and my brothers around the local countryside. As we set out, he’d offer us an ice cream if we could get 100 points by spotting different species of birds. He’d assign different species a points value starting from 5 for the most common upwards to 50 for the rarer species. We’d keep our eyes peeled for high scoring birds. It was an effective way of keeping three lively lads quiet(ish) for an hour. We’d usually get our ice cream but it was getting to that magical 100 which was one of my happiest memories as a kid. Thanks Dad!<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Get creative. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

If photography is your thing, take cameras out for your kids to snap pictures of wildlife or landscapes. If it’s drawing or painting don’t be afraid to take materials out into the country. I remember turning one corner to find a group of six people all painting a farmhouse and the woods behind it. If your child is musical, why not take their instrument into the countryside, see if it inspires them. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

You could be building shelters, or creating pictures from wood, moss, stone and anything else lying around. They might build a tree house or tie a rope swing, working with brothers and sisters, cousins or friends cooperatively to achieve a common goal. Reward them for whatever they create.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

You might well unearth hidden depths or talents in your children as they interpret the environment in their own, unique ways.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Step 4 \u2013 Explore new places! <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

You know your local patch like the back of your hand. Now go and find new places to visit. By this time your kids will want to come along. They’ll still want their phones but hopefully, they’ll be less reluctant to put it away when you step out of the car.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Help is at Hand<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I don’t have the time to do all that I hear you say. Sadly, I understand where you’re coming from. We all lead busy lives these days and in recognition of that, you could always join and support organisations which in turn support wildlife.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The RSPB have a number of sites across the UK that are well worth a visit. Nature flourishes in these protected sanctuaries. The Woodland Trust is another organisation worthy of your support. Their woodlands are home to all manner of birds and animals living in diverse woodland habitats. English Heritage and National trust sites dot the countryside and provide go to places for wildlife and picturesque landscapes.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

These venues offer all manner of experiences and encounters and whilst for me, it’s not quite as rewarding as finding nature yourself, it’s a practical solution to the time imperative.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Schools \u2013 a few tips<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Schools are all too familiar with time imperatives. Many of the things I’m about to suggest will have been thought of by teachers like me who attach great value to learning outside the classroom.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, we are living in a time when a child’s ‘progress’ is measured by their ability to reach certain standards in certain subjects. Budgets are also stretched but that’s not to say we can’t improve things for our kids. Here are a few ideas.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n