So many children grow today without much contact with nature; much of a child's life seems to be enclosed, spending hours at school desks. After this, for those who aren't ferried to clubs and activities, there may be hours of homework, computer games, videos or children's TV to be occupied with, all indoors.
Many parents genuinely seem to feel their child is missing out without all these extra curricular 'norms'; gadgets, games and activities and will dutifully provide what is seen as necessary. A generation ago, many of these things did not exist and it is well worth asking around to find out how children of these times played and occupied themselves. It does seem that comparatively more time was spent outdoors. Apart from being a place of space, freedom and tree climbing adventure, perhaps many parents overlook the true benefits of the natural environment.
For a young child, perhaps more sensitive than we are, what could be a more precious part of their
upbringing than contact with nature? With the ever changing skies above, the endless movement of the
wind through their hair, the different surface textures beneath their feet, (even better if they are
bare foot), to the multitude of flora and fauna growing and changing; this is food for their young
body and soul.
Its an environment that evokes so much from each individual, from the playful imagination of the child,
to the cart-wheeling teenager, from the dreamy bookworm enjoying the sun on the bench, to the creative
housewife, filling garden pots with marigolds! What ever the weather, after time spent outdoors,
there is a feeling of well being from having been close to the Earth.
Our relationship with nature, as a society, does not seem one of respect… such as with The North American Indians, who revered the Earth in a way that we probably cannot appreciate now. Perhaps in losing this love we have lost our direction. As over stimulated beings, the simplicity of nature is not enough for us, so we cannot give it to our children. Now, the fascination for the world outdoors may not have the same appeal to the child, who has been mesmerised and over excited, by thrilling, (although often mindless), computer games and TV programmes with amazing computer graphics and electrifying sound effects. With their brains pumped with hours of up beat thoughts, could life's quieter, gentle treasures hold any interest for them?
Our society supplies produce on tap from the supermarkets, so our children have no working role models to
inspire notions of wonder, respect or gratitude for The Earth. Few work directly with the land, as
in many other parts of the world, so the majority of children here do not observe the hard work that
went in to the sowing and reaping.
Lethargy and inactivity are yet more examples of the unpleasant by products of a generation, who have
been over indulged by parents, trying hard to give their, often ungrateful child, that which everyone
else seems to be giving theirs.
Surely, The Great Mind did not mean parenting to be such an arduous task? It is just that we, in our
unthinking race to nowhere, have all lost the value of the simple, meaningful things in life, that have
been given to us for a reason, and that in truth we did not have to invent networks of TV entertainment
and complex gadgets to propel our offspring, high speed, out of childhood? For all parents worried that
their children are missing out on some new fad..…let it go, but don't let them miss out on being close to
God…in a garden.
Copyright 2004 Pippa Ball The Erasmus Foundation.
The Erasmus Foundation, Moat House, Banyards Green, Laxfield, Suffolk. IP13 8ER. Tel: 01986 798682.