Our kids are now home schooled and spend many hours of everyday out in our yard. Regardless of weather.
And they have discovered so much - the crow that likes to steal their shiny green toys, the bees and wasps attracted by bright colours and sweet smells, the slater bugs that roll up into a ball to protect themselves. Not to mention the Blue-Tongue Lizard that has taken up residence, and the occasional visit from a large male kangaroo. This is education. And yes they still do their maths and English, but that’s only a small part of their learning journey. We feel blessed to have the opportunity to let our kids learn about the world they live in - not locked behind a big metal fence, forced to “learn” what they are told when they are told and how they are told.
Kids love to learn and they love the world. But the just doesn’t let them anymore. The system needs automatons not critical independent thinkers.
I'm proud to say that 36 years on I am still that nature loving child who picks up an insect from the path. My 13 yo is thinking of future career prospects and is keen to pursue something in the field of natural sciences. The 11 yo has decided he would like to be involved in marine biology and conservation. They too pick up the insects from the path! ❤️
How fantastic! I'm so pleased to hear this! Good luck to both of them. Probably not a coincidence that you are an insect-saver 💚 Thank you for reading.
I couldn’t agree more with you. 💚 I’m also writing about nature-related topics, especially the Finnish connection to nature. Children are not naturally disgusted by worms or other bugs. They have an innate curiosity and intrest in nature. I’ve seen it with my own kids. As adults, we should offer real knowledge, or at least model an attitude that says: ”I don’t know but let’s find out!”
Fantastic! Glad we’ve found each other on here. They do indeed—so glad to hear that it’s cultivated in Finland. Absolutely—the attitude of enjoying while finding something out together is so much more powerful than just providing an answer.
So lovely. And I love the drawings and spellings you included! My daughter is definitely a woodlouse and worm saving child - the times we have been late for school because of needing to help worms to safety but I agree that it's wonderful and so important. At almost 10 now she's sadly becoming less fascinated by the insects although she does love nature and larger animals and is desperate to make a pond so that'll be a great summer holiday project. And I think I need to do more to encourage this more in her too. Lovely article.
Thank you so much for reading, Selina. I’m so glad you enjoyed it (and the drawings!) That sounds like a fantastic summer project! Might be worth looking into getting a cheap trail camera to set up by the pond, then you can capture whoever wanders past! I’ve sent these out to schools before and they work a treat.
I left my children drawing in the garden for 30 days wild for an extra 1/2 an hour past their usual bedtime tonight, because I didn't have the heart to cut their joy in it short... Does that count?
& One of my sadnesses this week, was discovering that my youngest is now "afraid" of spiders, she didn't used to be, think she picked it up from school friends... The messages that these things are yuck out there are sadly strong...
This brought me back to a moment walking in the forest with my sister and discovering someone tadpoles in a small pool that looked about to dry up. She insisted on transferring them to a larger pool where they might be safer. She has this child like tenderness towards nature that she hasn't, like so many, lost in adulthood. So true that children's care and curiosity about nature is there, we just distract them from it with so many other demands and attention grabbers.
This was like being filled with fuel at the kid energy station. Yes! The memory of saving slaters (woodlouse), checking out their eggs, catching skinks, discovering their micro chicken eggs, a couldron of moments; the first moving cicada inside her shell, climbing the thorned lemon tree in my grandfather's yard at night, while the aluminium bottle caps tambourined along with the breeze, just a shush, just the right amount of quiet respect for a powerful moment in the history of the planet and the apprenticeship of connection. Your story don't just sign the permission slip to remember, you threw out the school timetable and said stuff it, let's go an an excursion. Grab your playlunch everyone, and let's go!
You are inspiring me. I've been trying to figure out how to keep up momentum on the mission when hope feels increasingly fragile. You're giving me great ideas about how to integrate nature connection into children's craft sessions - I've done this before many times but I needed invigorating. Thank you! Looking forward to your next one!
Hi Kate, thank you for this beautiful story. Just the other day I was on my walk and noticed a worm on the sidewalk slowly inching itself to the grassy area. Not wanting it to get squashed I picked it up and moved it into the grass. Funny how happy that made me feel. I am a wholistic mental health therapist and nature therapy guide writing about our nature body soul connection. I look forward to reading your stories.
Thank you so much for reading! Such important work—I look forward to reading yours too. Amazing how heart-warming and contagious these little acts of care are.
Now THAT, is a truly wonderful moment. What a super super story. ❤️
Thank you for reading and sharing! 🙏 I’m so glad it resonates.
Yes!
Our kids are now home schooled and spend many hours of everyday out in our yard. Regardless of weather.
And they have discovered so much - the crow that likes to steal their shiny green toys, the bees and wasps attracted by bright colours and sweet smells, the slater bugs that roll up into a ball to protect themselves. Not to mention the Blue-Tongue Lizard that has taken up residence, and the occasional visit from a large male kangaroo. This is education. And yes they still do their maths and English, but that’s only a small part of their learning journey. We feel blessed to have the opportunity to let our kids learn about the world they live in - not locked behind a big metal fence, forced to “learn” what they are told when they are told and how they are told.
Kids love to learn and they love the world. But the just doesn’t let them anymore. The system needs automatons not critical independent thinkers.
Thank you so much for reading. What lucky kids!
I'm proud to say that 36 years on I am still that nature loving child who picks up an insect from the path. My 13 yo is thinking of future career prospects and is keen to pursue something in the field of natural sciences. The 11 yo has decided he would like to be involved in marine biology and conservation. They too pick up the insects from the path! ❤️
How fantastic! I'm so pleased to hear this! Good luck to both of them. Probably not a coincidence that you are an insect-saver 💚 Thank you for reading.
I couldn’t agree more with you. 💚 I’m also writing about nature-related topics, especially the Finnish connection to nature. Children are not naturally disgusted by worms or other bugs. They have an innate curiosity and intrest in nature. I’ve seen it with my own kids. As adults, we should offer real knowledge, or at least model an attitude that says: ”I don’t know but let’s find out!”
Fantastic! Glad we’ve found each other on here. They do indeed—so glad to hear that it’s cultivated in Finland. Absolutely—the attitude of enjoying while finding something out together is so much more powerful than just providing an answer.
So lovely. And I love the drawings and spellings you included! My daughter is definitely a woodlouse and worm saving child - the times we have been late for school because of needing to help worms to safety but I agree that it's wonderful and so important. At almost 10 now she's sadly becoming less fascinated by the insects although she does love nature and larger animals and is desperate to make a pond so that'll be a great summer holiday project. And I think I need to do more to encourage this more in her too. Lovely article.
Thank you so much for reading, Selina. I’m so glad you enjoyed it (and the drawings!) That sounds like a fantastic summer project! Might be worth looking into getting a cheap trail camera to set up by the pond, then you can capture whoever wanders past! I’ve sent these out to schools before and they work a treat.
That's a great idea thanks Kate 😊
Thank you. How refreshing to read this kind of care for Nature.
Thank you for reading!
I left my children drawing in the garden for 30 days wild for an extra 1/2 an hour past their usual bedtime tonight, because I didn't have the heart to cut their joy in it short... Does that count?
& One of my sadnesses this week, was discovering that my youngest is now "afraid" of spiders, she didn't used to be, think she picked it up from school friends... The messages that these things are yuck out there are sadly strong...
Absolutely—so special to be able to create those kind of memories!
The messages out there are strong indeed—I'm sure with your guidance she will be able to work through it.
This brought me back to a moment walking in the forest with my sister and discovering someone tadpoles in a small pool that looked about to dry up. She insisted on transferring them to a larger pool where they might be safer. She has this child like tenderness towards nature that she hasn't, like so many, lost in adulthood. So true that children's care and curiosity about nature is there, we just distract them from it with so many other demands and attention grabbers.
How beautiful! Thank you for sharing this. Thanks for reading. I’m really glad it resonates.
This was like being filled with fuel at the kid energy station. Yes! The memory of saving slaters (woodlouse), checking out their eggs, catching skinks, discovering their micro chicken eggs, a couldron of moments; the first moving cicada inside her shell, climbing the thorned lemon tree in my grandfather's yard at night, while the aluminium bottle caps tambourined along with the breeze, just a shush, just the right amount of quiet respect for a powerful moment in the history of the planet and the apprenticeship of connection. Your story don't just sign the permission slip to remember, you threw out the school timetable and said stuff it, let's go an an excursion. Grab your playlunch everyone, and let's go!
Anyone know a song?
Thank you so much for reading. I'm so glad it resonated with you and brought back so many lovely memories!
‘Do no harm’ includes the smallest of creatures, the earth and seas, basically the 🌎 I loved this story 💚💚💚
Thank you!! And thank you for reading. I’m glad it resonated 💚
You are inspiring me. I've been trying to figure out how to keep up momentum on the mission when hope feels increasingly fragile. You're giving me great ideas about how to integrate nature connection into children's craft sessions - I've done this before many times but I needed invigorating. Thank you! Looking forward to your next one!
I’m so so glad to hear this! This is exactly what I’m aiming to do! Thanks for reading 🙏
This is lovely, so affirming. Growing children who notice and love nature is the most important job we have in any society!
Thank you! Absolutely—I agree! And thank you for sharing 🙏
This made me so happy to read! I'm still like this child as an adult... Thank you for helping and encouraging her 💚
Yay! Thank you for reading! I'm glad it made you happy! Me too 💚
Hi Kate, thank you for this beautiful story. Just the other day I was on my walk and noticed a worm on the sidewalk slowly inching itself to the grassy area. Not wanting it to get squashed I picked it up and moved it into the grass. Funny how happy that made me feel. I am a wholistic mental health therapist and nature therapy guide writing about our nature body soul connection. I look forward to reading your stories.
Thank you so much for reading! Such important work—I look forward to reading yours too. Amazing how heart-warming and contagious these little acts of care are.