I love Todd Christopher’s book, “The Green Hour.” It’s a helpful go-to guide for getting the most out of being outdoors with your kids, and it’s broken down into useful chapters based on location, too: backyard, trails, meadows, shore, etc. What I want to share with you today are a few quick tips he gives for making those experiences enjoyable, rewarding and memorable every time … mixed in with a few points of my own to support Christopher’s wisdom.
Simple and Flexible
“Wonder unfolds at a child’s scale and pace, which are necessarily smaller and slower than an adult’s.” – T.C.
Generally speaking, I try not to do too much or expect too much during our outings. I don’t count on the kids to last very long, and I don’t set my standards high. As Christopher says, there will be frequent stops and even more frequent questions. With one of my children firmly planted in the why stage at 5 1/2, and the other teetering between timid and needing to be tamed at 21 months; I never know what our adventures will bring. Sometimes I am running back and forth between them, shouting answers to one, and just plain shouting at the other (DON’T EAT THAT!). There are days we might walk a mile, and there are days we might walk only a yard or two. That’s why I very rarely “plan” the adventures. Things run more smoothly when I slow down and go at their pace. The kids are my compass. I read their interests and supplement our experiences based on what is happening in the moment. That becomes part of the adventure. Because we go into it blind, we can't help but come out with something surprising and special—whether it’s a new discovery, a renewed sense of spirit, or the memory of being wildly silly together.
Positive and Powerful
“… knowledge isn’t a prerequisite for exploration. There’s nothing at all wrong with saying, ‘I don’t know.’” – T.C.
Reading this, I’m pretty sure I exhaled. I mean, I’m no walking encyclopedia. I know some obscure things and some general scientific explanations, but overall, ask me something about nature and I’m more inclined to tell you a good story about it without actually answering your question in a useful way. So when I'm out and about exploring with the King of Why, I like to turn his questions back on him. When he asks me why bugs bite, for example, I ask him what he thinks first. Okay, for one thing that buys me time. But, I always love his guesses. I like to watch the wheels turning behind his brown eyes. My mind takes a snapshot of his imagination at its finest. Then, I might take a stab at an answer, or I might admit I don’t know. Christopher says this connecting moment of "I don't know" is a powerful and positive one, because it puts child and parent on even ground when we can say, “But, let’s find out, together.”
On this note, he suggests never showing fear. Children so easily mimic and internalize the reactions we put forth, and worse, they might take them on for themselves, which is the last thing we want. We all have stories about where our deepest nature fears stem from: "this one time, at ____ camp ..." Why not do what we can to put on a brave face? Fake it a little. I admit I have some work to do in the bat-and-bug department on this one (their ninja-like qualities freak me out), but it is kind of fun pretending to be the super heroes they think we are. For Sadie, I know this has had a positive impact. Just the other day we had the chance to experience a park interpreter's "pond aquarium" at a nature seminar. Sadie just stuck her hand right into the murky, smelly water and helped look for the elusive turtle we were after. Impressive stuff.
Pure
“Remember that while childhood takes time, it is precious and fleeting.” – T.C.
You’ve worked hard to provide your children the opportunity to build a personal relationship with nature, and to connect as a family unit. Don’t squander it. The best thing you can do is be in the moment—with them. Remember what it was like to be a child. Remember the wonder that comes from watching ants working. The dreams that are born in the color of a flower. The mystery of a rustle in the brush. Experience it all again, with your children. You will not only give them the beautiful parental excitement and animation that children thrive on, but you will send joy your own way. You'll make these fleeting moments last forever in your mind and, most importantly, in the pages of your children’s childhoods.
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