This is an initiative from The Wildlife Trusts to encourage us to get outdoors and get wild in nature. It benefits everyone, but in our family we mainly look at the subject from the children’s perspective and home education. It’s well documented that we benefit in many ways from nature. It is only by the children being outside in nature and experiencing it, that they will grow up respecting it and wanting to look after it. There is much research into the benefits of children being outdoors and experiencing nature, and yet our culture, both schooling and home, is leading to more and more indoors time. Being outside supports their development in a whole host of ways; emotionally, intellectually, socially, as well as the well known health and physical benefits. They grow in creativity and problem solving ability through outdoor play, and co-operation with each other is even increased. It reduces stress and induces a calmness, which in turn leads to healthier bodies and minds. Free play and unstructured time outdoors is vitally important too and it promotes curiosity and exploration. I love sitting on the sidelines not guiding them or butting in with my grown up “be careful” “mind out” phrases and seeing what they decide to get up to. Children don’t need to be timetabled or scheduled (something our culture is guilty of overdoing) they learn, play, and develop a lot more effectively when left to their own devices (within reason!!). Self esteem and well being improve, instead of being squashed under a barrage of tests, (and with the current standards being set for schools, they are being set up to fail more and more). They learn risk management and learn to take risks too, which helps in life as life is unpredictable, and they are better equipped to handle unpredictable situations. Childhood needs to be simple. They need to be able to run, climb, and experience the happiness that comes with the freedom to explore. Nature also needs our children to take an interest. They need to learn all about the environment they are living and growing up in, but through a hands on lifestyle, not just through their books or great TV programmes. They need to take an interest so they are aware of the impact us humans have on it and then think how we can look after it better. It should be a child’s right to be outdoors, not a weekend treat. So now with the time available to us, we have lept at the opportunity to take on this 30 day challenge.
For everyday in June, we need to do something a little wild. I have decided to try and do one of their random acts of wildness cards (they have little cards with suggestions, and you will meet this in future posts), plus a wild nature experience of our choice too. A random act of wildness is any little thing you can do in your day to bring a little nature into your lives.
We have had such a busy time in wild nature over the past 5 days or so, and a lot of fun, we have started early, including our adventures in the challenge. I look forward to blogging about our 30 days experience.