Education | ED05 | Summer 2018

Education Magazine
Wellies and walking sticks at the ready,
these mini hunter-gatherers are enjoying
the great outdoors
The joy
No more screens! The
modern child needs to
get outside and get dirty
says Michael White
of mud
Many of us believe that a
strong engagement with
the natural world is vital
for our children’s development, but
amidst our busy lives, the wet boots,
cold hands and uncomfortable overtrousers,
how can we make it happen?
The many wonders of our
technological age have undoubtedly
presented the ‘simple pleasures’ with
some stiff competition. Digital devices
and TV are little
short of addictive
and a child who
chooses the woods
over screen time,
is a rare beast
indeed. So, before
anything else,
designate some
time purely for
outside fun, free from the
distraction of phones and tablets.
Happily, millennia of human
evolution has ensured that despite
the pull of technology, children are
still fully charged up with natural
instincts and the deep-rooted drive to
get out, seek food, water, shelter and
warmth, can be a powerful motivator.
Kids don’t need educating to
love the countryside, just the
opportunity and encouragement
to let their instincts kick in.
One such childhood instinct is an
uncanny ability to sniff out a fake,
so if you are hoping to inspire your
children with natural wonders, it
helps to be enthusiastic yourself.
A bird feeder in the garden is a good
start. The children will soon pick up
on your interest
The deep-rooted drive
to get out, seek food,
water, shelter and
warmth, can be a
powerful motivator
in the different
feathered visitors
and before long,
with some help
from a decent
book, the whole
family will be
able to identify
a selection
of wild birds. With a shared
passion for twitching, the family
walk will now hold a new level of
excitement for young and old.
With time set aside and a developing
family appreciation of nature, we
can now look at a few practical
tips for unlocking those inner cave
children. Food is a serious driver for
most little ones and any country
activity which incorporates eating is
likely to be a resounding success.
Foraging then, is a great activity when
it comes to getting children excited
about being outdoors. Safely identifying
and sampling even a few of the basics,
such as sweet wild strawberries (fragaria
vesca) whilst out and about can take
things to an entirely new level.
However – if foraging isn’t your
thing – anything food related, such
as a picnic planned and packed
with the kids and eaten in a special
place, is always a winner.
As we work through the cornerstones
of human instincts, it’s useful to
remember that not being cold is another
essential ingredient to children relishing
being outside. Of course, children
should be dressed in warm, comfortable
clothes but this potential negative
can also be used in imaginative ways
to inspire and motivate them. Camp
building and fire lighting are always
popular and if it is a little cold or damp,
the edge of ‘necessity’ will have the
kids rushing about with great focus as
they gather materials and kindling.
Hunting is another strong instinct,
23 wealdentimes.co.uk