If you have 12 minutes to spare, this report is very interesting. I saw it on PBS the other day and have been thinking about it since. What I really found interesting was the importance of "nature play" for children. It shows how playing outside is not just about the physical activity, but also about exploration and helping children to use the two kinds of focus they have. I thought it was well done

Nature Deficit Disorder - KQED QUEST Television Story

Thanks for sharing

I take my girls outside every chance I get!

I was so inspired by the comment you made last week that you have a quick dinner and have it over by 5:00 to get the girls out, that I think we're going to move to that this summer. We've been sitting around the table talking .. why not get them out more. I hadn't even thought of it until I read your post.

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Still haven't fixed my soundcard

I take the baby out with me almost every day, and already am making sure she can see different things, and I usually pick up things to let her "feel" - pull up some grass or leaves and brush them on her.

We have a lot of property that is fairly wild. My brother and I were let loose to "run free" on it when we were about 8 y/o. I still love wandering and seeing what I can find up there. I plan on making sure DD gets out and we check all the neat things out up there, even if it means I have to start swimming in that ice cold lake again....well, that I might leave to my mom. She's the polar swimmer - she can teach DD to swim in there!

Since we hunt and fish, we are outdoors a whole lot anyway. Actually, I need to order an infant life vest for DD, we are going fishing next weekend!

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The best infant life vest we found was a neoprene vest by Liquid Force. She was able to comfortably wear it at a few months old and is still using it (she is 2 1/2).

I have a book about this.... Last Child in the Woods is the title. I can't recall the author, but the book is very good!

I'm going to have to find that book. I LOVE taking my kids out and letting them fiddle around outside while I'm working in the yard. We should go out to the woods more often.

Thanks for the video.

I've read excerpts from the book and enjoyed it a lot.

Just wanted to offer a few ideas to people who don't consider themselves "outdoorsy" or don't live in an environment that offers this.

1. Look at the events listed on-line and in parents magazines for your area. Several nature centers around us offer special toddler/preschooler hikes w/parents. They are usually free or inexpensive.

2. For grade school children check out Boy Scouts/Girl Scouts/Camp Fire. My parents were not "outdoorsy" but I had an awesome time in Girl Scouts. I canoed, backpacked, tented and cabin camped - things I never did w/my parents.

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The higher the hair, the closer to heaven.

What advice do you have for those who have bad environmental allergies???

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~Happiness is a large family~