Giving Kids Sense of Place

Take a Walk: Give Children a Sense of Place

As the weather improves, families find it easier to get outside to give children a sense of place. Most children no longer have the experience of playing freely outside in the neighborhood. They interact with impersonal places like stores or with technology and virtual environments instead of their natural environment.  National Geographic reports researchers found that 70 per cent of Mothers played outside every day as children; now only 31 per cent of their children play outside every day in their neighborhood.
What is Sense of Place?
  According to geographers, a sense of place is understanding what makes a place special and unique.  It grows from identifying oneself with a particular piece of land.  It is a feeling of home, belonging, and attachment. It is the feeling when after being away one returns to the smell of trees, beautiful sunsets, sounds of wildlife or street sounds and realizing this is home. “I remember!”
  According to researchers Pamela Brillante and Sue Mankiw it is important to imprint children’s sense of place in the real world during an age of virtual reality video games. Children need to get back on track.
Real, not Virtual World
 Children do not develop this sense of belonging by themselves. They need adults to guide them. Families can take children outside for even a thirty-minute walk and make a difference.
  Walk somewhere—the library or around the block. Notice the trees.  Touch the different barks.

Use Your Senses: Smells, Touch, Read the Signs

  Smell the flowers and look at the sidewalks.  Are there anthills?  Are animals making sounds? Point out human and animal houses in the neighborhood.  Is there a fallen tree they want to climb? How deep is this mud puddle?
  Stop and talk to neighbors working in their yards.  Read signs.  Stop, look, listen, touch, smell, collect, and take pictures.  Give children the words they will later use to explain the experience.
  Take a walk downtown. Is there a bakery or coffee shop to visit? Describe what busy people are doing.  Are they delivering goods?  Are they helpers like police officers and fire personnel?
   Walk on a country road or visit a park. Check out plants growing.  Climb some hills or fallen trees. Children can use the ideas to draw pictures with labels when they get home.
  Children’s awareness of relationships between people in their environment and how the children fit in

Create Awareness of Surroundings 

is crucial. They will remember certain places based on sensory information and the words adults use. It is a sense of contentednessand belonging. These children see themselves as more capable social beings and ready for school. (YI-Fu Tuan) Good books include “The Listening Walk” by Paul Showers,“Alphabet City” by Stephen T. Johnson, “Around the Pond:Who’s Been Here “and “In the Woods: Who’s Been Here?”by Lindsey George, and “Sam and Dave Dig a Hole” by Mac Barnett. 
photos: Fran Darling:  fdarling photos
More Vocabulary Ideas and Activities....See the authors’ book “Learning Through the Seasons” at area bookstores and grandparentsteachtoo.org. For more help to prepare young children for success in school see the authors’
website: Also check our audio Podcasts WNMU Radio, 90; Youtube