Teaching Kids Nature is Full of Sounds

“The song of earth has many different chords”—Amy Lowell

   

Explore Nature by a Stream

Children can become good listeners while walking in fields, along a shore, in the mountains and forest or their own backyard. The trick is to get them to be very quiet. Juliet Robertson and Chris Hall both expert teachers and naturalists have some suggestions. 

Deer Ears

  Ms. Robertson uses owl ears and Mr. Hall uses deer ears, but the idea is the same. Children cup their hands like scooping up water and place the hands behind their ears to collect sounds like satellite dishes.  Children may have  observed animals moving their cupped shaped ears around when they are on high alert gathering sounds. The cupped ear triples the size of the outer ear.

Look for Beaver-Chew

 Children can find a pleasant spot, cup their ears, and be very, very still. Some naturalists ask children to blink very hard or wink when they hear a new sound. This distraction keeps them quiet for a time.  They will will let you know when it is time to stop. 

  Another interesting activity is to find a snail or slug. Do not handle it. Leave it on the ground and experiment with different pitches of sound.  When someone reaches the correct pitch, the animal will uncurl, stretch its antennae and start moving.

Walking quietly

  Children can also learn to walk quietly based on Native American teachings.  Place the heel of the foot on the path ahead. Carefully place the foot down on the outer edge first and roll the rest of the sole down until it touches the ground. Stop if you make a sound, pause, and slowly continue.  Crouch low and bend the knees.  Walk slowly and carefully with the body balanced low over the center of gravity. 

See Beaver Teeth Marks

The foot is never totally flat. Soft sole running type shoes or bare foot work well. Children can practice bare foot or with socks walking on newspaper. They can also practice walking with shoes on gravel.  Children find quiet walking a lot of fun and will learn to how sneak up on the rest of the family once they learn the technique. 

  The “cat walk” like a cat stalking prey. This is done for a very short time, straining to move very slowly.  To do this walk lift your foot and point your toes at the ground. When you put your foot on the around again touch the out edge first. Next roll the rest of the foot down until the sole touches the ground and repeat with the next foot. 

  Inhale and exhale very quietly through the nose with the mouth shut. When walking with others, match one person’s pace and feet exactly. For more see grandparentsteachtoo.blogsot.com/ Through the Seasons, Facebook and Pinterest.

Photos: Fran Darling, fdarling fotos

Raising Wild Children

How can you recognize a wild child? Is he sitting on the couch playing computer games or bending over a parent’s smart phone? No. 

What Do You Smell?

Wild children are outside, exercising, playing, and discovering the wonders of nature.
  Discouraging research suggests that the average North American child spends about seven hours a day watching screens while only seven minutes playing outside!  In his new book, “How To Raise a Wild Child”, Scott Sampson, chief curator at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, suggests that the present-day disconnect from nature, which is becoming so apparent, points to “one of the greatest and most overlooked crises or our time”.
   How can we counteract this disturbing trend towards virtual reality and pretend people who live in a cartoon world?  With permission from Dr. Sampson and Claudia Carbone, author of a nature article published in “Colorado Parent” magazine, the following are ways to foster “wild children”, kids who share deep connections with nature and real people.
  Sampson writes, “Nothing will spark a child’s interest in nature more than his or her parent’s own passion for the natural world.”  Here’s how to do it.
Notice Nature
 

What Do You Hear?

  Nature is all around us.  Find a place where you and your children can sit for a few minutes day after day and season after season to open your senses and deepen your nature connection.
This is an activity easily done by kids of all ages.  Be immersed in the environment. What do you see? What is changing?  What do you hear?
Engage Children
  Connect and engage with nature through walks, exploring various ecosystems, puddles, mud, streams, gardens, and climbing around or making collections of natural materials.  Talk together as you explore.

Where Can You Walk?

Wonder with Children
   Ignite the senses and get kids wondering about all sorts of things.  Tell stories and share your experiences.  Decide to research some things together that you wonder about.  Find books about nature at the children’s library or bookstore and read them together.   You will be building background knowledge and vocabulary at the same time.  Dr. Sampson writes:  “Technology has created a gaping chasm between children and nature. 

What Do You Wonder?

Immersion in wilderness not only awakens the senses and provokes deep thoughts and feelings, it also often leads to transcendent experiences that deepen the bond with nature.”
   Parents and other caregivers can help close the gap between nature and technology by mentoring our children. There are many easy and inexpensive experiences in nature that can be fun for kids and adults alike. Start today to raise a wild child!  “How To Raise a Wild Child” by Dr. Scott Sampson, is published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and available soon at bookstores.
Photos, Fran Darling, fdarling fotos

More 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’ web site: www.grandparentsteachtoo.org. Also check our audio Podcasts WNMU Radio 90; Youtube video activities; and join us on Pinterest