Sunday, November 7, 2010
Children's Rights: Children's Right to Nature
Children's Rights: Children's Right to Nature: "A topic that has been interesting to me in the past few years has been children's lack of contact in their natural environment. There have ..."
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Do children have the right to nature?
ReplyDeleteNature is a right to all people, we were born into nature and it should be a part of us. Children especially need to be in nature to learn the value of it; they will never be able to understand why water conservation is important if they have never been to a mountain stream, students may never understand the interdependence every creature in the forest has on each other until they lay on the forest ground or climb a tree, children might never know climate change if they have never played in snow and begin to miss it. If we want a futer population that cares about their environment they need to be in it, a lot, to learn to love it.
What are the benefits in your mind?
From my experience challenging behaviors diminish in the wilderness. Students have freedoms to run, jump, climb, throw, roll, get dirty and explore. Children use their imaginations to pretend about the creatures in the forest and the adventures they might have will them. Children become problem solvers when they are given enough time in nature to build a fort or a forest hiding spot, children gain independence and confidence from these sercret problem solving experiences and adventures, and we need all of the independent problem solvers we can get in this world.
Is recess taking away from Academic studies?
Absolutely not, learning does not stop on the playground. School is important for academics, but if students do not learn interpersonal relationship building skills, conflict-resolution skills and "street-smarts" their academics will do them little good. I recently visited a Kindergarten classrooom that had 20 minutes for recess....total free time given in an eight hour day. The teacher explained that they would "sneak out" whenever possible because the students go crazy sitting for so long. Children need to run and they are not welcome to do that inside so good teachers know to bring them outside.
What are some rights that are not on this list that you would include?
To be alone. I need personal time alone and as adults we must set up safe environments so our children can be alone too. I act a different way when I am alone, I talked to myself, I sing louder, I run because it is fun, I just sit and watch, and I think our children have the right to be alone as well.
Are some different because where you live?
Some students have more access to their rights than others. A student on the farm lives a much different life than a child in denver. Perhaps they live in different places but their rights are the same and parents in both environments should work to be sure their children rights are being fufilled.
So much learning can be done outside as well as inside. It is an extension of the classroom in school and in their lives. The other day we took the children outside and they separated, sorted, and counted natural materials.
ReplyDeleteMy thought now is how can I incorporate technology with nature because it is so prevelant in our society and is something that we are always using.
Comment from Darryl who was unable to post:
ReplyDeletePlease use all these comments and respond and reflect to them. thanks. julie
As for whether or not I feel children have a right to the outdoors…Of course they have…so many rights of children are violated these days and that is a big one…I remember being outside from dawn to dusk unless I was in school…but then school was another matter for me…attending a parochial school with the old school philosophy of spare the rod/spoil the child, my personal freedoms were compromised daily…but I did get to be outside and just play…I walked to and from school (½ mile each way) and my recess was unencumbered without restrictions…and it was an hour and a half every day after lunch… then after school I played in the neighborhood until the dinner bell and then out again until the sun set on school nights and into the night on weekends…the neighborhood gang (a label that meant a group of friends back then rather than a connotation of violence ) would play baseball in the open fields…play capture the flag and hide and seek…on weekends we’d hike in the neighboring park or down to the bay, catching frogs and turtles, and pollywogs in the spring…finding new trails to explore and creeks to discover…it was safe to do that in my day…and it was all kid initiated…so my physical and social development was healthy…
sorry I can’t say the same for my formal education…my children were allowed the same outdoor freedoms when they grew up…feeding the chickadees on the bay trails and finding all kinds of sea creatures along the shore…although there was more adult supervision for them…never to protect the children from each other but rather from the adult evils in the world…their first seven years were in an environment that fostered independance and allowed for play...indoors and out...they were allowed to read and write at their own pace...often writing pictorially before they had the words...the basics of math and science was developed through experiences...lots of field trips and opportunities for them to make their own connections...it appears that outdoor play these days is scheduled and controlled in many places…it is unusual to have a neighborhood of children who play together…and recess in the schools is shortened for more time for academics…We have full day preschools and kindergarten with children often attending five days a week. The amount of time for outdoor exploration and free play is very often compromised because academic expectations for children has become more and more demanding at an earlier age. The push down of academics is resulting in children appearing to be learning more…but are they really? What are they missing in just being kids and playing? How many are experiencing large amounts of stress? How many are allowed to develop at their own pace? Parents need to be educated on what research tells us...and "the earlier" one learns academics is not the best philosophy...learning is not a competition...
In Finland children do not begin school until they are seven years old…and they have the highest literacy rate in the world. Perhaps we should look at schools and methodologies that foster the development of the whole child rather than just academics. And more importantly…let children be…let them explore and experience and make sense of their world while developing their inner selves…oh yeah…and where are they getting their daily doses of vitamin D if they are not allowed to play outside?…so very vital to healthy mind and body development…
yes Julie…I believe children do have a right to the outdoors no matter where they live…be it by the sea...in the mountains...on the farm or in big inner cities...and they have a right to unconditional love…to an education that stimulates and fosters life long learning for learning sake and promotes independent thinkers…to a peaceful world where fear is not predominant and people work together and differences are embraced…to a future with clean air and water…and to a future…
Darryl J
it appears that everyone has a similar thoughts and ideas about children having the right to be part of nature. so true that without being involved how can children be aware of conservation and what the outdoor environment has to offer. Some of us as teachers are able to implement these practices and thoughts into our practice.
ReplyDeleteThere are many organizations including the World Wide Forum, Children and Nature Network, and the National Wildlife Federation that are encouraging and informing everyone about the affects of the lack of nature in children's lives.
Clare said: (This got posted on another spot and I wanted to make sure that everyone saw her thoughts too:)
ReplyDeleteChildren have the right to live on a planet where nature is respected and cared for. They should feel, as the Native peoples did, that they are a part of the whole process, and are not here to pollute or destroy their environment. These are learned values and skills and we, as adults have a responsibility to teach them.
I cannot tell you how many children have told me that their favorite part of the school day is "recess". It is a crucial time for the development of social skills, which are critical to success in life.
Yes children have the right to nature.
ReplyDeleteA topic that I have discussed with some friends in the last few days relates to those who do not have access to natural resources. Their environment might be concrete buildings and lack of trees and plants.
Some ideas that were tossed around:
Create a natural classroom. A garden where the children tend to the garden learn about how to take care of living things. This could be incorporated into the curriculum of science. There could be so much learned from hand on experiences
How does our body respond to physical activity? Create lessons based on the health of the body. Discuss the human body and how it works and then test these out body movement, running, jumping and other physical activities that promote a healthy lifestyle.
Every child has an environment- it is more enriched for some than for others. We need to build on what they know and experience and grow horizontally.
ReplyDeletePhysical activity is so important. Kinesthetic intelligence needs to be nurtured just like any other type of intelligence.