To learn more about the importance of nature for a child’s development, please refer to the resources below:
Books:
Children’s Nature Deficit: What we know – and don’t know by Cheryl Charles and Richard Louv, found here: http://www.natureandforesttherapy.org/uploads/8/1/4/4/8144400/childrens_nature_deficit_disorder_2009.pdf
Balanced and Barefoot: How Unrestricted Outdoor Play Makes for Strong, Confident, and Capable Children by Angela J. Hanscom
Vitamin N: The Essential Guide to a Nature-Rich Life by Richard Louv
Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv
There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather: A Scandinavian Mom’s Secrets for Raising Healthy, Resilient, and Confident Kids (from Friluftsliv to Hygge) by Linda Åkeson McGurk
Neighborhood Greenness Has Long Term Positive Impact on Kids’ Health by ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081028074327.htm
Podcasts:
Allison Mitch, Nature Therapy: https://www.napervilleparks.org/podcast/s5-episode-02-nature-therapy
Websites and Online Resources:
What is Nature Therapy?: https://ignitewell-being.com/what-is-nature-therapy/
Children and Nature Network https://www.childrenandnature.org/ Our family nature meetup has a listing at this website
National Wildlife Federation https://kids.nwf.org/Kids.aspx
REI offers courses and events, many of which are family-friendly: https://www.rei.com/learn.html
Hike It Baby coordinates local, family-friendly hikes: https://hikeitbaby.com/
The Outdoor Classroom Project: http://outdoorclassroomproject.org/about/the-outdoor-classroom/
USDA’s US Forest Service: National programs that reconnect children with nature: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/conservationeducation/programs/national-programs/?cid=stelprdb5107803
Chicago Junior Herp Society, for children of all ages: http://jrherpers.wixsite.com/chsjr
Free Forest School, with locations in Naperville and throughout Chicago: https://www.freeforestschool.org/
For a fun outdoor activity for all ages in all seasons, try geocaching: https://www.geocaching.com/play/search
Also consider making and taking kindness rocks: http://thekindnessrocksproject.com/
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For more information on offerings, collaboration, or to schedule a private client session, email Dr. Allison Mitch at wildwomaninthesuburbs@gmail.com Photo is from Pexels