Earlyarts Update from Australia
Friend of Earlyarts Rachel Riggs from Imaginary Leaps – DNA puppetry and visual theatre company writes to us from Aus...
– Arty Tots at the Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth with ‘Imaginary Leaps’ Early Years creative play company.
Being closer to nature here and the dilemma with children’s access to instinctive play outside has inspired me to create a series of ‘Nature Child Images’. See here
‘Last Child in the Woods’ – Richard Louv
A few months ago, I was able to attend a lecture by Richard Louv at a packed out Perth International Concert Hall. After a very moving speech by the Noongar Aboriginal elders of the area, connecting us all with the spirit of nature, Louv talked about his book, ‘Last child in the Woods’ in which he identifies how children are missing out on engaging with nature because they spend more hours inside. He calls this ‘nature deficit disorder’ and his book outlines the disconnection between many of today’s children and nature. ‘Leave No Child Inside’, part of the USA Educational reform, has become an international movement and is currently being established in Australia. He believes that we are in danger of losing our life long relationship with nature and that children need to have a special place, somewhere wild and free, that stays in your heart as an adult.
‘Unlike television, nature does not steal time; it amplifies it’
He talked of how over the last 20-30 years we are experiencing a sudden disconnection with nature, particularly with the issue of child and nature parallel with independent playtime.
In 1999-200, in the USA there has been a 50% decline in outdoor activity, the UK 40% decline.
‘Today kids are aware of the global threats to the environment – but their physical contact, their intimacy with nature, is fading. That’s exactly the opposite of how it was when I was a child’.
At preschool in the USA he states, children spend 89% of their time doing sedentary activities, and obesity has of course dramatically increased. There are huge rises in myopia in children from looking too much at screens. He asks what are the implications for our children’s health, mentally, emotionally and physically?
Research shows the greener the neighbourhood, the lower the obesity levels. Its a moral case fundamental to our childrens health and humanity. What happens if it’s not considered normal to build dens? Children need the experiential learning of sensing nature - looking at stars, skies, running in woods and forests. In nature, using all our senses is the optimum state of learning. Unfortunately, screens lock off some off our senses.
For children with Attention Deficit Disorder, regular contact with nature really helps them. Studies in the UK show how much nature therapy can work. How much is the increase in anti depressants to small children and suicide in teens due to taking nature away? Recent research studies, funded by pharmaceutical companies, compares how children who play in a natural space rather than a concrete playground are found to be smarter learning with more make believe play.
‘Executive function is all about self control, the best way to develop is through make believe, independent play, exploring making reality.’
Research shows 7 year olds today, have the executive function of a 5 year old from previous research. And it’s not all about nostalgia, for all our human history and development – we have played and worked in nature. The owner ship of land which has nothing to do with money, it is as in the Aboriginal belief sense of knowing, of being rooted to this land, this gives a sense of place and tells you, you are somebody in the universe.
Can we turn it around? Evolution, computer technology, trouble getting off the internet, have we lost our sense of balance?
Hi Tech = Hi Nature
Hypothesis-as a species we are hardwired to love nature, we must be careful how we talk about the environment to children, it is not all negative. Adults need to be enthusiastic about nature, even if children complain about being outdoors. Be hopeful about the future, or we are in danger of ‘Eco phobia’ we are telling them we are heading to natures Armageddon.
The idea of loosing nature is too painful, any culture/movement will fail, if we don’t paint a picture we can see. There are parents and teachers now who don’t have this experience of a special place with nature. Risk is a very important part of the attraction of nature and if children don’t take those risks they take bigger ones later. They need to be freely able to build dens and homemade swings on grass verges and unused land. And it’s not just about organised sports, it’s the ability to experientially learn from water, wood, earth . New social mechanisms are needed including family nature clubs, getting together for deep cultural ongoing change. Fear of nature is growing, access isn’t enough, this issue of risk, is comparative perhaps even an bigger risk to children psychologically to not be involved in nature.
For lots of images and further information visit here.