Narelle Debenham from "Natured Kids" is inspirational in her passion for helping kids and their families connect with the great outdoors

Many of today’s kids in Australia spend too much of their childhood in a virtual world gained mainly from television, DVD’s and computer games. Children are well versed with space, exotic animals and dinosaurs.  They have developed concepts of times long ago and faraway places in nature, but how intimately do they know nature in their own local environment? Have they shared the wonder and joy of observing their amazing night sky right on their doorstep?  As they play in their backyard have they really listened to the birds? Do they react with joy when they spot a ladybird or see a butterfly landing on a flower?

Has there been an opportunity to indulge their senses by growing, harvesting and eating food? Nature never intended for people to spend countless hours of life inside.  For most of 120,000 years humans have lived intimately with nature in rainforests, bushland, grasslands, deserts, coastal areas and other waterways. Up until several decades ago when children were free – for many readers this will be your childhood of fond memories - children couldn’t wait to be told “Go outside and play”. They’d head for a tree to climb, puddles to splash in, a pond to look for tadpoles, a wild place to explore, to pick wildflowers or to build a cubby. There was plenty of fresh air and exercise, creating a healthy appetite and a good night’s sleep.

Fortunately some families and educational facilitators have the balance right. Awareness is spreading throughout the globe with astute governments playing a part in turning the tide to ‘Out is Back In For Play’, connecting children to nature in their daily lives and at the same time reconnecting adults to nature by  encouraging them to share their children’s experiences.

In parts of the USA, a bill has been passed declaring children must have at least one hour outside every day.  In Scandinavian countries in most types of weather, children have daily outdoor play and learning experiences in nature for their health and well being.

Early 2009 an International Conference ‘Get Outside-It’s In Our Nature’, was held at Vancouver Island in Canada.  World leaders expressed concern for a generation of children who don’t often go outside and who appear to be divorced from their natural world. Ideas were shared for ways to reconnect children with nature.

Over the last few decades a ‘culture of fear’ has developed for the safety of children. In many cases parents, carers and educators are reluctant to allow children the freedom to explore outdoors further than the confines of the balcony, backyard or playground.

This retreat indoors has been fuelled by fear of strangers, accidents, litigation, being alone, going to unknown places, natural disasters and sunburn.

Our ‘sun shunning’ society has became so paranoid about skin cancer that many now are avoiding sun exposure altogether.  Cases of Rickets are on the rise in Australia from babies through to the elderly due to Vitamin D deficiency. The main source of Vitamin D is the sun. Immune systems may also suffer with lack of sun.  We must all continue to be ‘Sun Safe’ but understand that our bodies need a daily dose of sunshine, at least 10 -15 minutes of exposure without sunscreen.

‘Natured Kids’, an outdoor program designed to explore nature in the local area, is especially for children 0 -5 years and their families to connect with nature and each other. Belonging to a group helps them feel more confident and secure as they visit nearby nature venues. Some of the young children’s direct learning experiences and playing activities include:

• butterfly and  vegetable gardens  at a community garden.
• planting indigenous plants from their local council nursery beside waterways
• investigating and playing in natural bushland reserves
• leisure activities at the beach and ponding in wetlands.

‘Natured Kids’ recognises that bonds are strengthened, communication flows and memories are made when they share the same experiences in nature. Time spent by children and adults together in nature forms the foundation for eco-literacy and influences attitudes and lifelong respect for and care of their natural environment.

‘Sienna and I love our adventures together in Nature. Although we do many outdoor activities as a family it is wonderful to do things during the week in safety with other adults.’ Justine (Mother)

The  International  ‘Healthy Parks –Healthy People Congress’ was held in Melbourne  April 11-16  this year.   At this congress Narelle Debenham presented a workshop ‘Nature Nurtures – How to Map Your Local Area for Happy Healthy Outdoor Fun’.

Narelle Debenham ‘Natured Kids’  Phone: 03 9783 5746 Mobile: 0431791379  www.naturedkids.com.au