"If you are missing out on the natural joy and wisdom of life, it is because you have been taught to ignore it....Reconnecting with nature consists of bringing into your consciousness a sensory way of thinking and relating with which you are born."
Michael J. Cohen, Ed.D
Reconnecting with Nature
Michael J. Cohen, Ed.D
Reconnecting with Nature
First off, let me apologize for the little 'vacation' from blogging. It's been a busy summer so far, and it's been long awaited, but... the SUN is here! So we've been out as much as possible soaking up every ounce of Vitamin D that we can! So blogging has taken second fiddle to the great outdoors. That doesn't mean there isn't a lot to share, because there is, it's all there just milling about in my brain.
It has become that time again to re certify my first aid certificate, so last night I participated in part 1 of the first aid course. It always leaves you feeling a bit nervous and anxious, doesn't it. It's never nice to hear the horror stories of children eating balloons, getting tangled in a rope swing, etc. Of course you learn that every injury can be prevented, and that we need to take precautions to prevent accidents. While I agree that we don't want to see people injured or hurt, we also need to be careful to not get too caught up in the 'bubble wrapped' society that we are in.
So with that being said did it make me nervous to be on the ground watching the children climb higher in the tree today? Yes, of course it did. But I saw them as confident and capable children. I was there to support them and give them words of encouragement when they got to a tricky spot, but they did it. Not all the children chose to participate, and some were not quite able to reach the 'starting branch,' so they found a practice tree. As much as I was nervous, I was excited to watch the children's expressions change from nervous excitement to confidence in their abilities.
I did not have my camera with me today, but I did the last time we were in the forest, so I was able to capture a couple of the children honing their skills.
Climbing trees is so important for children because it increases the development of the signal that goes between their muscles and their brain. They are fully aware of their bodies during this process, and have to concentrate hard on the task at hand. They are learning what their body is capable of, and they are developing a sense of risk, and how to problem solve. All these skills are skills that prepare a child for school.
So again, while we don't ever want to see someone hurt or injured, we also need to allow children to experience risk and learn how to assess it. Knowing how to assess risk teaches a child how to be prepared in the event they find themselves in a situation where they need to make decisions quickly. This lesson is priceless, and only one that a child can learn him/herself.
So if my First Aid instructor is reading, please know that the lessons you teach are also priceless, but please understand that children still need to be children, and I will still be there to ensure that they are safe but confident!
If you want to read more on the benefits of tree climbing here are some great reads:
YEP, there's a lot of them... and there's even more, just do a quick search!
"Not everyone wants to climb Mount Everest, but almost everybody can ascend with ropes and harness and experience in new ways our life-giving exchanges with trees and the natural world."
Genevieve
Genevieve
