Children are naturally curious. From the time they start exploring their own toes to the time they strike out on their own, curiosity is one of their driving forces. But somewhere between childhood and middle-age, curiosity is replaced by cynicism. We go from wanting to peer around every corner and see what’s over the next horizon to been there, done that, and seen it all.
Between curiosity and cynicism is life. It gets difficult and tiresome. The days are too long and the nights are too short. Far too many trials become heartbreaking errors. Hopes crumble into hopelessness. Dreams become that which are relegated to feckless dreamers. Wide-eyed wonder becomes the thousand-yard stare. Somewhere along the way, we forget what it is to be amazed. Surprises stop being pleasant and start being something we dread. Kids say they love surprises while grizzled, trail-worn adults say they hate surprises.
To develop a lasting interest in nature, one must nurture the parts of one’s self that is open to surprise, wonder, and the constantly unfolding mystery of the unknown and unknowable. It is hard for children to retain those elements through adulthood. Here’s how you can help.
Make It Real
One of the reasons one’s interest in nature wanes is that at some point, it feels more like a child’s interest than anything that can amount to a real way to spend one’s life. It is presented as an after school special and not as a career option. When your teen is starting to think about college, Don’t just limit their options to the Northeast or West Coast. Be sure they get to visit at least one veterinary school Chicago offers among its many great choices for higher learning.
Care for animals is not just a child’s interest. It is the life’s work of many high-level professionals who also enjoy a very good living in the process. It is not just puppies and kittens. It is also marine science, forestry, and the protection of endangered species and their habitats. The next time you take your children to the zoo, be sure to let them know that it is also possible to work at the zoo. They can have a fulfilling career that starts well before college. It starts with you as their parent making nature vibrant and real for them.
Take Them with You
It can be hard to deal with tired and hungry kids after a long day. But there are still errands to run and the kids require attention. Rather than leave them at home, you need to learn how to have a successful outing with your kids so that you can take them with you on more of your excursions. They will never fall in love with nature if they do not experience the outdoors and different times of the day. Even if they are just getting in a car and going to the store for a little weekend shopping, they get to see something of nature as they pass.
It is also worth noting that a store is full of nature. The produce section of a well-stocked grocery store is a classroom in and of itself. Just naming the different fruits and vegetables is a fun challenge. You can increase that interest by taking them to more ethnic stores with very different kinds of produce than your primary supermarket might not have. There is nature everywhere you go. And it calls out to your children. Help them answer that call with the proper curiosity and encouragement.
Make It Fun
Nature provides more than an opportunity to learn. It also provides an opportunity to have fun, and lots of it. Birdwatching is a fun activity that requires little more than a pair of binoculars. A bird feeder just outside the window would also help. Hiking is fun and a weekend spent camping with family and friends is even more fun. Fight the urge to try and force nature lessons every time you go outside with the kids. Let them experience the fun and come to love it for themselves. If you want them to love nature, give them a chance to enjoy it first.
We need vets and zoologists and marine biologists and forest rangers and more. Your kids can grow up to be a part of that grand tradition. Help them along the way by making it real, making it available, and making it fun.
