children:nature:play

John Dilnot

2012-01-27T05:07:00.000-08:00

I'd buy this in a heart beat if I actually had somewhere to hang it (and my kids didn't want Star Wars and the England football team on their walls instead).... Still, it is quite beautiful and I will pop it on my wishlist, along with his "boxes". Check them out as well.

Wouter Van Buuren

2012-01-27T04:59:00.000-08:00

Fantastic photography by Dutch artist, Wouter Van Buuren.

Swedish school: Vittra

2012-01-27T04:02:00.000-08:00

These classrooms have come a long way from when I went to school. Such amazing spaces for kids to learn in.

The Principal said:

"In 2025, our first children of Vittra Telefonplan will graduate. Equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to study further or find a workplace where they can implement their ideas - anywhere in the world! They’ve had a schooling that motivated them to ask questions and deepen their knowledge. They solve problems with creativity and innovation and they have a strong belief in their abilities."

We should watch out for Sweden..... if these schools live up to the blurb (and I have a feeling they are on the right track....), great things will happen......

Born to Learn

2012-01-14T09:25:00.000-08:00

Interesting idea, create simple animations to explain how humans learn and consequently how children should be brought up.......

"The 21st Century Learning Initiative is pledged to get even more people to question their old assumptions in an essentially “play-like” manner, and so accept the truth of Einstein’s oft-quoted statement that “imagination is more important than knowledge.”"

Link here.

The Good Childhood Report 2012 from the UK

2012-01-14T08:28:00.000-08:00

The latest well-being report by The Children's Society in the UK has found that half a million children across the country are unhappy with their lives.

Key findings include:

Choice and family have the biggest impact on children’s happiness.
The quality of children’s relationships with their families is far more important than the structure of the family that they live in.
Low well-being increases dramatically with age – doubling from the age of 10 (7%) to the age of 15 (14%).
Children as young as eight are aware of the financial issues their families face. Children in families who have experienced a reduction in income are more likely to have low well-being.
Children who do not have clothes to ‘fit in’ with peers are more than three times as likely to be unhappy with their appearance. Children who are unhappy with their appearance are also much more likely than average to experience frequent bullying.

Not sure if a lack of independence and the great outdoors factor into this but it's not good......
Check out Tim Gill's post on the report.

(The sour looking woman is Mrs Twit by Roald Dahl and illustrated by Quentin Blake.)

I'm dotty about this....

2012-01-12T06:35:00.000-08:00

Yayoi Kusama’s ‘The obliteration room’ 2011 at The Queensland Art Gallery/ Gallery of Modern Art.

Such an excellent project. Found via Colossal.

Seed faces

2012-01-12T06:26:00.000-08:00

A bizarre yet compelling idea. Plant a little face filled with seeds..... Here. (Sold out at the moment but I'm sure they will have more.)

A cultural moment

2012-01-12T06:10:00.000-08:00

Teeth

English Teeth, English Teeth!
Shining in the sun
A part of British heritage
Aye, each and every one.
English Teeth, Happy Teeth!
Always having fun
Clamping down on bits of fish
And sausages half done.
English Teeth! HEROES' Teeth!
Hear them click! and clack!
Let's sing a song of praise to them -
Three Cheers for the Brown Grey and Black.

By Spike Milligan.

I apologise to all the English people reading this (of which I'm one), but Spike's poems were part of my childhood and they are quite brilliant.

High Line Play Opportunities

2012-01-08T07:40:00.000-08:00

I had a feeling of deja vous when I checked out Cas Holman's website, so I apologise if I have posted about these before.

The High Line Park had these Workyard kits available for kids to play with. The programs available for this city park is incredible. If we were all so lucky.....

Found via the always interesting playscapes.

Stick-lets

2012-01-08T07:30:00.000-08:00

Really lovely idea by Christina Kazakia to encourage kids to get out and be creative in nature.

Check out her website.

The Value of Nature

2012-01-08T02:30:00.000-08:00

Here is Pavan Sukhdev over at TED with a thoughtful talk on the economic value of nature.

Plus an article by George Monbiot called "Why Libertarians must deny climate change" on a similar vein.

"Let us accept the idea that damage to the value of property without the owner’s consent is an unwarranted intrusion upon the owner’s freedoms. What this means is that as soon as libertarians encounter environmental issues, they’re stuffed.

Climate change, industrial pollution, ozone depletion, damage to the physical beauty of the area surrounding people’s homes (and therefore their value), all these, if the libertarians did not possess a shocking set of double standards, would be denounced by them as infringements on other people’s property.

The owners of coal-burning power stations in the UK have not obtained the consent of everyone who owns a lake or a forest in Sweden to deposit acid rain there. So their emissions, in the libertarian worldview, should be regarded as a form of trespass on the property of Swedish landowners. Nor have they received the consent of the people of this country to allow mercury and other heavy metals to enter our bloodstreams, which means that they are intruding upon our property in the form of our bodies."

Designing Healthy Communities

2012-01-08T02:07:00.000-08:00

PBS will be airing a 4 part series by a Dr. Richard Jackson who looks at the impact the built environment has on obesity, diabetes, heart, asthma, cancer, and depression. He connects bad community design with America's burgeoning health costs, then analyzes and illustrates what citizens are doing about this urgent crisis. The miniseries will air in early 2012.

Check out the preview here and look out for the series itself.

Playgrounds Too Safe to Keep Little Kids Active

2012-01-08T01:56:00.000-08:00

Interesting article over at medpage today, about:

"A qualitative study of childcare center providers found that safety concerns, budgetary limitations, and emphasis on early academic readiness led to children in preschool not engaging in enough physical activity."

It was noted that "Strict safety rules for equipment and low budgets at childcare centers were largely blamed for playgrounds that don't make kids feel like playing......"

And let's face it, who would want to play, day in and day out, on the play structure above, particularly if there are identical ones in all the neighbourhood parks?

Gorillas

2012-01-06T06:07:00.000-08:00

What an experience this man had. It's gone viral so maybe I'm a little late with this.

I follow The Kid Should See This as they post such wonderful videos and saw it there.Check out their other posts. My kids love it.

New Years Resolution

2012-01-06T06:03:00.000-08:00

This struck a cord.....

"Remember that there are only three kinds of things anyone need ever do. (1) Things we ought to do (2) Things we’ve got to do (3) Things we like doing. I say this because some people seem to spend so much of their time doing things for none of the three reasons, things like reading books they don’t like because other people read them. Things you ought to do are things like doing one’s school work or being nice to people. Things one has to do are things like dressing and undressing, or household shopping. Things one likes doing—but of course I don’t know what you like. Perhaps you’ll write and tell me one day."

C. S. Lewis, in a letter to Sarah, his godchild, on 3 April 1949

Maybe it's time for me to do more of no. 3......
Found over at Bobulate.

Wolves save trees

2012-01-06T05:57:00.000-08:00

I know it sounds quite fantastic but apparently since they re-introduced wolves into Yellowstone Park they have affected balance of nature and trees aren't suffering with an over run of elk. With trees comes birds also.

So exciting. Article over at Good.

Happy New Year

2012-01-02T01:30:00.000-08:00

Here's hoping 2012 is a good year to us all.

An early Christmas present for me...

2011-12-16T00:54:00.000-08:00

Better a broken bone than a broken spirit.

"Planning for Play" by Lady Allen of Hurtwood is available as a pdf download over at playscapes. I'm on it.

Lets Move

2011-12-06T05:47:00.001-08:00

The Let's Move campaign (started by Michelle Obama) in the US has a newly designed website with some great ideas on how to get adults and kids active. My favourite is "Plant a School Garden".

"School gardens offer opportunities for fun and physical activity while also serving as an important educational tool to help students understand how healthy food is produced and where their food comes from. Some research suggests that, when used as part of a nutrition education strategy, school gardens can increase knowledge of fruits and vegetables and influence behavior change among children.

Plant an indoor or outdoor fruit, vegetable or herb garden that students are responsible for tending to and growing. Enjoy the "fruits" of your labor at harvest time!
If resources are an issue, help students develop a partnership with local businesses, parents or other community groups such as the USDA Cooperative Extension Service. Many communities have “master gardener” programs that could help.
Incorporate school gardens into classroom lessons (e.g., science, cooking) to provide students with hands-on, multi-disciplinary learning activities. Food service staff can make students more familiar with the school garden produce through taste tests and learning food preparation techniques for a healthy meal.
Schools can further make the link between agriculture and nutritious food by inviting local farmers’ markets to operate from area school yards. "

Check out the new icon My Plate instead of the old food pyramid while you're there......

Queen Elizabeth II Field Challenge

2011-12-06T05:31:00.001-08:00

Wow. This is fantastic.

A bit late but better late than never..... Check out website here.

I wish I'd thought of this

2011-12-06T05:13:00.001-08:00

We have these types of recycling bins here in Denmark and whenever I see them together they appear to be talking to each other or singing. Like funny little aliens...... So when I saw Timm Schneider's work, I just laughed. Brilliant.

I'm almost tempted to get a pair of "eyes" myself......

Again via Colossal.

Olsen Zander

2011-12-06T05:09:00.001-08:00

Amazing photos from Olsen Zander, who has been wrapping trees in fabric in and around the UK for the last 10 years.

Found via Colossal. Also check out the recycled plastic bottle Christmas tree in Lithuania post there as well.

How the World Works

2011-12-06T04:59:00.001-08:00

Lovely book for kids that just won The Royal Society young peoples book prize. Find more pictures of it over at the Guardian, plus if there's still time and you live in the UK, there's a free giveaway.....

How the World Works.

Leaves....

2011-11-29T05:32:00.001-08:00

Instead of leaving leaves there how about getting crafty (with or without your kids). These are truly amazing.

And there are so many more on Ko-Ko-Ko-Kids.

Tim Gill's Sow the Seeds report and more

2011-11-28T12:28:00.001-08:00

Tim Gill posted over on his blog about a study he conducted in connection with his "Sow the Seeds: Reconnecting London's Children with Nature" report just released, of current studies showing the positive affects nature has on children.

As we all know, it's a done deal (because if you are here and reading this, you get it and you care). The problem is persuading the non-believers or the ones who don't care. Here's hoping Tim's report and Literary Review will do just that.

20's plenty for us

2011-11-26T02:33:00.001-08:00

Just heard about a grassroots campaign in England called 20's Plenty for Us, to slow traffic in residential areas to 20 mph. Now New York are getting on board.

There seems to be so much going on with their campaign that it's hard to know what to quote, but here's a little snippet:

20’s Plenty for Us welcomes the call by the EU Committee on Transport and Tourism for 30km/h (20mph) speed limits in all residential areas.

........The Committee sets out specific measures to reach this goal and in its press release[1] identifies 20mph limits as key for protecting children :-

Protect Children
MEP’s call for a 30km/h speed limit in all residential roads and on single-lane roads without cycle tracks, to help cut the number of children under 14 years old killed by 60% and those seriously injured by 40%. They also say children should be taught road safety at the youngest possible age.

Brilliant stuff. Check it out yourself.

21 Ways to Plant a City

2011-11-16T06:22:00.001-08:00

Richard Louv outlines ways Landscape Architects can get on board to green cities.

I think our profession has a huge responsibility to join the fight when it comes to greening and increasing nature in our cities and hope it won't become a lost opportunity in these tough economic times. Landscape Architects are the perfect profession to carry the torch and push themselves forward to be the change makers.

Check out the 21 ways in the link above, and plant some native plants while you're at it......

Solar Powered Internet School

2011-11-14T05:37:00.001-08:00

This I love.

"Samsung this week unveiled its first Solar Powered Internet School in South Africa to help students in their studies without having to worry about electricity or Internet connectivity. The environmentally-friendly, transportable classroom is a perfect fit for Africa as it addresses one of the region’s biggest challenges – providing stable supply of electricity in rural areas."

Michael Chabon

2011-11-03T06:54:00.000-07:00

I must have been living in my cave again as I haven't read any of Michael Chabon's books but saw this post over at Swissmiss and think I need to rectify that. This comes from his book called "Manhood for Amateurs".

“What is the impact of the closing down of the Wilderness on the development of children’s imaginations? This is what I worry about the most. I grew up with a freedom, a liberty that now seems breathtaking and almost impossible. Recently, my younger daughter, after the usual struggle and exhilaration, learned to ride her bicycle. Her joy at her achievement was rapidly followed by a creeping sense of puzzlement and disappointment as it became clear to both of us that there was nowhere for her to ride it—nowhere that I was willing to let her go. Should I send my children out to play?

There is a small grocery store around the corner, not over two hundred yards from our front door. Can I let her ride there alone to experience the singular pleasure of buying herself an ice cream on a hot summer day and eating it on the sidewalk, alone with her thoughts? Soon after she learned to ride, we went out together after dinner, she on her bike, with me following along at a safe distance behind. What struck me at once on that lovely summer evening, as we wandered the streets of our lovely residential neighborhood at that after-dinner hour that had once represented the peak moment, the magic hour of my own childhood, was that we didn’t encounter a single other child.

Even if I do send them out, will there be anyone to play with?
Art is form of exploration, of sailing off into the unknown alone, heading for those unmarked places on the map. If children are not permitted–not taught–to be adventurers and explorers as children, what will become of the world of adventure, of stories, of literature itself?”

The Anthropologist: Urnatur

2011-10-28T04:15:00.000-07:00

Excellent project over at Anthropologie's online platform to support artists, called The Anthropologist (website, not project..). Urnatur is a wooded retreat in Southern Sweden.

Haerskogen

2011-10-27T03:07:00.000-07:00

This has been making the rounds lately and rightfully so. Really lovely.

Creativity by Steve Jobs

2011-10-21T04:29:00.000-07:00

"Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn’t really do it, they just saw something. It seemed obvious to them after a while. That’s because they were able to connect experiences they’ve had and synthesize new things. And the reason they were able to do that was that they’ve had more experiences or they have thought more about their experiences than other people. Unfortunately, that’s too rare a commodity. A lot of people in our industry haven’t had very diverse experiences. So they don’t have enough dots to connect, and they end up with very linear solutions without a broad perspective on the problem. The broader one’s understanding of the human experience, the better design we will have.” ~ Wired, February, 1995

(via swissmiss)

Bjarke Ingells

2011-10-17T02:47:00.001-07:00

The well known danish architect Bjarke Ingells of BIG has joined forces with Trygheds Gruppen, a Danish insurance company ( I think......) to investigate how to use public space in new ways to encourage exercise.

Check out the video here, I know it's in Danish but you get to see some of his ideas (like the swings at the bus stop above).

Little tea leaf...

2011-10-17T02:39:00.000-07:00

An Adelie penguin is caught on camera stealing..... Part of the Frozen Planet program coming soon on BBC TV. Check out the clip here.

(tea leaf is cockney rhyming slang for thief)

Children & Nature Network

2011-10-17T02:28:00.000-07:00

I'm a big fan of Richard Louv.... and the Children & Nature Network have a lovely new website. Check it out and sign up for newletters etc. Nice.

The Right Year for Children

2011-10-17T02:06:00.000-07:00

The Children's Commissioner for England announces a year of action for greater recognition of children's rights.

"A groundbreaking coalition of children and young people's charities, voluntary organisations and statutory bodies will join forces for a year of action to see greater recognition of the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and to press for its systematic use and implementation across all areas of children's lives."

Plus they are holding a competition for children to design a new logo.... they also have a great interactive website for kids to get involved, design their own tree house online and much more.

Interactive play map:England

2011-10-17T02:01:00.000-07:00

For all of you in England here is a really exciting development from Play England, an interactive map to find great places to play outside and also to contribute ideas yourself. Brilliant.

I've been saying this for years.....

2011-10-13T04:35:00.000-07:00

"Plant a Tree, Boost Your Property Value" over at Good.

Plus, being around trees makes you feel good and that is a good enough reason for me.....

A very sad day

2011-10-06T06:23:00.000-07:00

I'm a huge fan of Steve Jobs so was sad to see that he passed away. Me and my apple will miss him and his innovations.

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

Jonah Lehrer

2011-10-01T03:02:00.000-07:00

Really interesting article by Jonah Lehrer over at Wired, on a study exploring curiosity in young children with regards to science and how it's taught.

"When students are given explicit instructions, when they are told what they need to know, they become less likely to explore on their own. Curiosity is a fragile thing."

Also check out his column called "Love is the opposite of underwear".

"Whatever – don’t apologize for your obsession. Just be grateful you are obsessed with something, that you’ve found a goal worth getting gritty over. Because if your goals ever feel tedious, if you find them as unnecessary as that last bite of chocolate cake, then you’re never going to put in the necessary work. Grit requires passion. Grit requires love. And love is just another name for what never gets old. Love is the opposite of underwear. "

Nuf said. I'm gonna keep on keepin' on.

Too much, too soon?

2011-09-30T09:32:00.001-07:00

A letter written to the Telegraph by more than 200 academics, teachers, authors and charity leaders stress that children's wellbeing and mental health is being undermined by modern life.

Aside from completely agreeing with everything said, this particular comment struck home.

“We call on all organisations and individuals concerned about the erosion of childhood to come together to achieve the following: public information campaigns about children’s developmental needs, what constitutes "quality childcare", and the dangers of a consumerist screen-based life-style; the establishment of a genuinely play-based curriculum in nurseries and primary schools up to the age of six, free from the downward pressure of formal learning, tests and targets; community-based initiatives to ensure that children’s outdoor play and connection to nature are encouraged, supported and resourced within every local neighbourhood, and the banning of all forms of marketing directed at children up to at least age seven.”

The article about the letter is here.

Studio School

2011-09-30T04:14:00.001-07:00

LOVE IT!

Kids Closer to Nature iPhone App

2011-09-30T03:52:00.001-07:00

Following on from their campaign to get kids outside, the folks at Arla have launched an app..... to help you find your closest green space. Only in the UK, I think. Still, it's a start.

Incredible Edible Todmorden

2011-09-30T02:25:00.000-07:00

Here's a fantastic example to us all. The town of Todmorden has, in their own words,

".............taken to planting and growing veggies and trees round town, we’ve planted several orchards and there are more to come, and we’re working with public bodies round town to use their land – like the fire station and the railway station – or to work with them on their own Incredible ideas – like social landlord Pennine Housing.
Every school in the town is now involved in growing with us and we promote food-based learning for the community as a whole.

We’re reaching back into local memories and knowledge with our history project."

Every town needs this.... puts me to shame that I don't do more.

(Photo of food show at local school, courtesy of Todmorden.)

Kacper Kowalski

2011-09-27T11:13:00.000-07:00

The most amazing aerial photographs I've ever seen. Some of them definitely have an Andy Goldsworthy element to them.

Check out his website.

Wangari Maathai

2011-09-27T10:59:00.000-07:00

A day late with this, but Wangari Maathai, Nobel peace prize winner, died yesterday. She was a Kenyan social activist and environmental crusader who founded the Green Belt Movement.

As written in the Guardian, the Green Belt Movement is described below,

"What began as a few women planting trees became a network of 600 community groups that cared for 6,000 tree nurseries, which were often supervised by disabled and mentally ill people in the villages. By 2004, more than 30m trees had been planted, and the movement had branches in 30 countries. In Kenya, it has become an unofficial agricultural advice service, a community regeneration project and a job-creation plan all in one."

KaBoom

2011-09-09T03:37:00.000-07:00

I have a feeling I posted about this organization before, or at least hope so seeing as they are celebrating their 15 th birthday.....

They are a non-profit in America dedicated to saving play for children. Aside from the projects and opportunities to get involved, their website also has a lot of resources about play, interesting articles, links etc. Really great.

Link.

Aidan and the secret of the Fibonnaci sequence in trees

2011-09-09T03:31:00.000-07:00

A 13 year old, called Aidan, to be inspired by..... (not a photo of him above, that's Fibonnaci)

Just won Naturalist of the Year award with a project where he investigated the patterning of trees and then applied the results to solar power.

"My investigation asked the question of whether there is a secret formula in tree design and whether the purpose of the spiral pattern is to collect sunlight better. After doing research, I put together test tools, experiments and design models to investigate how trees collect sunlight. At the end of my research project, I put the pieces of this natural puzzle together, and I discovered the answer. But the best part was that I discovered a new way to increase the efficiency of solar panels at collecting sunlight!"

Play For Life

2011-09-05T05:47:00.000-07:00

If you happen to be in Minneapolis on the 22 of September, try and make it to the two day Play For Life symposium. Maybe one day they will figure out how to host these kinds of things through skype so we can all watch and listen in.

Oh well.

Andrew Revkin: Dot Earth

2011-09-05T05:23:00.001-07:00

Andrew Revkin hosts the Dot Earth blog over at the New York Times and wrote a really interesting post about outdoor experiences and environmental values. He quoted part of one of Richard Louv's latest blog post, which was really insightful.

While struggling with the idea of sustainability and how it suggests that things stay the same, a friend of Richard Louv's came up with an

"..........alternative to the word sustainability: “‘Thriveability’ is much more powerful, and helps elevate the focus and actions on higher principles….With children, do we just want them to survive or do we want them to thrive — the answer becomes obvious when you focus on the right question.”

Let's all thrive together.

(Thrive is also a charity in the UK "using gardens to change lives".)

RSA: Education for uncertain futures

2011-09-02T09:07:00.000-07:00

Take the time to watch this really interesting talk from the RSA website.

One of the speakers is Keri Facer and I recently read her new book called "Learning Futures: Education, Technology and Social Change" which I would highly recommend.

Also check out The School of Everything, found via this talk.

This is fantastic

2011-09-01T10:30:00.000-07:00

Got a lump in my throat watching this. Good on the folks at Chipotle and I'm in awe of Johnny Kelly. Very talented indeed.

Found via Fast Co Design.

I love a happy ending

2011-08-24T00:30:00.000-07:00

Otters are back in every county in Britain after being close to extinction due to polluted water quality. But great efforts have been made to clean up rivers and they are back!

Above is the trailer for "Ring of Bright Water".....

The BBC has a report with some great footage of them as well.

WWF

2011-08-22T05:10:00.000-07:00

The world is where we live from WWF on Vimeo.

Not that I want to personalize animals but this a great video....

the color of...........

2011-08-20T09:50:00.000-07:00

.........my blog. Link.

Back to school waste:infographic

2011-08-19T06:29:00.000-07:00

By Column Five Design this great infographic shows, for example, that 50% of school kids who live less than a mile from school are driven there, almost 80% of all waste could be recycled or composed.....

This reflects American statistics but how different is it from other countries?

Cute as a button

2011-08-19T05:55:00.000-07:00

I don't think I need any excuse to post this photo....

Via the Guardian.

"Broken Britain" article about the looting and more.....

2011-08-19T02:42:00.000-07:00

".......I think it has also led to daily lives built around the satisfaction of trivial desires. From the punctuation of the day with endless snacks to the burning desire for an expensive car to the instrumentalisation of education so that qualifications are a route to higher earnings rather than clearer thought and knowledge, we seem to have lost a sense of what it really is to be endlessly vigilant with ourselves, so that we can choose and create lives based on fully free consideration of the best way to live rather than the most satisfying way to live."

Quote from an interesting article by Adam Lent on RSA website.

Common Good

2011-08-19T02:19:00.000-07:00

The Daily Show
Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook

I have posted about Phillip K. Howard's website Common Good before but it has a whole new look, a blog and a recent interview with Jon Stewart on the Daily Show (above). Well worth checking out again.....

I want one

2011-08-17T04:15:00.000-07:00

A roof top vegetable garden, I mean. What a fantastic, creative way to get kids outside and in nature when they have little or no access to the outdoors. Every school, building, house, block of flats etc should have one.

It would take some retrofitting on existing structures but imagine the savings on heating, cooling, groceries, petrol to fetch the groceries.... and then your garden, if you are lucky enough to have one, could be a wildlife retreat, attracting all the birds, bees and insects that help with the vegetable growing. Ooooh, the possibilities.

Check it out here.

Biophilia

2011-08-16T03:45:00.001-07:00

Imagine Your Los Angeles Street Beyond Cars

2011-08-15T05:14:00.000-07:00

Over at Good there are some great submissions in their "Imagine Your Los Angeles Street Beyond Cars" project. Having lived there and knowing how car based life is, it's hard to imagine but these illustrations are really imaginative.

Note: no cars = more people outside in nature......

(Photo by Ansel Adams)

The School of Life

2011-08-11T10:30:00.000-07:00

Interesting premise and equally interesting courses at The School of Life.

Maybe we need a separate School of Life for kids where they hear about subjects other than the typical ones at school, where they can develop skills they are missing out on i.e. self reliance, independence, creativity...... oh, and it would be outside, of course.

I cheated with the photo but couldn't resist it.

Sustrans

2011-08-11T10:20:00.000-07:00

Sorry to keep banging on about stuff happening in the UK, but it seems that exciting things are gaining momentum at the moment.

Sustrans is a UK charity making " smarter travel choices possible, desirable and inevitable......... We work with families, communities, policy-makers and partner organisations so that people are able to choose healthier, cleaner and cheaper journeys, with better places and spaces to move through and live in."

They just launched a website called Free Range Kids which speaks for itself.

Play England speaks out

2011-08-11T10:14:00.000-07:00

Adrian Voce from Play England writes over at the Guardian about the lack of commitment to children's outdoor play from the new government.

"There is ample evidence that playing is a primary need for children, the lack of which renders them less able to concentrate, innovate, create, respond and negotiate: all crucial life skills, not least in the advancement of their formal education. Worse still, play deprivation can have profound implications for children's health: obesity, attention deficit disorder, rickets and depression are just some of the conditions linked to the sedentary indoor lifestyles that are an inevitable consequence of children being denied access to outdoor play."

These problems won't go away.

Kindergarten in Japan

2011-08-08T04:34:00.000-07:00

For a way to connect children to nature on a daily basis this Kindergarten by Kezuka Architects is seriously fantastic. Wouldn't it be great if trees were incorporated into all forms of buildings, creating living and breathing spaces, that are calming and peaceful.

I'm having an Andy Goldsworthy moment.

2011-08-04T11:59:00.001-07:00

Link.

News from Ireland

2011-08-03T02:32:00.000-07:00

It's always nice to hear about another country getting on board with the nature/play movement. Here's a link to an article over at the Irish Times titled "Let those angels get dirty faces". Just to wet your appetite:

"For a child, Ireland should be one big green playground, yet it seems increasingly our children are sidestepping squelching through our country’s glorious woods, beaches, lakes, parks and mountains for merely interacting with metal, rubber and man-made locations. They are climbing play frames instead of trees, swimming in pools instead of the sea and clambering over soft play obstacles instead of rocks.

Ireland has one of the highest birth rates in Europe, but also one of the highest obesity rates. With 22 per cent of all five to 12 year olds overweight or obese, the long-term impact on our health system has been making the headlines."

Found via Children and Nature Network.

The HeArt Project

2011-08-03T02:17:00.000-07:00

"The HeArt Project combats the epidemic high school dropout crisis with a long-term, sequential arts program offering a pursuable life path that inspires students to stay in school, evolve as unique individuals and flourish as creative adults."

Fantastic. I went to school at a time when art was still an integral part of the curriculum, luckily, otherwise who knows how I would have turned out......

Found via Good.

Celebrate Playday

2011-08-03T02:01:00.000-07:00

If you're in the UK it is officially Playday today, the national day for play.

"On Playday thousands of children and their families get out to play at hundreds of community events across the UK.

As well as a celebration of children's right to play, Playday is a campaign that highlights the importance of play in children’s lives."

If you're not in the UK, maybe get your kids and/or yourself outside anyway and play. Go on....

The Nature Principle

2011-08-03T01:50:00.001-07:00

I just received my very own copy of Richard Louv's new book and it's unputdownable (is that an actual word? Just googled it and it actually is..... who knew?). By the end of the introduction I was hooked, it's time to redesign the whole world so that everyone gets to feel the benefits of nature, I'll start today.

Get your copy and spread the word.

Your yard is evil

2011-08-01T02:12:00.000-07:00

Great video for all you lawn obsessed people in America.

Not that I didn't practice what I preach..... I removed my front lawn when I lived in Los Angeles and replaced it with California natives and drought tolerant Mediterranean plants. It attracted so many birds, insects and bees we couldn't believe it. I have a feeling that our garden was the Whole Foods Market of the neighbourhood for the local wildlife.

Just do it.....

Lenore Skenazy

2011-07-30T01:48:00.000-07:00

I have posted about Lenore Skenazy and her blog Freerangekids before but missed this great article she wrote for the Guardian last year.

I'm particularly interested in how risk has disappeared from our childrens lives due to the media, i.e. as Lenore writes:

"The stories that sell are the scary ones, which is why we keep hearing about the dangers to kids posed by food (choking), formula (additives), nappies (chemicals), blankets (smothering), toys (phthalate), school yards (bullies), playgrounds (injury), bedding (fumes), playmates (racism), books (leaded print), shopping carts (bacteria), car seats (asphyxiation), strollers (amputation), and dirt (dirt). Hard to remember that our kids are, all told, pretty safe! When I was born, four times more children died in infancy than now. When my parents were born, we had yet to eradicate polio. Or Hitler."

How can the design of open spaces encourage risk in play, increase confidence in parents that their kids are ok and ultimately allow kids to be free to come and go as they please?

Can a Playground Be Too Safe?

2011-07-24T10:24:00.001-07:00

NY Times has an article about playgrounds and risky play.

" “There is no clear evidence that playground safety measures have lowered the average risk on playgrounds,” said David Ball, a professor of risk management at Middlesex University in London. He noted that the risk of some injuries, like long fractures of the arm, actually increased after the introduction of softer surfaces on playgrounds in Britain and Australia.

“This sounds counterintuitive, but it shouldn’t, because it is a common phenomenon,” Dr. Ball said. “If children and parents believe they are in an environment which is safer than it actually is, they will take more risks. An argument against softer surfacing is that children think it is safe, but because they don’t understand its properties, they overrate its performance.” "

Shocking.... well. we sort of knew.

2011-07-24T05:06:00.001-07:00

According to new research done by Savlon and Play England UK over at Playday....

42 per cent of children report they have never made a daisy chain
32 per cent have never climbed a tree
A quarter of children today have never had the simple pleasure of rolling down a hill
47 per cent of adults built dens every week as a child, yet 29 per cent of today’s children say they have never built a den at all
A third of children have never played hopscotch
One in ten children have never ridden a bike

What to do????

Risk

2011-07-23T11:27:00.000-07:00

Tim Gill writes an excellent article over at the Guardian about risk and blame.

"In the 1980s and 1990s we collectively fell prey to what I call the zero-risk childhood. Children were seen as irredeemably stupid, as fragile as china plates, and utterly unable to learn from their mistakes. Hence the role of adults was to protect them from all risk, no matter what the cost.

.....The time is right to move beyond unproductive debates about the "blame culture" and instead to build momentum behind the idea of expanding children's horizons. What is needed is nothing less than the wholesale rejection of the philosophy of protection. In its place, what we need to adopt is a philosophy of resilience that truly embraces risk, uncertainty and real challenge – even real danger – as essential ingredients of a rounded childhood."

Couldn't agree more.

Ken Robinson

2011-07-23T10:28:00.000-07:00

This blog has taken a beating..... I have fearfully neglected it and it's time to give it the attention it deserves.... Starting with Sir Ken.

Interesting interview over at Fast Company about his new book and creativity.

"I remember when I was running the national commission on creativity, education and the economy in the U.K., the Secretary of State there said, "We're very committed to creativity in education but we've got to get literacy and numeracy right first." And I said, this is just a basic misunderstanding. It's like saying we're going to bake a cake and if it works out, then we'll put the eggs in. That's not how it works. If you want people to be literate, you have to get them passionate about reading and that's a creative job. To think of it as an afterthought or in conflict of the core purposes, is a misconception of what creativity is. Creative leaders get that. And if they don't they will."

Love it.

Encyclopedia of Life

2011-05-24T12:02:00.000-07:00

The Encyclopedia of Life is an amazing project, "an unprecedented global partnership between the scientific community and the general public....... to make freely available to anyone knowledge about all the world’s organisms."

The photo above is of the Penstemon newberryi Gray, commonly called Mountain Pride. Who knew? All from this website.

"Imagine an electronic page for each species of organism on Earth..." - Edward O. Wilson

What a fantastic resource. Can't quite get over it......

Cities for People

2011-05-24T11:37:00.000-07:00

Jan Gehl's new book "Cities for People" is next on my list. I just read a great interview over at "The Dirt" and must buy it.....

I was going to add a couple of quotes but couldn't decide which quote I wanted to add, save copying and pasting the whole interview.......... so go read.

Mother Nature's Child

2011-05-18T23:25:00.000-07:00

Mother Nature's Child is a documentary film by Camilla Rockwell.

It explores "nature’s powerful role in children’s health and development through the experience of toddlers, children in middle childhood and adolescents. The film marks a moment in time when a living generation can still recall childhoods of free play outdoors; this will not be true for most children growing up today. The effects of “nature deficit disorder” are now being noted across the country in epidemics of child obesity, attention disorders, and depression."

Available to buy at the film's website.

Urban Prescriptions/Recetas Urbanas

2011-05-17T08:14:00.000-07:00

Excellent project called Legalisation and Temporary Occupation of Empty Lots, by Spanish architect Santiago Cirugeda.

Found via Architectradure.

(Sorry about the tiny photos to the right but they were worth including just to tempt you to check out the website...)

Sustainable Prisons Project

2011-05-17T08:07:00.000-07:00

The Evergreen State College and Washington State Department of Corrections project "Sustainable Prisons" tag line is:

"We connect prisons with nature."

"Our mission is to bring science and nature into prisons. We conduct ecological research and conserve biodiversity by forging collaborations with scientists, inmates, prison staff, students, and community partners. Equally important, we help reduce the environmental, economic, and human costs of prisons by inspiring and informing sustainable practices."

Wow.

No Right Brain Left Behind Update

2011-05-16T04:01:00.000-07:00

I posted about this project a few months back and they now have a shortlist of projects from various different companies/design studios on their website. They have ideas from rewarding kids with gift cards and reading badges to a stand-up desk that enables creative behaviour.

www.rightbrainsare.us

Woodland Trust gets hip.

2011-05-12T05:17:00.000-07:00

Download this at iTunes and all proceeds go to the Woodland Trust.

Garden for Wildlife Month

2011-05-12T05:08:00.000-07:00

Over at the National Wildlife Fund they are promoting their garden for wildlife certification by offering to plant a tree on your behalf if you certify your garden or yard anytime in the month of May. The tree will be planted by children and young folk as part of their Trees for the 21st Program. (" an ambitious tree planting program as a way to provide hands-on activities for children and youth to learn about, and become long-term stewards of the environment.") Love it, love it, love it.

If you've been putting this off, now's the time to do it.

Coffee and a park

2011-05-11T11:41:00.000-07:00

A bit behind again with this article but it's interesting all the same. All part the UK's new government plan to make everyone happy, while they pay off the deficit....

I have recently moved to a house (and in a country, according to a recent study, that is the happiest place on earth) that has nature all around and I love it but I could walk the length and breadth of my neighbourhood and not find a decent coffee shop anywhere.

So, not to belittle my local forest and beach but I agree with the heading, a nice patch of nature and a good cup of coffee and I'm a happy camper.

The Nature Principle

2011-05-11T11:20:00.000-07:00

While I admit it may seem like I have been living as a troglodyte, I am ashamed to say that I have not and have no excuse for not knowing that Richard Louv's new book is out!

I was a huge fan of "Last Child in the Woods" and hope to get my sweaty little hands on a copy of "The Nature Principle" as soon as I can. I urge you to do the same, I'll sure it will not disappoint.....

Imagination

2011-05-11T11:09:00.000-07:00

Great website promoting creativity and imagination in our school systems as a way to help kids in the future.... The two co-directors say we are living in an "Imagination Age".

Love the graphics as well. Check it out here.

Lovely info graphic

2011-04-08T08:36:00.001-07:00

for growing companion plants. Can't show it here so go here and check it out.

Orange and Do Some Good

2011-04-07T01:37:00.000-07:00

Orange in the UK have partnered with a whole host of organizations so that you can do good through your mobile. Play England/Love Outdoor Play are there and state:

"Help us map great places to play on our new app, part of the Do Some Good app from Orange. On the app you can tag places to play and tell us where's good (or not so good) to play. We will use the data collected to add to an Outdoor Play Map, launched later in the year."

Love it.

Football

2011-04-07T01:31:00.001-07:00

I'm surrounded by boys and football, or at least some days it feels like it.

Here's a great story from GOOD, about FIFA providing 20 football pitches to disadvantaged communities across Africa, but the China's Yingli Green Energy Holding Company gave them solar lights so they could use it in the evening as well.

The Urban Revitalization and Livable Communities Act

2011-04-07T01:23:00.000-07:00

"H.R.709, the Urban Revitalization and Livable Communities Act, introduced by Congressman Albio Sires on Febrary 15, 2011, would assist communities in developing and maintaining community parks in many of our nation’s urban and suburban centers. Specifically, the measure would provide federal grants for communities to rehabilitate existing and develop new urban parks and recreational infrastructure. Grants could also be used to maintain parks to keep them vibrant for many years to come. States and localities would be required to provide matching funds.

Under the legislation, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) would give priority to projects that connect children and other community members to the outdoors for physical activity; connect to public transportation; and contain safe biking and walking trails or routes. Notably, eligible projects should also use environmentally beneficial features such as “sustainable landscape features,” tree canopy coverage, improved stormwater management practices, and increased green infrastructure, which are all techniques that landscape architects excel at employing. The measure also encourages and provides grants for community involvement and planning opportunities."

Great news, please lend your support. Here.

If one man can do this....

2011-03-30T11:45:00.000-07:00

...imagine what we could achieve if we all climbed aboard.

Fantastic post over at Love Outdoor Play by a follower of theirs and how he convinced.... actually, I won't tell you because it would spoil it and his letter is so beautifully written.

Check.it.out.

We Are The People We've Been Waiting For

2011-03-29T11:22:00.000-07:00

Now, I may be going mad, or at least losing my memory.... but I have a vague recollection that I posted about this film in the not too distant past.

If I have, please excuse my momentary blip and ignore this post. If not, please check out the website, there are some great people involved, Richard Branson, Bill Bryson and Ken Robinson, to name but a few.

We Are The People.

Imagine it!

2011-03-29T11:14:00.000-07:00

A non-profit organization called Imagine it! promoting creative thinking to help tackle the problems of our future. (Sir Ken is on board...... need I say more.)

This is what they say:

"We believe creativity and imagination are the hope for a positive future.

Why? Because right now is a tipping point in human history of seemingly uncontrollable change when the intersection of global problems, an alarming decline of student interest in science and technology and a “crisis in creativity” calls on teachers and parents, business and government leaders to empower the incalculable assets of human ingenuity to make the world a better, safer and more prosperous place for everyone."

Hear hear.....

Living buildings

2011-03-29T11:08:00.000-07:00

Project called Europe in Bloom by Danish architect Johanna Rossbach. Wouldn't it be great to see more of this in cities where there is little space for greenery. It's not far from me, so I have to go and see this for myself in the spring.

(Found via GOOD via laud8)

Children still delight in playground games

2011-03-28T11:23:00.000-07:00

Article over at The Guardian about a two year research project done on playground games.

"Prof Jackie Marsh of the University of Sheffield said the research demonstrated how children have responded to the new media age. "Today's children have to manage an increasingly complex world of technology and information and the project has shown how these aspects of their lives are crucially important for their social, emotional and cultural development," she said. "The playground provides an important space for children to engage with how their culture is changing in a digital age.""

Ready for Ten

2011-03-16T12:21:00.000-07:00

Love it when I hear of a campaign by parents to get kids outside and playing. This one is over at Ready for Ten, a "parent powered website for mums and dads of 6 - 9 year olds". Sponsored by Robinsons Fruit Shoots, Parents for Playgrounds is campaigning to renovate playgrounds and get more kids playing outside.

The psychology of nature

2011-03-16T12:10:00.000-07:00

This article by Jonah Lehrer over at Wired is from last year so I am a bit late about finding it, but it's really interesting and has some great links.

"......the typical city park is little more than an expansive lawn, punctuated by a few trees and playing fields. I’ve got nothing against grass and Little League, but it’s probably worth pointing out that, if you want to maximize the psychological perks of greenspace, this is probably the wrong approach. In a 2007 paper, Richard Fuller, an ecologist at the University of Queensland, demonstrated that the mental benefits of green space are closely linked to the diversity of its plant life. When a city park has a larger variety of trees, subjects that spend time in the park score higher on various measures of psychological well-being, at least when compared with less biodiverse parks."

Equals?

2011-03-14T12:08:00.001-07:00

Not totally on topic but this is about the future and what we can do to stop our kids from having to deal with such shocking inequalities.

Plus it's rather nice to see 007 sporting a dress.....

Equals?, link.