Product Description

Why Children Need Wild Places

In this unique collaboration, two naturalists ask what may happen now that so many more children are denied exposure to wildness than at any other time in human history.

"This thoughtful presentation, testifying to children's need for direct contact with nature, has value for parents and those who work with children."
-Publishers Weekly

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #129771 in Books
• Published on: 1995-04-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 216 pages

From Publishers Weekly
More than half of American children get their environmental information from the media, according to the authors, who find this a disturbing trend. In alternating essays, conservation biologist Nabham ( Gathering the Desert ) and Trimble ( Great Sand Dunes ) examine the needs of children to experience nature firsthand. Each author draws on his childhood experiences: Nabham's among the steel mills and sand dunes of Gary, Ind., and Trimble's travels in the West with his geologist father. They describe how their own children react to the world of nature and look at Southwest Indian cultures that are closely tied to nature. Trimble speaks to three-generations of a ranch family in Nevada; Nabham visits an extended family on a Mexican ranch. Observing social activities on school playgrounds, Trimble discovers more interaction between the sexes on grassy areas than on bare asphalt. This thoughtful presentation, testifying to children's need for direct contact with nature, has value for parents and those who work with children. Photos.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Two fathers, both seasoned naturalists, earnestly convey their love of the land and their experiences imparting that love to their young children. They rue the fact so many children lack such opportunities. "When we don't grow up meeting lizards, snakes, and frogs, we have no way to recognize their vitality and dignity, nor the continuity between them and us." Often, the naivet{‚}e of these authors is as moving as their paternal reflections. Theirs is definitely not another how-to-collect-leaves-with-your-toddler book, and it raises questions that are not easily answered. With all their seriousness, however, Nabhan and Trimble still offer many delightful scenes of enjoying the wilderness with their families. Denise Perry Donavin

From Kirkus Reviews
Meditations and personal anecdotes from naturalists/hiking buddies/fathers Nabhan (Gathering the Desert, 1985) and Trimble. ``Children do need wildness,'' the authors argue: not just trees and grass, but open, unpeopled places, where they can ``nibble on icicles and watch ants...lie back and contemplate clouds and chickadees.'' As parents, we should provide our young with ``direct exposure to a variety of wild plants and animals,'' including the less cuddly types, like snakes and lizards. Instead, we plop them down in front of TV sets and books (which, astonishingly, the authors find equally insidious), exercise them in concrete and plastic playgrounds which provide insufficient opportunities for building ``nest-like refuges,'' and send them to schools which prepare them only ``for careers to be spent within buildings.'' As a result of this alienation from nature, the authors argue, our children are myopic, stunted, haunted by fears of the ``lizardness within us.'' Nabhan and Trimble write seductively of the lures of the Western landscape, but some readers may chafe at their narrow conception of ``wilderness.'' (There are wild places back East, after all, and don't leaf-cutter ants resides in cities, too?) Most of the authors' personal anecdotes are touching and provocative, especially Nabhan's childhood reminiscence of his not-so-innocent role in the murder of a lizard. But occasionally, the authors lose sight of their topic and drift into mawkish self-absorption (``Talking with the woman I love about the places we pass through makes the experiences warmer, simpler...''). Readers are not likely to disagree with the authors' central premise and will probably enjoy the lush writing, but may be turned off by their anti-urban, anti-intellectual prejudices and their preoccupation with their own circumstances. A convincing case for the necessity of exposing children to nature, sometimes marred by the authors' narrow vision and smug tone. (10 pages b&w photographs--not seen) -- Copyright ©1994, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Customer Reviews

interesting, pretty pictures, but blah
As the reader breebree mentioned, it is more of a reflection and definitely not a guide to parenting. I found this book to have interesting insights as the authors thought back to their childhoods with a different perspective, and observed the reactions of their children and those of others to their landscape. There were a bunch of cute little nostalgic tales but not a lot of impact. There are messages in there, but they're diffuse. I wish they had put more emphasis on their points or otherwise offered a more concrete discussion than just offering personal examples, muse a bit, and leave it there. It gave enough perspective to discuss our childhoods in small groups but beyond that I didn't find much use for this book.

I was even more disappointed when I discovered that many of Nabhan's stories were presented in Cultures of Habitiat, a book tat was printed later but I had read first.

This is a rambling, musing, anecdotal, diffusely reflective book. Not my cup of tea.

The landscape through a child's eyes
Gary Nabhan and Stephen Trimble have penned a fine collection of essays on how children perceive and play in their environment. References are made to psychological studies that support a child's need for wild places, but the real value I see in this book comes from the authors' own anecdotal experiences with their children. If you are a parent of small children, you will especially enjoy the ideas you will get for places to take children to play and explore. Read this book and you will begin to learn why children need to experience wild places. And why, as adults, if we share the "hands-on" experiences with our kids, our own connection to the landscape becomes more deeply rooted.

I loved it!
At first glance, this book seems to be another in a long line of published material telling parents how to be good parents. But it really seemed like a personal reflection of what makes life great through a child's eyes. Instead of trying to raise a child through adult methods, this book shows that through simply remembering what being a child was and why it was fun is enough to help you understand what your child is thinking. Through this understanding, you will become a great parent. I was very pleased with my purchase and recommend this book to anyone that has had any contact with children.