Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Vimeo
  • YouTube

Not Just Cute

Whole Child Development

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Speaking
  • Podcast
  • Books
  • Contact
  • New? Start Here.

Last Child in the Woods Part 7: To Be Amazed

October 8, 2013 by notjustcute Filed Under: Get Outside, Uncategorized 3 Comments

Read Along Part 7

There was a time when meadow, grove, and stream

The earth, and every common sight,

      To me did seem

      Apparelled in celestial light,

The glory and the freshness of a dream.

As I read these words from William Wordsworth in the last section of Last Child in the Woods, I thought of a conversation I had recently had with some of my family.  We were talking about how amazing meteor showers are and how unfortunate it is that sometimes kids pass it off as commonplace.

“I’ve seen stuff like that in a movie,” one sister imitated.

In a world where the computer generated image is so prevalent and so believable, it can sometimes be a challenge to awaken the awe that comes from experiencing natural wonders.

But it does come.

And it is so worth the effort.

In the last section, Louv recounts the influence nature has had on the spiritual lives of adults and children alike.

From Thoreau and Wordsworth to prophets found in scripture being “carried away to a mountain” both literally and symbolically has represented times of great learning, insight, and spiritual awakening.

And it happens to everyday people too.Nature To Be Amazed

I spent a summer working for a Boy Scout base in Jackson Hole, Wyoming after my sophomore year of college.  Spending three months in a tent, riding a canoe or sometimes a raft down the same stretches of river day after day might not sound appealing to everyone, but it was like therapy for me.  I gained personal insights that summer in Jackson that still serve to steady me.  It was there that I believe I solidified gradual healing and change in perspective after battling a borderline eating disorder.

There’s something about nature that is quieting for me.  And in that quiet my soul is fed.

Whether your spiritual roots lie in an organized religion or not, I do believe there is a spiritual aspect of human development.  And that nature is a conduit to promoting that development.  Conventional Christians may say it’s because God is the Creator and Master of these natural beauties, and of our very souls, thus they all resonate together.  Others may simply say, as did the group of religious leaders cited in Louv’s book, that “to be spiritual is to be constantly amazed.”

Perhaps that amazement needs to be awoken in us as much as in our children.

I recently noticed my toddler looking beyond me as we walked outside.  I followed his gaze, hoping to give him the words for what he was seeing.  I saw the trees swaying in the wind.  I saw vibrant blue skies with puffy clouds slowly wispy past.  It suddenly looked new to me too.  It looked amazing.

I talked about what we saw, gave him words like “tree”, “sky”, “clouds”, and “wind”.  But shortly after, when we were outside on a similar day, he pointed again, and this time simply said with amazement, “Ooooh!”

Whatever your school of thought, religious or more simply spiritual, being regularly immersed in nature with our children seems a guaranteed way to stand together, constantly amazed.

Find Last Child in the Woods at Amazon through this affiliate link!

(I only recommend things I truly think you’ll enjoy, and your purchases through this link help fund Not Just Cute.)

Start the read along at Part 1!

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

Related

Comments

  1. 1

    Tina says

    October 9, 2013 at 7:38 pm

    Very beautifully written!

    Reply
    • 2

      notjustcute says

      October 9, 2013 at 10:34 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Preschool Thematic Unit: Pets | Not Just CuteNot Just Cute says:
    January 24, 2014 at 1:06 am

    […] Outdoor play encompasses a variety of objectives and exposes kids to natural materials and nature itself! […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

search this site

Privacy & Cookies: This site may use cookies to customize your experience. Learn more by reading our Privacy Policy.

I’m Amanda Morgan. Here’s what I’m about…

In early education, there is too much distance between what we know and what we do. I bridge the gaps that exist between academia, decision-makers, educators, and parents so that together, we can improve the quality of early education while also respecting and protecting the childhood experience.

Content Copyrighted (2008-2020), Amanda Morgan, All Rights Reserved

Get Our Newsletter & Developmental Guide

  • Home
  • Contact
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2021 · Swank WordPress Theme By, PDCD