Sunday, March 25, 2007

Nature's Playground........
With the advent of the first official day of Spring, came a lovely Spring day. We held our weekly playgroup at a nearby park where all the moms and kids basked in the sun, blue skies, and the opportunity to be outside after the long winter months. As I've said before, I am so grateful to be able to raise my son in such a beautiful part of the world and that nature IS his playground. With the lure that electricity brings- video games, T.V.,
and computers, it can be an uphill battle to instill that love and respect for Creation. And not only enjoying being outside in nature, but learning about it- knowing that the acorns he finds are from an Oak tree, and the little purple flower popping out of the ground is a crocus, and the river that we drive by everyday is the Potomac. Things learned best outside, at play.....not in an artificial environment like a classroom, where many pre-school age children spend their days and learn about nature and their world vicariously. As Charlotte Mason wisely stated about educating children, "Never be within doors when you can rightly be without."


I spent my childhood days out in nature on our 65 acre farm in Kentucky....being inside on a nice day would have been torture for me. I hope to pass that legacy on to my son. Leave No Child Inside is a relevant and thought-provoking article on the loss of outside play for children and it gives suggestions on how we can reverse this trend in our own communities. Take a look if you have a moment.....










21 comments:

Anna said...

Beautiful images! Looks like a fun day. I am going to check out that site now. :)

Have a good week!

Anonymous said...

Great shots and great thoughts. I couldn't agree more that our children should spend more time outside. They not only end up healthier but they develop the passion to help the planet.

Anonymous said...

I so agree. Being out side feeds us all, especially kids. One of my fantasy bumper sticker ideas was "recess instead of ritlan."

kenju said...

It looks like they were having a good time. I always loved being by a creek when I was small.

Cosette said...

Loved this post! Cosette loves to play outside too, although she mostly just runs around and falls down in the mud :) There's just something satisfying about seeing kids playing outside, isn't there?

photowannabe said...

Delightful fun day for your kids. I agree that kids need more time to just be and let their imaginations run free.

bluemountainmama said...

colleen- i love that bumper sticker idea!!!! you need to make one.

Anna said...

I can't believe your dream! You definitely ahd it cause we emailed last night! :)

Kendra said...

great post. The start of Spring is such a beautiful thing!
So, have you decided to homeschool, or is there a CM school nearby? ;)

Tom Atkins said...

Ah! I went up on the Appalachain trail with my eight year old son this weekend too and it was glorious - got some great pictures (like yours, with different landscapes) and had a God-affirming day. Thanks for sharing these.

Tom

bluemountainmama said...

kendra- i haven't made up my mind about homeschooling yet. part of it will depend on where we are in the fall. if we're still in the county we are now, i AM going to homeschool him b/c the schools are really bad.

i've been reading up on homeschooling and checking out curriculums in case....and incorporating some of CM's attainments by age 6 into our days. i really like the ambleside curriculum, the one you recommended.

kirsten said...

Who could possibly want to be in front of a glaring screen when there is playground like that right outside your door? I agree - everyone needs to be engaged with the outdoors on some level and it's so great that people are conscious of letting their children play outdoors, get a little dirty, and have a ball all the while. So, so important.

Again, fantastic photos! The day was beautiful & looked like so much FUN!

Kala said...

you live in such a beautiful area - Discover channel just had a series call Planet earth - www.planet-earth.com - it was an amazing show and your pictures are a great display of that beauty around us!

bluemountainmama said...

kala- i watched the that show sunday night- awe-inspiring! everyone needs to watch this special if they get a chance.....

L.L. Barkat said...

All right, I'm going out. Just to a river of ivy, but that'll do.

Love these wild and free pics.

Angela said...

Great photos, thanks for sharing ya'lls playground:-).

Michelle said...

Great photos... my kids LOVE being outside. I wish we lived in the country!

Lynne said...

Great photos!

Elise @A Path Made Straight said...

Beautiful pictures! And I agree wholeheartedly with you and Charlotte Mason - the outdoors is so good for our children!

Danielle said...

Oh Mama, you just pull at my heartstrings! How very lovely indeed.. What a beautiful boy and such moments you captured. This makes me think of Romans 1:20 "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made..." Your post is joy!

bluemountainmama said...

dani- thank you.... being the wood nymph you are, i can see why it pulls at your heartstrings! :)

i love that verse....