Children Thrive in Nature, Even with Creepy-Crawlies

home insemination Kit

“It’s a snake!” shouted Luke, his eyes gleaming with excitement as he held up the wriggling, dirt-covered creature in both hands.
“No, it’s just a worm,” I replied, barely glancing away from my laptop.
“No, it’s a worm snake!” he insisted with joy, clearly thrilled by the discovery he’d made while digging in the yard.

This kind of scene is common in our household. Whenever my kids are outside, they’re on the hunt for small critters, typically those with scales. No Carolina anole escapes their attention. They’ve even named the local inhabitants: there’s the large, dark one that resides on the trash can, along with its smaller, feisty rival. The striped skink has taken up residence under our porch column, and a giant brown skink that seems straight out of a nightmare lurks beneath some lumber in the yard. While some might consider this behavior harsh, I actively support their enthusiasm by providing nets and visitor tanks to encourage gentle interactions with wildlife.

Children require a connection to nature, and a crucial part of that connection involves engaging with the small, often overlooked creatures. Peter Kahn Jr. and Stephen Kellert highlight in their book, Children and Nature: Psychological, Sociocultural, and Evolutionary Investigations, that the natural environment was once the most significant space for children. Their research shows that interacting with animals fosters a sense of care for the environment. Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods, emphasizes that kids’ physical connections with nature are diminishing. Thus, any opportunity to strengthen that bond is beneficial.

Our family doesn’t just catch animals; we engage in conversations about them. Every evening, they eagerly embark on toad hunts. My partner leads them outside where they search for these amphibians, carefully capturing and identifying them. This has taught us fascinating facts, like how certain gray tree frog species can be genetically identical yet distinct. My kids can differentiate between Southern and Fowler’s toads on a good day, and they understand the amphibians’ behavior, like their tendency to hide in burrows during dry spells.

Catching creatures is just the beginning; they’re learning and observing too. During summer evenings, they often find several toads, which they’ll place in a plastic tank filled with water to watch, draw, and document their behavior before releasing them back into the wild.

We even take the somewhat controversial step of collecting tadpoles. Armed with designated nets, we venture to the best spots in town to find bullfrog spawn. I sit under a shady tree with our dog while they joyfully leap over rocks, getting wet and muddy in the process. Their excitement is palpable as they compare the stages of the tadpoles: “Look, mine has legs!” or “Wow, mine’s tail is so long!” If they have no luck with tadpoles, they’ll chase minnows or water striders.

The elusive salamander is usually only caught during trips to the mountains, though once we unexpectedly found one in the backyard. These experiences instill respect for healthy ecosystems and encourage teamwork as they share nets and strategies, returning home muddy and exhausted — exactly what a parent hopes for.

Their affection for creepy-crawlies is genuine. While cockroaches (or as we call them, palmetto bugs) may gross them out, they are fascinated by spiders, especially the larger ones. They enthusiastically point out giant millipedes on our evening walks by the river. I believe that by encouraging them to explore toads, worms, and even worm snakes, we’re broadening their appreciation for nature, including its less popular inhabitants.

Now, I know some might argue against this approach, such as animal rights advocates, who contend that creatures should live undisturbed. They might ask why we can’t just observe them from afar. But it’s not the same. There’s an irreplaceable value in feeling the texture of a tadpole, the bumpy skin of a toad, or the slickness of a minnow. None of these animals are being harmed or taken as pets; my 4-year-old can hold a lizard without causing it stress. This interaction is an essential life skill.

Once again, kids need nature — and they need it in ways they can relate to. They may not understand Thoreau’s contemplative pond or marvel at the towering cathedral of trees. Instead, they see those rocks as play structures, trees as climbing opportunities, and the creatures inhabiting them — the toads, frogs, worm snakes, salamanders, and tadpoles — as sources of wonder.

So, here’s to adventures, from toad hunts to digging for worms. Let the kids embrace the dirt and explore!

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In summary, connecting children with nature — including all its creepy-crawlies — is essential for fostering a love and respect for the environment. Through engaging experiences, they learn, play, and grow, creating lasting memories and skills.