How do little boys study nature?

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Oh my goodness, I love boys.  Learning is such an active adventure with them!  I remember taking early elementary nature walks with my teen daughter and they were, oh, so very different.  She and I would quietly admire the intricacies of a flower or sit peacefully in a bird blind to catch a glimpse of various birds to sketch.

Then I had boys.

My boys are quite different (to say the least.)  Ever since they joined in on our nature walks, the birds haven’t often graced us with their presence, if you know what I mean.  Our walks now are much louder, faster-paced, and full of everything the five senses have to offer.  Touching being the biggie of the five senses.

Just what do our nature walks look like now?  I took some time to photograph my seven-year-old son (rather than nature) on our latest “signs of spring” walk.  I hope you enjoy his learning style as much as I did that day…

Boys get IN nature – literally.

Every step of the way, my little man was not so much observing nature, but becoming a part of it as much as possible.  He walked in the stream, slid down a steep bank to walk in the dry creek bed, and wasn’t afraid to let the mud nearly hold his boots hostage when we came across moist land.

Boys touch nature – as often as they can.

And they touch it with their whole bodies when you allow.  Sloshing water, catching bugs, skipping rocks, throwing mud balls, climbing trees…sound familiar?

Boys use nature – for their own purposes.

Building log bridges over a stream, digging holes to bury treasures and decorating branches with mud ball art are just a few instances from our walk.  You’ll probably laugh to know that during each of these moments I’m right alongside trying to find teachable things to share, while Eli busily goes about his own business.  Even when I don’t think he’s really listening, he catches just about everything I say.

ME:  “Eli, see the bright green growth on this branch?  That’s new growth since last season.  It sure grew a lot, didn’t it?”

ELI:  “Uh-huh.  Hey look at my mud ball.  (crazy laughing)  Maybe I’ll put mud balls on all the branches and see if the tree falls down.  (more crazy laughing)”

Boys put everything they have into nature.

Rather than seeing the moss on a tree, boys see the awesome seat meant just for them.  Rather than seeing the mud on the bank of the creek that will get their pants dirty, boys see a perfect place to sit and take it all in.  Rather than talk about the reason a tree might have fallen, boys see the perfect balancing beam on which to walk or rest.

Ugh.  Will they ever learn?

As moms, we could easily get frustrated that our active boys don’t seem to be listening to our “lessons” about nature.  I’ve learned over the years, though, that much more learning than you can imagine is taking place through all these moments of pure blissfulness for our sons.  They’re learning through the activity – through the touch – through the climbing…  Little boys study nature – just not always in the way we think nature study “should” happen.

And, believe it or not, they’re making connections between what they do and what you say.  So keep on pointing out interesting facts even if you think they couldn’t care less.  Read the living literature at home that ties into some of the things you saw on your nature walk.  Do experiments later to demonstrate the points you wish he had heard “in the field.”

He’ll learn, momma.  He’ll learn.

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