Emily

“periodic exposure to nature in a diverse range of settings, from zoos to national parks, will likely be less effective in fostering bonds with nature than abundant time spent outdoors in a single, most likely local place.”
― Scott D. Sampson, How to Raise a Wild Child: The Art and Science of Falling in Love with Nature

“The primary educational concern of leaders in government and industry was not to make people literate, but to gain control over what people read, what they thought, and how they behaved.”
― Peter O. Gray, Free to Learn: Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life

“The day we visited, mothers were chatting comfortably on one of the benches while their children ran around happily exploring and playing games. The beauty of natural playgrounds is that they tap directly into children’s passions. In traditional playspaces constructed of metal and plastic, decisions about what to play are made by the designers. First you swing. Then you go down the slide. Too often, the result is competition, with kids arguing over who gets to do what, followed by frustration and tears. Conversely, in natural play areas, the child is boss. Imaginations are fired up as kids invent games with the available loose parts. Studies show that interactions tend to be more cooperative as well. Bullying is greatly decreased, and both vandalism and aggressive behavior also go down if there is a tree canopy. And with greater engagement comes longer play intervals, about three times longer compared with old-style play equipment.”
― Scott D. Sampson, How to Raise a Wild Child: The Art and Science of Falling in Love with Nature

“Exploring the dangerous margins of creativity is as essential as the safe, frequented center.”
― Gever Tulley, Fifty Dangerous Things