Kids no longer know what nature is August 2, 2008
Posted by Al in : nature,scary , trackbackA recent survey of 700 children has alarmed David Attenborough (and me as well) with its results which show that kids have lost touch with the natural world. I find it worrying that only 62% could identify a frog, and even more worrying that a deer was identified as an antelope – reminds me of Fawlty Towers and its “herds of wildebeest sweeping majestically across the plains” of Torquay.
Anyway, I do find it worrying that kids are not getting out and enjoying the countryside as that’s how I spent my entire youth – roaming fields and beaches. I can understand that there are more things to do indoors these days, what with games consoles, TV and DVD’s, but there’s a whole world out there that parents really need to send their children out to explore – because you really don’t get time when you’re older. However, I can understand that the emphasis the media has placed on the risk to unattended children means that parents will be reluctant to let their kids step outside without knowing where they are going, who they will be with and when they will be back. Shame, because as these kids lose connection to nature then they will also lose respect for it as well – which will lead to a lack of care when yet another piece of greenfield gets developed, or when another species says farewell to this world.
Comments»
no comments yet - be the first?