Parenting with nature in mind

It does seem weird that so much time is spent on research to prove the need for green spaces and spending time in nature. Yet, many of our teens have lost their connection to the wild. They may have lost their reverence for vast open landscapes, for the magnificence of mountains and the exhilaration of dipping in mountain streams. A big part of this is the
addiction to all things digital and screens, where even the Discovery Channel turns animals into entertainment.

Therefore, as the holidays draw near, may we all be reminded to delve into the elements of nature? Could this be the ideal cure for disconnect and disease for both teens AND adults? Can we create space to declutter, unplug, and switch off? Can we take our eyes off the screen, to the horizon? Our feet out of shoes to bare earth? Our bodies to air as we jump off a warm rock into natural pools of dark blue? Wouldn’t that be the ideal way of restoring connection – right here, right now?

Find the big blue skies or ocean depths or the endless stars of a dark quiet night. Go to where the nightjars call. Keep it simple. Surrender to all things natural: ask your teen to fix a rope, ride a horse, make a fire, climb a tree, walk a trail, create a shelter or just hoot like an owl. You can have fun with this as a parent!

I know we are all worried teens will be bored if we take them away to remote places. They may complain if they have no cellphone signal. But maybe that’s just the thing they need.

Consider travelling equipped with cards, games, puzzles, sketchpads, binoculars, and the Treeapp. Find a book on ‘how to connect to nature’ and try some of the fun exercises together. It may take a few days (unless he/she has a friend along!) but soon your teen will sing around a fire, forget their image, be dazzled by fish or actually have a long, real conversation with you … and the whole family will remember what really matters!

Megan de Beyer is an integrative psychologist and author with over 30 years of experience. Her combined background in psychotherapy, ecology, and eastern philosophy informs her unique approach of creating symbiotic connections for the purpose of holistic emotional healing

As a mother of two young men, adolescent development and masculinity have been a focus of Megan’s research for the past 17 years. As a result, she has helped thousands of parents understand and heal their relationships with their teenagers. 

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