Based on these observations the question arises, what can a parent do to counter act this trend? How can parents expose their children to nature when so many other demands on time exist?
While cleaning after a recent 4 generation family reunion held at the Painted Pony Resort the item shown below turned up. It was found in one of the courtyard planters. A clear plastic box with a removable top and air vents along with a magnifying viewing port. All hanging from a string just the right length to hang around a little ones neck. It’s an insect collecting box. An interesting find and its presence is very telling. The insect collecting box is not something that would attract the eye of a child under the age of 10 in a store. It is not particularly flashy, no electronics or flashing lights, just a simple plastic box for collecting and viewing insects. This suggests that the purchase was not made by a little one but rather a little one’s older relative and this relative wanted to expose a child to nature, specifically entomology. Clear evidence of a parent's awareness of nature deficit disorder and their attempt to combat it while enjoying the surroundings at the Painted Pony Resort.
A child's insect collection box |
Looks like you can do some insect collecting now.
ReplyDeleteThe big female tarantula who I filmed last year has dug open her burrow and emerged. I had been watching for her emergence but only the other day did I notice new webbing and fresh dirt around her burrow. She is to big to fit in the collecting box so I will just watch for another mating and babies.
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