On the weekend, I took a walk in the courtyard with Xiao Xiao Fei. Did not walk a few steps, suddenly found some strange on the trees in the yard. The ground is full of branches, look up, it is obvious that people sawed off. Not far away, a few workers building a ladder, busy with something. Curiosity is the best teacher, I said to little Fei: “Come, go with mommy to see.” As we approached, we found several workers sawing branches under the guidance of a master. I asked Fei, “Why are they sawing branches, let’s ask, shall we?” Encouraged by my encouragement, Fei asked in a milky voice, “Hello, Grandpa, why are they sawing branches?” The teacher was stunned, and then explained, “You see, after a winter, the tops of these branches have become prosperous, but the upper branches are dense, but they block the sun. The lower and middle branches do not get the sun, and if they are not pruned, they will not grow well and affect the health of the tree.” So that’s how it is! It was a rewarding walk, and there is knowledge everywhere you look. Walking into nature with a curious mind can often be very rewarding. “Nature Deficit Disorder” must be taken seriously. March 12 is Arbor Day, so let’s take this weekend as an opportunity to talk about young children’s interaction with trees and nature. A famous American author named Richard Louv wrote a book called “The Last Child in the Woods”, in which he introduced the concept of “nature deficit disorder”, pointing out that in modern society, there is a general lack of connection between children and nature worldwide. What are the symptoms of a child suffering from “nature deficit disorder”? Technically speaking, “nature deficit disorder” is not a medical diagnosis, but rather a lack of access to nature and an addiction to electronics in urban children. Studies have shown that children who do not spend time outdoors are prone to obesity, attention disorders, loneliness, depression, anger, sensory disorders, etc. How can we get our children back into nature? Developed countries are well aware of the disadvantages of “nature deficit disorder”, so Denmark started forest kindergartens in the 1950s, joined by Germany, Korea, Japan, the United States and Canada. The goal of forest kindergartens is clear: to bring children back to nature. Instead of fixed classrooms, forest kindergartens allow children to return to nature and let them climb trees and play with fire freely. When it rains, they put on raincoats, and in winter, they can have snowball fights. All year round, the scenery is beautiful. A child who grows up in nature has his senses sharpened and his powers of observation enhanced. Thanks to nature as a great teacher, children’s motivation to learn and explore will continue to flow. What can we do, urban parents? Put down your phone and get outside with your child. For those parents who are always on their phones, even if they are busy on weekdays, they can take their children on hikes and outings on Sundays. Keep a regular frequency and take your child in sync with the rhythm of nature. Encourage your child to open his or her senses and try hard. The same piece of lawn has different tactile sensations when stepped on. The same tree often carries different shapes and patterns. Encourage your child to “jump and see what it feels like under your feet?” “Feel it, what does it feel like on your hand?” “Smell the flower, does it smell good?” People live a life, learning is not only the brain, but also rely on touch and feeling. When you walk into nature, what you see on the bottom of your feet, in your hands, in your nose, and what you hear in your ears, are all messages of beauty. Instruct observation and learn to record. Trees in the same location change in different seasons. You can take your child with a camera, or a drawing book, and observe the changes of the trees in different months, thus training your child’s observation skills, as well as the ability to record, compare, and count. There are always endless topics to be found in nature with a love of it. What do children gain from outdoor activities? When a child plays outdoors for long periods of time, his balance, dexterity, physical coordination, tactile sensitivity and depth perception are greatly enhanced. Those children who graduate from the forest kindergarten mentioned above improve quickly in reading, writing, math and socialization when they enter elementary school. These children have more insight and a richer experience, and act more confident, cheerful and sunny than their peers. Talking about this, do you have the urge to step into nature with your child?