What do the children on your block do? On my block, they mostly stay indoors, and that's not at all unusual. A recent article in the Washington Post (June 19, "Getting Lost in the Great Indoors") cited a University of Maryland study that found a 50 percent decline (1997 to 2003) in the proportion of children age 9-12 who spend time outdoors, organized sports excluded. So many kids are opting for TV, video and computer games inside that it's spawned a movement in many communities to "Leave No Child Inside."
And now, along comes a new book that might help persuade some of the children you know to have fun outside and learn about nature in the process. Gardening with Children is the first publication by the Brooklyn Botanic Garden written specifically for children and adults. It teaches basic horticultural concepts through illustration, simple and clear language, and through games and intriguing creative projects.
I liked the "root view" garden that lets you see carrots and radishes growing underground; the tree scavenger hunt; the wren house made from a gourd; and the simple terrarium.
The book demonstrates how to hand-pollinate vegetables, and how to plant a garden to attract hummingbirds, butterflies and birds. And if you're an adult who's forgotten all that basic biology, you can learn it all again here. And believe me, it's a lot more understandable than what you learned in those musty old textbooks.
This book is indispensible for anyone who wants to encourage their children to go outside and to awaken their interest in the endlessly fascinating world of nature.
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