The boys have slowly been moving away from 'playgrounds' and into the woods. Playgrounds are a blast, and a great way to work off energy, but they are still manufactured. As we explore the woods and ponds and trails more and more, I see the boys playing less on equipment than before. If we are at a playground to play they will surely run and play a bit -- but they do tend to wander.
They wander into the fields. They wander to pick dandelions. They wander to find four leaf clovers. They wander to look at birds or insects. They wander to find water, sticks and rocks. They wander looking for paths into the woods (and usually find them).
They love deeply wooded trails the most lately. Dark, mysterious, full of life. They love the narrow trails, the tall trees, the wildlife, the animal prints, the unusual plants, the sounds, and the mystery of what lies ahead.
We'll keep visiting playgrounds, I'm sure, but perhaps we'll stick to those which are at the edge of the woods so that we always have somewhere to wander...
27 comments:
Ahhh, trekking is our favorite thing to do. Lovely green photos. :)
I always preferred the untamed areas as well as a child.
They look like they are having a blast! And your eldest boy's outfit goes nicely with the foliage :)
Oh, my!
That last picture of the two boys hugging in the green grass took my breath away!
And I really liked the one of the mossy log.
I haven't escaped to Wisconsin in a long time! I must find a way to do it again.
Pilgrimage aimlessly.
Best pics ever! Xxx
found you thru Crafy Crow. We also love being a "boy" and wandering.
we are going to explore more tracks too
wonderful photos
enjoy
Jen
oh boy...your boys' would love the land that surrounds us...our boys' wander all the time...and they have made up names for different areas...we LOVE it!
so...when we are in the city...they like the playgrounds...but what is funny...they always miss the wandering after a few days!
geesh what is going to happen if we move...yikes!
I loved exploring your blog. You take and make such beautiful pictures!
Those are great photos and great thoughts! We live on 18 acres of woods and, unless, I push the girls, they don't go in the woods. It's sad. It's something I'm going to encourage more this summer.
Aaaah...Explorers. My favorite kind of kids! Have you ever read; The Last Child in the Woods.
It's pretty interesting. It's about how many children now don't get enough nature. I'm glad you let them wander:)
Glorious! You never know what you're going to find and it may not be there next time. Have fun!
Those boys look like they love each other sooo!
"Let there be wild things yet!"
what a cool site. A real visual feast!
ive found looking through your site really inspiring... makes me want to get creative visually again (my main creative outlets in the last few years have been parenting & writing and design/art stuff has been forgotten).
Ill definitely be coming back, so thanks!
Tag you're it! Wanna play?
www.yarrowofwitchwood.blogspot.com
That photo of your boys hugging is so sweet. You made me want to take my kids on a walk in the woods today...looks like fun!
Sweet pics! They must have such an amazing energy.
We've being experiencing the same thing! Dea coaches pee-wee soccer and the first time we went, Lo played on the playground but the 2nd time she discovered the woods on the other side of the school! There are paths all through the trees and we spent most of the time exploring. I was thrilled!
I shudder to think of all the kids sitting at home glued to the tv or computer all summer. This is our next generation and future.
Yup. Last Child in the Woods should be on the must read book list for all parents!
What a nice area you live in to be able to take these walks and wanderings.
It looks like they are having so much fun....much more fun than they'd have at a park.
There's a great book on this very subject, "Last Child in the Woods", that I love.
playgrounds are great, but nothing beats the great big wild outdoors. Such fun pictures!
Beautiful post!
Even at 12 Zoe still loves to go frogging (aka wandering in the woods)...looking for tadpoles, frogs, turtles, bones, feathers, wildflowers, and snakes. I end up re- netting her butterfly net several times each summer.
beautiful photos. my boys rarely ask to go to the playground anymore and when we do end up there they immediately head for the most weedy, overgrown areas and begin searching for insects.
when we ask the mwhat they'd like to do for the day or afternoon it's always a unanimous "nature study, please!"
Oh, I'm so happy to hear it!
Lovely photos....
I love all that green!......
they are so sweet! these pictures really show the energy and happiness you shared on that day
I have this theory that wandering is particularly good for the soul. We do it daily and rarely end up where we expected.
Ah, I love Spring.
I love to see kids running through fields, always reminds me of little lion cubs romping and rolling around. Such a natural environment for kids. Your photos are fantastic!
I love this post. I have been craving time in the woods with my kids but am hesitant to go anywhere too remote by myself with them. Do you have any good suggestions? :)
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