How can parents help children lead happier, healthier, more rewarding lives?

 Back to Nature, early childhood, eco parenting, ecology, education, environment, envrionmental issues, for parents, healthy food, news, parenting, sustainability  No Responses »
Jul 142012
 

Eco parenting helps children lead happier, healthier, more rewarding lives

What can we do to help children realise their full potential?  I believe we need to develop the capacity for joy which is the fundamental right of every human being – of every child.  ‘Eco parenting – growing greener children‘ is about enhancing that capacity for joy.

By following seven simple eco parenting principles

  • Increasing connection with nature and using natural materials
  • Consuming of seasonal local and organic whole food
  • Minimising use of technology
  • Engaging in regular exercise
  • Practicing mindfulness – meditation, yoga, chi gung
  • Building and connecting community
  • Caring for country – reducing our ecological impact

parents can help their children lead happier, healthier, more rewarding lives.

It is all about simplicity.

“Simplicity in the outer life is beautiful. In the inner life simplicity is invincible”         ~        Sri Chinmoy, Indian Poet

In Western civilization we have replaced simplicity with complexity and in turn lost touch with the simplicity of our inner life, our invincibility.

We have a deep responsibility to respect and honour our relationships – to ourselves, our families, our community and our environment – our country.   It is with this in mind that I wrote ‘growing greener children’ as a result of my seven years working in communities across Australia. I saw a phenomenal change in the well being of children and parents when eco parenting principles were introduced.

Introducing and changing diet and environment based on natural, organic, chemical free principles were the two of the first changes that were introduced.  Simple, hand made natural toys filled the children’s playroom.  The children and parents made their own bread from organic wholemeal flour and fresh salad from the community garden adorned the lunch table.  A sense of joy pervaded the room.

These are simple changes that every family can make to help their children lead happier, more rewarding lives.  As Paramahansa Yogananda said, “Be as simple as you can be; you will be astonished to see how uncomplicated and happy your life can become.”

Jane Hanckel
Author – Eco parenting – growing greener children

Eco parenting is currently developing an innovative, engaging and interactive 3D ‘look inside the human body’. This 3D pilot will demonstrate a child’s wellbeing and the links to diet, lifestyle and environment. If you would like to support this project and receive a one on one consultation with Jane Hanckel and a signed copy of her book then please click here.

 

Back to nature – forest kindergartens

 Back to Nature, eco parenting, ecology, education, environment, for parents, news, parenting  No Responses »
Nov 212011
 

Forest kindergartens

There is growing evidence about how access to green outdoor spaces helps to develop children’s cognitive ability, foster creative play and relieve symptoms of attention deficit disorder.

In Germany, there are 700 groups of children aged between 3 to 6 years old who spend their days in the woods singing songs, building fires and playing in the mud.  These are called ‘Forest Kindergartens’ or ‘Waldkindergärten’  in which children spend their days outdoors year-round. (1)

The number of German children attending forest kindergartens is increasing.  Local parent groups began setting up ’forest kindergarten’ programs in the mid-1990s, following similar programs in Denmark and other countries.

In Australia, the Inspir=Ed Spirit of Childhood programs use the principles of connecting children with nature as an integral part of the play and learning environments. Many parents select Steiner Waldorf kindergartens which have natural settings in which the children can play and learn.

In the U.S. a private Waldorf School in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., opened a forest kindergarten requiring students to spend three hours outdoors each day. A teacher at the school observed the benefits of outdoor learning….”students’ improved motor skill development, they worked out their social issues in a better way and they had more imaginative play”. (2) Another U.S. program. The Mother Earth kindergarten, opened in Portland, Oregon last year to combat “early academic fatigue syndrome”.  Marsha Johnson who launched the kindergarten said “We have 5-year-olds who are tired of going to school.”  The children spend four hours a day at the privately run school playing in a state park forest.

Research reported in May 2008 showed that U.S. many children in day care programs were not playing outdoors.  Richard Louv, in ‘Last Child Left in the Woods’  reflects how children have been shepherded indoors at the expense of their wellbeing.

‘eco parenting – growing greener children’  is an excellent book that provides evidence based research on why going back to nature is good for children.

1. Mike Esterl, ‘German Tots Learn to Answer Call of Nature’  Wall Street Journal,  http://on.wsj.com/v6VI8y

2. Sarah Amandolare, ‘US Schools Realizing Benefits of Forest Kindergartens’  http://bit.ly/u9fOPs

 

 

“We packed away all the plastic” – Delta Kay at eco parenting book launch, Byron Bay

 Aboriginal, early childhood, eco parenting, ecology, education, environment, envrionmental issues, for parents, healthy food, news, parenting  1 Response »
Sep 062011
 

 

Delta Kay, Byron Bay Arakwal spokesperson, works as a Aboriginal Family Support Worker with the Bunjum Aboriginal Cooperative in Northern NSW, Australia. She describes the phenomenal change in the behaviour of children when all the plastics were removed from playgroup and replaced with natural wooden toys and other natural materials at the launch of the eco parenting book series in Byron Bay in August, 2011.

“We packed away all the plastic and brought out all the wood and everything changed. Their children’s behaviour changed and I watched how the parents changed. Parents couldn’t believe their children’s behaviour by putting plastic away.”

In 2009 the Bunjum Aboriginal Cooperative, Ballina, Northern NSW, invited Jane Hanckel and the Inspir=Ed project to run a nine week parent education program along with a professional development program for Aboriginal health and early childhood professionals.  Following a makeover of the playgroup room which involved throwing out old toys and equipment, painting the playgroup room a soft calming light pink and packing away all the plastic the parents and children were welcomed by the quite calming environment.  Over the nine weeks parents and children learnt new parenting skills in a warm and supportive environment.  As Delta describes, the changes in the behaviour of the children and parents was extraordinary.  From running around and climbing the walls the children played happily and cooperatively with each other.  The children and parents learnt new songs and foods to eat creating a stronger sense of connection to each other and the community.

The work with Delta, Bunjum and other communities was one of the inspirations for Jane to write ‘eco parenting – growing greeener children’.  “I witnessed at Bunjum and other communities how by simply changing the environment by removing plastics and creating calm and nurturing spaces the relationship and behaviour of children and parents change.  In a world where children are increasingly being medicated for dysfunctional behaviour, it is so important to look at the environments along with diet and lifestyle, before resorting to medical intervention.”

Jane Hanckel and Thanh Cherry, international Steiner Waldorf early childhood educator, run training workshops for health and early childhood professionals.  Jane co-founded the Spirit of Childhood Foundation to run Inspir=Ed programs in communities across Australia.