The Power of Nature to Heal

03/26/2007

There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrain of nature — the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after the winter.
Rachel Carson

In the Exchange Out of the Box Training Kit, "The Power of Nature to Help Children Heal," built around the Exchange article by the same name, Vicki Bohling-Philippi opens with the above quote and then offers strategies for helping children develop a sense of themselves as nurturers:

Helping a child who is angry or hurting focuses some of that negative energy on positive activities like caring for flowers, trees, or worms can be a truly restorative experience. A few techniques to try include:

Designate children as “tree doctors” with responsibilities for monitoring mulch, moisture, and bark health. This can help them feel a sense of responsibility for the world around them.
Creating a “worm bin” from a large aluminum tank is another way children can turn potential reluctance into an appreciation for the work done by the tiniest of creatures. Fill the worm bin with dirt and worms and put either indoors or outdoors, depending on the season and climate. Give children a chance to look gently through the dirt and carefully hold worms to “check on them.” It is amazing how children who have recently been engaged in angry “lashing out” behaviors can calm down and refocus when they go to the worm bin. If adults call attention to children’s nurturing behavior, children learn to see themselves as nurturers. For some children, this new definition of self as nurturer is crucial in helping them cope with difficult situations in their lives.
Simple children’s gardens help children develop skill and knowledge as they participate in every process from planting to harvesting. They come to understand that the food they eat and the flowers they enjoy are a result of care and diligence. Children’s gardens can be planted indoors or out, in containers or in the ground. The size of the project is not as important as the time invested in watching the garden unfold.

Read the entire Exchange article, "The Power of Nature to Help Children Heal".

The online version of the Out of the Box Training Kit by the same name is on sale at a 20% discount, along with all 60 Out of the Box Kits.

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