High Maintenance Mom

The theme for this year's Earth Science Week is "No Child Left Inside." If you've read Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder, or read about it, then you might be looking for more ways to incorporate unstructured time outside. The USGS, one of the Earth Science Week (ESW) sponsors, has a web site with links to outdoor parks and activities around the country. Even if there isn't an activity listed for your area, it doesn't take too much effort to help your child connect with nature. Start with a walk at your child's pace. You may only get to the end of the block but your child will appreciate the time you spend looking at the things that interest them. I find ants much more interesting through my kids' eyes. They, my kids - not the ants, love to watch water run down a drain, look for the biggest acorn, or investigate any type of bug.

There are also lots of Earth Science activities at the American Geological Institute Site including links to the National Park Service Junior Web Rangers. The National Parks sites have great pictures and are fun for virtual trips around the country.

The USGS Menlo Park Science Center had about 1100 school kids visit today for ESW and the web site lists the exhibits along with web links for background information. One of their new activities is a plate tectonics puzzle. Although it's geared towards sixth graders, younger kids can (with help) color the fossil bands and play with matching the colors on the different plates. Our first grader enjoys the puzzle because he likes anything to do with dinosaurs and prehistoric animals. Our preschooler is not yet interested but I've seen other four year-olds play with it. Which reminds me that we used to cut up cereal and toy boxes to make simple puzzles for the kids. It's not exactly an outside activity, but puzzles are a great child development tool.