 The Gift of Hope Okay, so the weather this year summer has been a bit atypical, to say the least. Unfortunately, scientists predict the droughts, extreme heat domes and the fires will continue to dog our summers due to the changes in our climate. Over at Nonna's Thoughts - a Brave Parent - I shared with you the idea that hope is one of the two most important gifts we can give to our children. Durable hope is the foundation to living well in that future world. One way we can give this gift to children is to teach them how to see the world around them -- to trust their own eyes and observations - which leads to developing creative problem solving skills. Why is this important, you might ask. My grandchildren -- the same ages as your children -- will be the ones who must contend with the severe repercussions of climate change for their entire lives: a life of first-hand observations about the earth can lead Little Guy or Noodle to find thoughtful, wise ways to heal our planet. Challenge: Too Much of a Good ThingThere are so many ways to help children develop their observation skills while sharing with them about our beautiful Mother Earth that selecting books for this month's guide has been a challenge -- which ones are the best, most useful, and reflect a wide sphere of naturalists all in one month!? Remarkable & UsefulThe easy choices are those books which are truly remarkable for children to use as nature reference materials, as well as books for parents to use to help children learn how to record -- journal -- their observations.               NaturalistsNaturalists observe relationships in the natural world. As such, each one is also a reflection of her time in history, as well as her own culture. A survey of naturalists is beyond the interest of most young children, but these books about a small group of Naturalists should whet children's appetite for more. There are even books which include some hands-on activities for the more adventurous child -- and grown-ups!        NonnaComments are closed.
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