Are You Suffering the Negative Effects of Experience Extinction?
Connecting with nature is essential for our well being
One positive consequence of COVID-19 is it got people out in nature. When soft plays, cafes, shops, gyms, and pubs were forced to close, the masses turned to parks, beaches, and woodlands.
At the height of COVID-19, a friend joined me for a socially distanced walk in our local woods. She brought her toddler along. He was mesmerised by all the different sights, smells, and sounds. And despite the woods being a small hop, skip, and a jump away from his home, he had never played here. Instead, my friend spent her days in soft play areas.
I understand this; she herself was not encouraged into the outdoors as a child. And these sorts of habits are repeated throughout the generations.
I have wonderful memories of playing in the woods beside my childhood home. We could make as much noise as we wanted without disturbing anyone. We searched streams for tadpoles and followed the trails of weird and wonderful insects, which we later identified from a book. Sur…