How to Raise a Wild Child: The Art and Science of Falling in Love with Nature Paperback – June 21, 2016

With almost 300 footnotes, a 14-page bibliography, and an extensive index, you might mistakenly think you’re getting a dry academic tome with little in the way of practical information. But in fact, those scholarly aspects reveal the strong foundation underlying this well-thought-out practical guide to helping parents, teachers, and others be nature mentors.The book begins with two chapters that describe the problem of disconnection from nature, and highlight the importance of connection to place. While some readers will want to skip ahead to the more hands-on chapters that follow (and this is an invitation from the author himself in his introduction), I found the early chapters thought-provoking and important for appreciating the larger context of the book.The remainder of the book approaches many facets of fostering nature connection, and includes a diversity of short nature mentoring tips, more in-depth discussions of key challenges and solutions, and substantive anecdotes (including many involving the author and his daughter.)Some topics that stand out as being particularly well-addressed: the balance between protecting nature versus promoting exploration and hands-on play and creativity in nature; the importance of “people connection” in concert with “nature connection;” the role of nature play, and creativity in and with nature; how mentors can lead by example by strengthening their own connection with nature; how developmental stages of childhood invite different approaches to nature connection; and how technology can be used as a tool, rather than having to be an obstacle to connecting with nature.I highly recommend this book, for newcomers to the field of nature connection who are looking for practical techniques, as well as for people already well-versed in the topic who will enjoy an in-depth treatment of some of the challenges as well as emerging solutions and research underpinnings.

How to Raise a Wild Child is more than just a "how-to" book. It's a way of life we must ALL subscribe to. Children aren't the only ones who benefit from nature connection, and the author points that out.This book gives you tips for raising a wild child in every stage (early childhood, middle childhood, and the teen years), ideas of what to do outdoors, and ways to "rewild" our backyards, schools and parks (spoiler alert: by planting some native plants).I recommend ALL parents read this book. If we hope to leave a better planet for our children and grandchildren, we must model and encourage a love of nature - biophilia - in our children. That's the only way I can see our climate crisis ever getting better. And while you're at it, you can also read Rachel Carson's "The Sense of Wonder" and David W. Orr's "Earth in Mind" to further your reading. Both great books!

What a great book! The author is an expert at communicating his love of nature directly to kids via TV. But in this book he communicates directly with parents (& any other interested parties)--folks who already suspect that sanitized, supervised, "safe" indoor life isn't really a good gift to give a child. Besides reinforcing the motivation of a loving parent to instill a child's increasingly independent interest in the great out-of-doors, Sampson offers practical suggestions for approaching youngsters of various ages--preschoolers, elementary school students, & adolescents. This is both a "why-to" & "how-to" book! And for me, it reminded me of my own wondrous childhood adventures & of the contrast to what my daughter has experienced. Mindfully raising a child to appreciate what is "wild" is wiser than having to tame a child who is wild because his natural curiosity about nature has been thwarted!

This book is absolutely amazing and a life changer for me. It's not just another book about how important nature is to your children, but a book that also guides you, the adult into becoming a nature mentor for your child. I'm about halfway done, but so far I am loving the easy and simple suggestions on how to get more hands on in nature with my daughter. Since reading this book my daughter has spotted two owls on a tree near our yard, and we both now pay close attention to the birds around us. Things in nature I took for granted before such as birds singing, I am now paying attention to but more importantly, so is my daughter. This should be required reading for every adult with kids.

As I am working on incorporating more outdoors & nature time into our family lifes, at first I simply borrowed the audiobook from my local library. Soon enough I realized this is a must have and bought the hard copy.If you want to get the kids off the electronics, this is a great start! this is my main goal!You will have the knowledge to enrich your interactions and experiences outdoors and raise connected sentient beings.Great for educators and parents alike!I wish I had this information when my kids were younger!!!

I greatly enjoyed this book. I always knew getting kids playing was important, but this book really drove home the aspect of getting them outside to do so. It also gives great ideas on how to get kids out no matter what the age range, and things you can do to get them really develop a connection with nature and get them thinking.

A lot of practical ideas about instilling a deep nature connection in yourself and your kids. Should be considered more as an introductory read with lot of references and pointers to other more comprehensive works

Not only is this a great book to glean tips on raising a "wild" child it's great for just learning to raise a child that's independent. Step back and let them adventure. Get them outside encourage and stay out of the way.I started using some of these tips right away, like identifying trees when a hike gets boring. Pulled my 5 year old right gut back in to the hike.

Really enjoyed reading this book. It’s full of so much knowledge and many facts, some being quite shocking to be honest! I would recommend anyone in a childcare profession or parents, grandparents to give this book a read.

this is a great book from an important voice in the children and nature movement. Inspiring and hopeful'

I did enjoy the book, he is an interesting person hands down. A lot of what he has written is common sense, to me at least. So this book willBe helpful if you were not raised with any kind of outdoor adventures.

cheap, poorly done. do notrecommend.