A Wild + Free Childhood
On any given Friday morning, if you hike a certain loop at Phil Hardberger Park, you might encounter a rather wild scene. Around forty children - from teens all the way down to toddlers - play together in the trees. They have constructed an entire society. There are kids running around as "secret spies," an elected leader, and houses built with downed branches. Kids are reading in the crook of a live oak branch, playing with cornhusk dolls, building a pretend fire to ‘cook’ over, or engaging in stick-sword fights. Miraculously, aside from a few prickers lodged into the hands of one or two kids, no one gets hurt. They play like this for hours as the sun filters through the treetops.
There is no agenda for this meet-up. No curriculum is being followed; there are no parent-led activities. The only thing we do is show up, spread a blanket out, provide the snacks and water, and let the magical natural space do the rest.
Our little group is called “Wild + Free San Antonio Adventure Club” and we are part of a movement started by a mom, inspired perhaps by Thoreau, who was trying to do something simple yet revolutionary for her kids. Let them be and let them be outside. What started out as an inspiring Instagram account turned into a community and movement of mothers all over the world, with preserving the wonder of childhood in the natural world as their goal.
This might not seem so revolutionary, but when one considers that the average American child spends 4 to 7 minutes in unstructured outdoor play (Child Mind Institute), this might be one of the greatest gifts we give to our children. Time outside is critical for children’s physical development, mental health, and social/emotional wellness. It is essential to keeping their sense of wonder and curiosity alive. Citing sources for this would be exhausting, so if you’re looking for more information check out The Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv, Free to Learn by Peter Gray, Outdoor Kids in an Inside World by Steven Rinella, Reset Your Child’s Brain by Victoria L. Dunckleyand, or 1000 Hours Outside by Ginny Yurich.
So, what can we do as parents in this ever-connected/online world to ensure we are preserving this part of childhood for our kids? For these San Antonio moms, our Wild + Free Fridays in the woods are just a part of a lifestyle that places value on time outside and letting childhood stretch as long as a summer day. Homeschooling allows us a lot of freedom and flexibility in this endeavor, but this lifestyle is not exclusive to homeschooling families. What makes our journey so enjoyable is the people we share it with. Do you have some adventurous buddies you could invite for an afternoon romp in the woods? Or are you up for a challenge this year? Why not track your time outside as a family and see how many hours you can spend outside? We hope to see you out there!
By Kimberly Somarriba & MaryJean Martinez