The post When is my child ready to walk to school alone? first appeared on Earth Rangers.

The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, like many epic narratives, features a strong sense of good and evil. Saruman, who cuts down trees and rips open the earth to build his army for world domination, is one of the story’s main antagonists. As for Mordor, it’s a wasteland of decay and destruction. The power and hope to mitigate this darkness was found in the Elves, the Ents and, of course, the Hobbits. Academics argue these characters represent Tolkien’s deeply held belief that we should honour our connection to the planet. The Elves were stewards of the forest. The Hobbits burrowed into the earth to build their homes and were fiercely protective of their beloved Shire.  It’s widely reported Tolkien abhorred England’s industrial growth in the early 19-hundreds. He was quoted as saying; “The tragedy and despair of all machinery laid bare is the modern attempt to enhance our control over the world around us, regardless of the consequences.” Saruman is described by the author as a wizard with a mind for metal and wheels who doesn’t care for growing things, except as they served him in the moment. Mordor is well-known for representing what Tolkien viewed as the black engines of machinery and factories.

It would be easy to talk about these themes with young readers. I wish I made the point of connecting the dots for my kids about Tolkien’s powerful environmental message. I had an invested audience! They already loved the story so there was an opportunity to simply point out a few examples of Tolkien’s worldview.  While hiking in my local forest, when the light breaks through the canopy in a certain way, it can remind me of Fangorn Forest. Or at least how I picture this magical place where the Ents live. This would be another great opportunity to share observations out loud with the kids. Making real world connections with a favourite book can be incredibly meaningful when parents share their love of a story with something in their surroundings. 

As for Tolkien’s enduring environmental message; with his recent surge in popularity, there’s a chance a whole new generation will connect with his vision and remind us all that “the precious” can be planet Earth.

The post Take a deep-dive into Fangorn Forest and feel the eco-magic first appeared on Earth Rangers.

After a two-year hiatus, Earth Ranger’s school assembly program is returning and we couldn’t be more thrilled. Our presenters and animal ambassadors will be in person and in front of thousands of children across the country this fall.

Like many others, we needed to get creative when the pandemic first hit and challenged ourselves to find innovative ways to connect with kids.  And guess what happened?  We created something new that was an instant hit. Our virtual school shows allowed us to engage with students and educators from coast to coast in hundreds of communities.

The good news is, now there are two options. Our school assembly program has always been a fundamental part of what we do here at Earth Rangers.  Whether it’s in person or online, our shows teach kids about the environmental issues facing our planet while empowering them to take action.  And trust us when we say, when Linus the hawk flies across the gym or when Shelley, the midland painted turtle moves in for her close up, it makes an impact!

The post We’re back on tour! first appeared on Earth Rangers.

It’s been months in the making and now it’s ready! We’ve built a new portal called Homeroom. It’s packed full of resources designed just for educators.  This website is a one stop shop for science based curriculum materials, lesson plans and classroom inspiration.

“We highly value our partnership with teachers across the country. We wanted to build something that would help make it easier to access engaging science focused content”, said Tovah Barocas, President of Earth Rangers. “We know how busy educators are so we were mindful in our design to make it user friendly.”

The site also features our NEW eco-anxiety course. Earth Rangers has been at the forefront of the growing issue of eco-anxiety in children.  After conducting extensive research in this area, we created an eco-anxiety guide to support parents as they navigate challenging conversations with their children about the future of the planet. We have now designed a course for teachers full of best practices to assist in addressing eco-anxiety in their students.  Our goal is to help teachers tap into children’s realistic optimism about the future and empower them to take action. 

The post Hello teachers, we have something just for you. first appeared on Earth Rangers.

Enter Sound Carrot. Tristan Welch and his 10-year-old daughter Maya, are podcast enthusiasts. Picture a typical busy home with podcasts playing in the background – almost like a family soundtrack. Maya is a science lover and avid reader with an insatiable curiosity. When it comes to podcasts, she can’t get enough of them. Tristan soon realized the massive amount of choice wasn’t just a problem for older listeners. “Some of the podcasts geared for kids weren’t very good and more importantly, not age appropriate,” said Tristan. “It was starting to dampen Maya’s interest so I began curating a list of some of the best of the best.” With a background in digital production, Tristan set about creating a website that would act as a portal for awesome kids’ podcasts. The initial intent was to make it easy for Maya to quickly find great things to listen to but Tristan soon realized many others could benefit from a curated kids’ podcast catalog. The website recently went live and continues to grow. The list of handpicked podcasts now features more than 200 titles. “One of our favourites is Earth Ranger Emma,” said Tristan. “I love that Maya sees women portrayed in science and it’s incredibly well done!” Earth Rangers The Big Melt is also on the list.

Sound Carrot is built for parents and kids but teachers are also included. Podcast creators are also encouraged to reach out and connect. With so much to choose from, what would make a podcast stand out for this discerning team? They have to pass the “dad test” and Maya has to give them the thumbs up. “We look for a spark,” Tristan explained. “Great storytelling doesn’t need to have slick production values,” Tristan insists. “We’ve found a wide variety of styles and a ton of material created by kids themselves.” This passionate podcaster also feels there’s something unique about listening to a show together as a family. “You can interact with the story and talk to each other about what you’re hearing. It’s also great for toothbrush time.” What about the name Sound Carrot? “Maya came up with it.” Tristan said. “It just sort of worked!”

Find more about Sound Carrot by visiting the website: Sound Carrot: The best kids podcasts You can also find loads of great podcasts for youth here: Home – Gen-Z Media (gzmshows.com)

The post Podcasts with a seal of approval first appeared on Earth Rangers.

Equipping parents with information, resources and thoughtful content is a priority for us here at Earth Rangers.  We are thrilled to be launching a new feature.  Our parenting blogger, Karen Horsman, is the former national parenting columnist for CBC radio. For more than a decade, she interviewed experts from around the world, seeking insight and advice to help support parents on their journey.

Karen is looking forward to continuing her mission to connect parents with meaningful content through a story telling lens. From how to nurture independence to embracing the great outdoors, you’ll find a wide variety of topics in her blog posts. Happy reading!

The post NEW parenting blog first appeared on Earth Rangers.

He always looked a bit sheepish as he asked if he could sit and watch sports with me for a while. My answer was usually, “20 minutes and then back to bed.” It was during Monday night football; he saw a public service announcement appealing for donations to build more wells in Africa. He turned to me and said, “Those kids don’t have clean water to drink? That doesn’t seem right.” He then asked a few rapid fire questions. In the moment, I did my best to explain global environmental challenges in an age appropriate way. He looked thoughtful, and we went back to watching the game. I didn’t realize it at the time but, a small seed was planted that night that grew into a keen interest in environmental issues. 

As I watched my son’s passion grow over the years, I wish I knew at the time about the myriad of rewarding careers in the environmental sector. When I saw him gravitate towards climate change and social justice issues, I thought of professions such as a policy advisor, politician or working with a non-governmental organization (NGO). These are wonderful fields, of course, but there are SO many other options that exist. There are degrees in water conservation technology, environmental health, hydrology and conservation science. There’s also drinking water treatment operators, hazardous waste inspectors, sustainability analysts, field epidemiologists, public health officers and the list goes on!

For my son it was clean water, but for many kids, it’s the love of animals that ignites their curiosity and engagement. More often than not, the suggestion for a career working with animals is a veterinarian but again, there is a long list of other exciting options as well. For example, there’s conservation biologists, wildlife rehabilitators, animal nutritionists, animal-assisted therapists, animal researcher and more!

So how do you connect the dots between a child’s passion and possible career options? You can point them in the direction of interesting stories like Leah Pengelly. She’s a biology master’s student conducting research for the University of Manitoba on the impact of noise from shipping traffic on Narwhals in the North. She filmed a behind the scenes video just for Earth Rangers! 

Another encouraging development is the growing emphasis on connecting careers with science curricula in elementary schools. It’s becoming a more common teacher prompt during a science class to ask students, “What kind of job do you think would allow you to work with plants, animals, climate change etc?” 

When it comes to our kids, it’s always important to remind ourselves, it’s their choice about what interests them. The goal is to find ways to tap into a child’s passion without pressure. My son grew into a teenager that became focused on a lot of other things! His connection to the environment fell lower on his priority list but landing on a career path can be a long and twisty road. He did graduate as an engineer this year. His first job is working on electric cars.

The post Is there a career in that? first appeared on Earth Rangers.

We’ve been hearing a lot about the benefits of connecting with nature these last couple of years. There have been countless news reports suggesting stepping away from our computers and getting some fresh air helps with our mental health. A massive review by Pediatrics found this is also true for children. And just in case anyone wasn’t quite sure, the researchers looked at a whopping 269 studies that all came to a similar conclusion:

Access to greenspaces, nature and parks helped improve children’s overall wellbeing. The review found that in an ideal world, these spaces would be near a child’s home or school.

Researchers also suggested that not all outdoor time is equal. They concluded connecting with nature in a meaningful way was more beneficial than simply running around a parking lot. This is where that pretty strong bias I mentioned earlier comes in. I believe any kind of outdoor time is extremely valuable. Getting a lung full of fresh air and feeling the sun on their face can do a child a world of good. The emphasis on a meaningful connection with nature makes sense, but a more holistic approach could be another way of helping kids feel the benefits of connecting with the outdoors. Let’s look at a range of options:

• Modeling: Let the kids know you personally love being outside or at least that you’re trying to get out more. Whether it’s for a mini-break on the balcony or a bike ride, share how it makes you feel to be outdoors. If you have a few stories from your childhood about things like capture the flag or fort building you can share, all the better. Kids LOVE hearing about when their parents were young!
• Get out there: You may have to hop in the car or take the bus for this one, but hit a hiking trail nearby and focus on the sights, sounds and smells all around you. It’s amazing how often we forget just to listen or take a big breath. Talk to the kids about what you’re experiencing as you explore nature. 
• Write or draw: Want to take it up a notch? No need to go far. Why not get the kids to write something about what they see outside or take the crayons to the park to draw a picture? Sidewalk chalk can also be a ton of fun.
• No pressure air time: Just open the front door and walk outside. Take a breath, hang out on the driveway or sidewalk. Throw a ball around or open a lawn chair. You simply can’t go wrong!

It’s immensely encouraging to read so many stories talking about the benefits of nature for children’s mental health. There’s value in big and small connections with the outdoors.

As it turns out, I didn’t end up becoming a forest ranger after all. I’ve spent many years tapping away on a computer instead but I spend every spare moment I have in the great outdoors. Nature trails and exploring are a fundamental part of my parenting and so is the driveway lawn chair.

The post It’s not Magic, it’s the Great Outdoors first appeared on Earth Rangers.

As I dropped off my teenager for her summer camp job, I witnessed Sebastian’s struggle firsthand. Introducing a new skill to a child can be exhilarating or exasperating – often it’s a mix of both. Parents often find themselves in the instructor role as they navigate through the many stages of childhood development. So what to do when a child shows little interest in trying something new?  

A common technique is a reward system. Motivating children with external validation has always been a popular go-to for parents and instructors – think sticker charts and popcorn parties. There’s a good reason for this – it works! From potty training to completing homework, rewards and praise can be effective ways to get children to focus and stay committed to a task. 

But experts like Alfie Kohn feel parents are going too far. He argues there’s a risk we’re raising a generation of praise junkies. Other experts have chimed in saying the goal should be to encourage children to tap into their intrinsic desire to try something new because that’s how learning works. It’s faster to offer children praise and rewards but nurturing an interest to simply “give it a go and see what happens” is said to be more beneficial in the long run. 

There’s no doubt, when kids feel successful and capable, they want to do more. The challenge is to get them to start in the first place and push through when the going gets tough. So what if you’re looking to skip the sticker chart and reign in the praise? Here are four suggestions by Richard Lovie, the author of the Motivation Breakthrough:

• Show Encouragement: There’s nothing like a “you got this” to start the ball rolling. The child may profoundly disagree but setting a confident tone can do wonders. You may want to make it clear “we’re all going to try this bike riding thing” but adding “I can see you taking off like a superhero” could inject a little fun. 
• Display Interest: Asking a few simple questions can make the child feel heard. “What do you think makes the wheels go round and round?” or “What are some ways you like to go fast?” can get a conversation started.
• Offer Gratitude: It may not be intuitive to say thank you in these situations but after they make a small attempt like sitting on their bike for example, you can say “Thanks so much for making that effort. It made me feel like I’m helping you learn.”
• Express Enthusiasm: This one comes naturally to a lot of us. “Nice job!” is easy but getting more specific like “I loved the way you gave this a shot. It’s so thrilling to see you try something new.” 

Offering to go for ice cream after a big victory is always on the table. It’s just keeping in mind how often we’re relying on the quick and fun rewards. Building a sense of confidence and ability is a long, slow build but there is huge pay-off in the end. Bike riding for example, is one of the best ways to stay active and enjoy being outdoors. Sebastian has a future full of exploring ahead of him. After a few sniffles, he managed to regroup and pictured himself soaring through the sky with his imaginary cape flowing behind him. He wobbled through the obstacle course with a smile a mile wide and promptly declared, “I did it, all by myself!”.

The post Motivating your child without the gold star first appeared on Earth Rangers.

I’ve had enough lessons over the years raising three children to know how closely kids watch a parent’s reaction to pretty well everything. They may look distracted when you’re fuming in a long line-up or processing some difficult news, but chances are, they’re tucking away that memory in a long list of daily observations. 

Now, you’d be excused if that sounds like a lot of pressure. It’s hard to be scrutinized on most days, never mind when you’re not having your best moment. And of course, as parents, we want to raise happy and emotionally healthy children. Many of us would rather our kids see us with our act together and keep the vulnerability behind closed doors. Problem is, it’s not always a realistic plan.

The good news here is this works both ways! Our children are also watching when we recycle, ask questions about climate change, volunteer our time or share a kind word with a neighbour. 

Parent research shows modelling is an effective way to influence child behaviour and life choices. For example, it’s believed the majority of students attending post-secondary had at least one parent who also pursued academics after high school. The same goes for eco-friendly habits. If a parent is an avid composter and let’s say, a fan of green energy, it can impact a child’s worldview. 

There’s also an opportunity to tap into the power of modelling when things go wrong. So what to do when you’re grappling with an issue in real time with eyes on you? 

• A quick smile or a hug with “I’m a little rattled at the moment but I’ve got this and I’m working on a few things here. It’s not about you and I’ll be sure to ask for help if I need it.”
• If you make a mistake and maybe lose your cool, try a do-over. “Hey, I think I could have handled that better. I’d like to try a “do-over” and see if I can take another shot at this.”
• Getting some space can do wonders. It’s not always possible but even saying “I’m going to take a moment to regroup. I’ll be right back,” can be a good place to start.

Parenting is all about practice. Life is full of curveballs and we can’t hide them all from our children. Sharing vulnerability with as much confidence as we can muster goes a long way in teaching our kids it’s okay to thrive and stumble. Whether you suggest cleaning up the local park as a family or asking for a quick “do-over” when you make a parent misstep, both are opportunities to model an authentic effort at trying our best.

The post They’re always watching – the power of modelling. first appeared on Earth Rangers.