“To climb a tree is for a child to discover a new world” ~Friedrich Froebel
I am constantly looking for different ways I can explore nature to strengthen my own ecological identity. One way I had never explored nature before is through climbing trees.
Most children climb trees in their school-age years and if the trees are accessible and sturdy, climbing trees allows children to strengthen and exercise their muscles, improve their coordination, engage in risky play and learn to recognize hazards. I decided to take on the challenge of climbing trees in my adult years and test my strength and coordination.
I imagine climbing a tree is much harder as an adult than in childhood. I noticed I do not have the flexibility I used to have that would help me to easily move from one branch to the next. Accomplishing this task of climbing a tree filled my self-esteem and I was proud to have made it up into the tree. If children experience this type of pride when they accomplish new skills, it should always be encouraged to support autonomy and positive self-esteem which can be lost as children grow.
Sitting in a tree for several moments was a new vantage point I had never experienced before. Just being two or three feet higher changed my perspective on an area I have always known. From a higher position, I had new sights to experience, and new sensations to discover. I was able to look through all the bare trees to the end of the neighbourhood and feel wind travel right down the street without being cut or obscured by objects or buildings. I never thought elevating my position would allow for such new experiences to see and feel nature.
Climbing a tree allowed me to experience nature in a new way. To see the tops of trees and have leaves falling around me was an experience like no other. I have a deeper understanding of the world and a stronger ecological identity after climbing a tree and sitting in nature from a new position.
Although tree climbing has its risks, it also has many benefits to it. Successfully accumulating new skills such as muscle coordination and balance contribute to children’s self-view and mental health. Educators may wish to attempt climbing trees themselves to understand the risk it involves but also, the beauty one can experience and the challenge it provides. Tree climbing is an individual opportunity for children to test and learn their limits and connect with nature in a new and different way.
Try sitting in nature from a new vantage point and explore how it changes your relationship with the environment. Connect with nature from this vantage point and strengthen your personal ecological identity by exploring the beauty of nature.
For more information about tree climbing consult Benefits and Risks of Tree Climbing on Children’s Development and Resiliency by Carla Gull, Suzanne Levenson Goldstein, and Tricia Rosengarten who explore the effects of risky play on children’s well-being.
Miss Izabel - Educator, Advocate, and Learner 