“Look, Mom! It’s a snake!” exclaimed Ryan, his voice bubbling with excitement as he clutched the wriggling creature in his hands, dirt clinging to its slimy body.
“No, sweetheart, that’s just a worm,” I replied, barely glancing up from my laptop.
“No, it’s a worm snake!” he insisted, delighted. Apparently, “worm snakes” are real, and my 7-year-old had unearthed one while exploring our backyard.
This scenario is a common occurrence in our household. Whenever my children venture outdoors, they are on a mission to capture small creatures, particularly those that slither or crawl. No anole is safe from their enthusiastic pursuits. They’ve even given names to the local inhabitants: the large black one that perches on the trash can, and its smaller, feisty rival. There’s also the striped skink residing beneath the porch column and the massive brown skink that seems to have emerged from a nightmare, now hiding under a pile of timber. While some may view this as a bit wild, I wholeheartedly support their curiosity by providing nets and temporary habitats for their discoveries.
Children require connections to nature, and this includes engaging with all its aspects—the squirmy, the slow, and the lively. In their book, Children and Nature: Psychological, Sociocultural, and Evolutionary Investigations, Peter Kahn Jr. and Stephen Kellert emphasize that the natural world was once the primary environment for children before they matured. Their research highlights how interactions with animals enhance children’s appreciation for the natural world. Richard Louv, in his influential work Last Child in the Woods, notes that children’s physical interactions with nature are declining. Thus, any efforts to strengthen that bond are vital.
Beyond simply allowing my children to catch creatures, we also engage in discussions about them. Our family has made toad hunting a nightly ritual. My partner leads the kids into the yard, where they carefully search for toads and tree frogs. Through this process, they’ve learned fascinating facts, such as how certain species of gray tree frogs are genetically identical yet possess different chromosome counts. On a good day, they can distinguish between Southern toads and Fowler’s toads, and they understand the dietary habits of these amphibians. They know that during dry spells, these creatures are likely hidden in their burrows, making them harder to find.
Their adventures extend beyond simple capture; they learn as they play. On warm summer evenings, they might discover several toads and place a few in a plastic tank filled with water to observe their behavior, sketch them, and take notes before releasing them back into the wild.
We also take the somewhat debated approach of allowing them to catch tadpoles. Equipped with specialized tadpole nets, they know the best local spots for bullfrog spawn. I often take them to nearby parks, where I settle in with our dog while they bound over rocks, getting muddy and wet as they compare their findings. “Mine has legs!” one might exclaim, while another notes the length of their tadpole’s tail. If they have no luck with tadpoles, they often turn their attention to minnows or water striders.
While they usually find salamanders in the mountains, we once stumbled upon one hiding in the compost of our yard. These experiences help cultivate their respect for healthy ecosystems and immerse them in nature. They work together, sharing nets and tips, and return home muddy and exhausted—exactly what I hope for in their outdoor explorations.
Their fascination with creepy-crawlies is evident. While cockroaches (or “palmetto bugs” as we call them) may gross them out, they have a particular fondness for spiders, especially the larger species. During our evening river walks, they eagerly point out giant millipedes. I like to think that encouraging their curiosity about toads and worms (not just worm snakes) has expanded their appreciation for nature, even for the creatures typically seen as less appealing.
Some might argue against our approach, suggesting that animals deserve to live free from human interference. However, I believe that such close interactions provide invaluable lessons. Children need to experience the realities of nature firsthand—the sliminess of a tadpole, the texture of a toad’s skin, or the quick flick of a minnow. None of the animals we encounter are harmed or kept as pets. My youngest can handle a lizard without causing it stress, which is an essential skill to develop.
In closing, it’s crucial for children to engage with nature in ways that resonate with their understanding. They may not grasp Thoreau’s reflections on natural beauty, nor will they see towering trees as cathedrals. Instead, they view rocks as playgrounds and the wildlife—be it toads, frogs, worm snakes, or salamanders—as fascinating entities worthy of admiration.
So here’s to outdoor adventures, whether it’s hunting for toads or digging for worms. Let children get messy and explore the world around them. And for those interested in exploring further into fertility and home insemination, check out this informative article on couples’ fertility journeys here. You can also find excellent resources for pregnancy and home insemination here.
Summary
Children thrive when they can connect with nature, including the less appealing creatures that inhabit it. Engaging in activities like toad hunting or capturing tadpoles fosters a deeper appreciation for wildlife and the environment. Encouraging these explorations allows children to learn, grow, and develop essential life skills while nurturing their love for all things natural.
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