Isn’t it fascinating how every small human comes programmed to know how to play that game? Josephine would ask him to name the trees, the bird flying above or pecking at their feet, the sky. When his oldest daughter was about a year old, she began to play the asking-incessant-questions-about-the-world game. Johnson is a journalist and father in Berkeley, California. Purple coneflower found growing in a neighbor’s front yard and spreading across the sidewalk. But ask Nathanael Johnson and he’ll say the opposite-the key is taking more than a quick glance. Does the nearest playground, a tangle of metal bars and plastic climbing structures arranged on a rubber pad qualify as nature? Are visits to the large parks in the city enough for kids to build a connection with nature in spite of being surrounded by stone walls or iron fences and peppered with DO NOT STEP ON GRASS signs?Īt first glance, our urban environments seem disconnected from nature. There are numerous green spaces and parks in the city to give kids those experiences, but parents often wonder if it’s enough. Study after study has been published attesting that time spent in green spaces, exploring untamed areas, and playing or interacting with the natural environment helps kids feel less anxious, think more creatively, and be just plain healthier. Many urban parents worry that their kids aren’t getting enough exposure to nature. But there are sacrifices to be made too, and doubts about urban lifestyle can arise from time to time. Life in the city has a wealth of perks and good things for families: playgrounds, restaurants, arts and culture, public transportation and the ability to live a car-less lifestyle.

Unseen City by Nathanael Johnson