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Children and Nature: Psychological, Sociocultural, and Evolutionary Investigations

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For much of human evolution, the natural world was one of the most important contexts of children's maturation. Indeed, the experience of nature was, and still may be, a critical component of human physical, emotional, intellectual, and even moral development. Yet scientific knowledge of the significance of nature during the different stages of childhood is sparse. This book provides scientific investigations and thought-provoking essays on children and nature.Children and Nature incorporates research from cognitive science, developmental psychology, ecology, education, environmental studies, evolutionary psychology, political science, primatology, psychiatry, and social psychology. The authors examine the evolutionary significance of nature during childhood; the formation of children's conceptions, values, and sympathies toward the natural world; how contact with nature affects children's physical and mental development; and the educational and political consequences of the weakened childhood experience of nature in modern society.

348 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2002

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Peter H. Kahn Jr.

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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
Profile Image for SARAH.
245 reviews315 followers
August 26, 2018
آه،امان از بعضی ترجمه ها،نمیدونم متن اصلی چنین روایت گنگی داشت ،یا‌ترجمه دچار مشکل بوده،هر انچه‌بوده‌جانم بر لب‌امد‌که تمام بشود.امادر کل‌کتاب جالبی‌بود،بخصوص بخش هایی که اشاره داشت به‌روند شکل گیری فرهنگ در دوران کشاورزی،و‌ادم ریخت های گرد اورنده شکار چی،واقعا موضوع رو جذاب بیان میکرد.در کل دوستاران،روانشناسی تحولی،زیست شناسی،طبیعت و کودک غافل نمانند که مرجع خوب و مفیدی تست.
Profile Image for Dr.Zari.
12 reviews5 followers
February 22, 2020
پیش از هر چیز، از دغدغه‌ی شریف دکتر وهابزاده‌ی ارجمند و همکارشان در ترجمه‌ی این کتاب آموختم. این روزها که به یک جامعه‌ی زخمی و فرسوده می‌نگرم، به جایگاهی که می‌توان به وضوح دید ما الفبای انتخابگری را بلد نیستیم و چیزی از «طرحی نو در انداختن» نمی‌دانیم، ما که نسل به نسل، پژمرده‌تر و سرخورده‌تر می‌دل شویم از آنچه زندگی برایمان نگه داشته است، حرف دل ایشان و نویسندگان کتاب را بهتر درک می‌کنم. همه‌چیز در کودکی‌های از دست رفته‌مان، از دست رفته است. برای فرزندانمان اگر کودکی را برنگردانیم، اگر کودک تجربه‌ی رها بودن در طبیعت، ولگردی در طبیعت و مشاهده و انتخاب‌های ساده را نداشته باشد، امیدهای فردا یکی پس از دیگری می‌میرند.
Profile Image for Wesley Janicki.
22 reviews
May 20, 2024
As I find is the status quo with many of the non-fiction books I’ve read lately, I find their sole weakness to be their age, something inherent in my own choice of them.

Given that, this book left me with plenty of questions as to how trends predicted by the authors have played out. I am certainly keen to speculate, but I would love to see the authors publish an updated edition, while retaining many of the chapters that provide a grounding for this book.

Would recommend, especially if new to environmentalism :)
Profile Image for Byrd Alyssa.
89 reviews4 followers
April 14, 2009
Possibly the single most important book about children's healthy development so far this millennium, Children and Nature details the positive effects on children (from infancy through adolescence) of exposure to, and interaction with nature. Whether animals or plants, insects or oceans, exposure to nature is critical for healthy emotional, social and intellectual development of our youth. Those children who are not given adequate exposure to the natural world are at a distinct disadvantage to those who are.
This is an engaging and well written book that should be on the list of every guardian, parent-to-be, and teacher. There are a lot of politicians and business peeps who would also benefit greatly from reading Children and Nature.
NOTE: Since I wrote this review, Last Child in the Woods has been published, and is an equally engaging and important book.
Profile Image for Mohamad Fathi.
1 review13 followers
October 1, 2016
در واقع این کتاب سرآغازیه برای شناخت کودک از دیدگاه زیستشناسی و به طور مشخص تئوری مادر بیوفیلیا(زیست گرایی) در ارتباط و از منظر علوم مختلفی چون روانشناسی، علوم شناختی، اجتماعی و ...
نه تنها کتاب ترجمه شده‌ی دیگری در این حوزه نداریم بلکه این کتاب با نگاهی چند بعدی و میان رشته ای و ایجاد پیوستگی بسیار عالی ما بین مطالب امکان این رو ایجاد میکنه که با خوندنش دیگاهی جامع در این حوزه به دست بیاد.
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