Overcoming Nature Deficit Disorder

Last weekend, my wife and I took a walk with our son and grandson through the woods behind their house. At the edge of a large clearing, my grandson discovered a drainage ditch filled with water and topped by a thin layer of ice. It was an irresistible invitation for any 4-year-old. Wearing his boots, he eagerly waded in. We offered some words of caution— “don’t fall,” “don’t go too deep,” “don’t get wet”—but he was fully immersed in the joy of the moment.