Flowers for My Nature-Loving Valentine

At the grocery store on Friday, my son was tooling around recklessly with his little mini-cart like he usually does … until he came to the floral Valentine’s Day display. He screeched to a halt directly in front of the roses and stared at them like they were the most fascinating thing he’d ever seen in all his four and a half years.

We wound up leaving the store with a flowering plant (not roses, luckily!) that he carried out like it was a precious jewel. We propped it securely in the car for the drive home and he insisted we turn off the music so his plant could have peace and quiet. And he unloaded it from the car directly into a sunny window, with no prompting from me. He’s also been watering it and wondering when the large bud will join the two flowers that are already blooming.

Clearly this is a boy who’s suffering from a nature deficit!

And go figure – he’s been inside almost continually the past few weeks, what with the snow and ice and cold and illnesses – so it’s not surprising that he feels something is missing. Completely by coincidence, last week I was re-reading portions of Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv. It was for a project about the importance of outdoor play for infants and toddlers, and in theory I’m fully in agreement with everything I was writing.

In practice, though, I was falling down on the job.

Louv’s book highlights evidence that spending less time in nature gives rise to problems like childhood obesity, stress, depression and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. It’s a compelling book that won many prizes, including the 2008 Audubon medal, because not only does it point out problems, it offers solutions that we can all find time for. The simplest ones – go out into the back yard, visit a local park, take a hike, enroll your kid in a summer camp where they actually go outside – are totally do-able. There are more suggestions online, at Louv's Children and Nature Network.

But wait, you might be saying – we just had an ice storm and temperatures in the single digits. Who wants to be outside in that?  Well, no one, you’re right. That’s when it’s nice having plants indoors, as my 4-year-old instinctively knew.

But now that the weather’s nicer, there are no more excuses!  Unless you don’t know where to start ...

Here are some suggestions:

1.      Last week, the government initiative Let’s Move! celebrated its one-year anniversary. (It’s better known, perhaps, as the Michelle Obama program.) Part of its online presence is a site called Let’s Move Outside that has links to local parks, playgrounds and outdoor events.

2.      The Missouri Department of Conservation homepage also lists destinations and events across the state, including educational events. (We also include MDC events in our Things to Do section,)

3.      It’s the season for seed catalog orders! The boys and I have already chosen the vegetable varieties we’re going to grown next summer in our yard. If you don’t have space in your yard, contact Gateway Greening at 314-588-9600 to find out about your nearest community garden.

By Amy De La Hunt, Health Blogger for SmartParenting

Share This Story

Amy De La Hunt is a journalist and editor who lives in the St. Louis metro area and works across the country as a writer, copy editor, project manager and editorial consultant on everything from fiction books to monthly magazines to blog posts. When she's not chauffeuring her teenage sons to activities, Amy is an enthusiastic amateur cook, landscaper, Latin dancer and traveler. Follow Amy on Instagram @amy_in_words

Our Daily Things to Do email is the easiest way to plan your day.
Follow Us
 
Things to Do

Music & Movement

Explore songs, finger plays, music and more during this Music & Movement class for ages 0-6. Some sessions are held in person at various branches of the St. Louis County Library. Some sessions are virtual. 

 

 

View this event »
Toddler Time at The Magic House

Visit The Magic House for Toddler Time, a special early-morning program for toddlers. Children age 1-4 can take part in exhibits and exclusive interactive activities designed just for little ones. There are new themes every week!

 

 

View this event »
Gateway to Reading
Tuesday, September 16, 2025

The Gateway to Reading program is a parent-child workshop that focuses on strengthening reading skills while engaging in fun, literacy-based activities. Participants will receive a free toolkit of materials to help children in their reading journey.

 

View this event »
Want daily ideas of things to do? How about special offers & giveaways? Sign up and we’ll handle the rest.
Popular Stories

City Museum's Stuff the Bus Campaign Provides School Supplies for 160 St. Louis Schools

Visit City Museum August 4-17, bring school supplies to donate, and get discounted admission! That's the idea behind City Museum's Stuff the Bus campaign.

Continue reading »
Take Your Kids on a Trip Through Time: History Exploration Days at the Missouri History Museum

Each day, the Missouri History Museum immerses kids in the stories of St. Louis, written over hundreds of years and told through hands-on exhibits, fun-filled activities, and special family-focused events. During the school year, young history buffs of all ages can take an unforgettable journey to our city’s past with a special monthly adventure designed just for them! The Museum’s highly-anticipated History Exploration Days, starting back up this September, lets kids engage with history in creative and unexpected ways and discover how those who came before us continue to impact their lives today.

Continue reading »
Want Your Kids to Learn? Teach Them It’s Okay to Make Mistakes

It’s normal for parents to want to protect their children from failure. It’s also normal to want them to achieve, win, and do their best. But here’s the truth: We don’t learn anything new without making mistakes. I’ll say it again. Making mistakes is a crucial step in learning. If we’re fearful of making mistakes, learning comes to a screeching halt.

Continue reading »
10 Ways to Improve Your Child's Listening Skills

Focused listening is one of the most important skills your child will ever learn. Children with strong listening skills do better in school, sports, relationships and, eventually, in their careers. But many children lack this important skill and parents are rightly concerned. First, listening is much more than just hearing.

Continue reading »
7 Signs Your Kids Are Ready For Their First Sleepaway Camp

It’s time to decide whether to send your kids to sleepaway camp, but how do you know that's the right thing to do? How can you tell whether your kids are ready for their first extended stay away from home? Here are 7 important signs that experts say should inform your decision.

Continue reading »
You Might Also Like...

From Our Sponsors
Follow Us