There’s a phrase I once said that continues to echo in my life: “I spent 10 years in Ecuador rescuing wild animals and reintroducing them to their natural habitats. Now, in Spain, I feel like I’m doing the same for children.”
As I push forward in my efforts to reconnect younger generations with nature, I can’t help but notice striking parallels between my work with wild animals and my work with children. Today, I’d like to talk about a concept used with captive wild animals that seems relevant to children today: enrichment.
For those unfamiliar, enrichment involves providing activities and stimuli that promote the physical and mental well-being of animals in captivity. The goal is to mimic the challenges and rewards they’d experience in the wild, thereby encouraging natural behaviors while reducing stress and boredom. This can include toys, puzzles, structures for exploration, sensory stimulation like new smells and sounds, or opportunities for social interaction—depending on the species’ nature.
Of course, the ideal for these animals is to live in their natural habitat, where everything they need to thrive already exists. But in artificial environments, we have to create these experiences to keep them healthy.
Now, let’s think about our children.
Many children today spend most of their time indoors, surrounded by toys, screens, and organized entertainment. School takes up around six hours of their day—indoors—and then there are after-school activities, which are often also structured and confined within four walls. Urban living, packed schedules, and concerns about safety have contributed to a lifestyle where children are largely disconnected from nature.
As a result, their exposure to natural play, exploration, and physical activity has decreased dramatically. Studies now show that this non-natural environment affects their overall well-being and development. It’s no wonder so many parents are turning to therapeutic programs, after-school enrichment activities, and specialized toys designed to stimulate their children’s growth.
But here’s the question I’ve come to ask: Wouldn’t it be simpler to take them back to where their needs—physical, mental, and spiritual—are met naturally?
Consider these examples (based on experiences in Spain):
Children attend indoor climbing classes before they’re ever allowed to climb a tree.
Parents buy expensive balancing toys when a fallen log outside would provide hours of natural fun.
After spending an average of eight hours indoors at school, children are put into fast-paced, structured activities... indoors again.
Families drive across town for specialized activities, yet many children don’t know their own neighborhood or neighbors.
Children watch nature documentaries about animals in distant lands, yet can’t recognize the wildlife that lives in their own backyard.
Kids go to therapy for aggression after spending afternoons on the couch watching violent cartoons, instead of running freely outside.
Pre-schools invest in all sorts of stimulating sensory activities such as rooms full of toilet paper, messing around with flour and slimy pastes, but when it is raining or snowing outside, they tend to keep children inside.
I'm not against modern toys and activities thoughtfully designed for our children. However, I am concerned that we are missing out on the unique benefits that only natural, unstructured play can offer. Take one simple example: formal climbing lessons may teach a child how to climb, but climbing a tree offers so much more—risk-taking, building confidence, enjoying fresh air, soaking up vitamin D, experiencing calmness, sharing moments with others, exploring, and developing a sense of belonging.
Just as wild animals thrive when they’re in their natural environment, so do children. Nature offers everything they need to grow strong, resilient, and happy. Maybe, instead of constantly seeking enrichment within artificial settings, we should focus on bringing our children back to nature—their true home.
If you're interested in our original ideas and activities, check out our WILD SHOP.
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