Birds

photo by Ella Boehme

Posted by Lia Grippo

The Haudenosaunee people say that when all of life was created, the Creator gave all of us original operating instructions.  Among other instructions the birds were tasked with singing. It is believed that part of their mission is to affect the minds of humans.  When our minds fall down around our ankles and we start tripping over them, they say, listening to birdsong will lift our minds back up where they belong.  

Our young children are imitative beings.  You’ve all, no doubt, seen the truth of this in your children imitating you and others around them.  This means that our own actions are the strongest educational tool we have to offer our children. When it comes to nature connection, your own genuine curiosity and the actions that follow will be witnessed and imitated.  Your efforts will be more effective if you do not treat this as a lesson, but rather simply do this in your children’s presence.

What was the first bird sound you heard today?  You can ask yourself this question every day. 

Try and imitate the sound you heard.  Keep trying. You might feel silly at first, but silly is a wonderful way to feel.  Do this in the presence of your children. 

Share with your family which bird sound was the first you heard.  Notice and imitate bird sounds throughout the day.

Pay attention.  Soon enough your children will also begin to imitate bird sounds and might begin tell you which was the first they heard today!!  Celebrate! This is how connection begins.

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