In a blog post earlier this year, I mentioned that I was on an intense parenting journey that I was jumping all in on: I’m trying to raise my children wild. I want to have kids that are deeply connected with and comfortable in nature. I saw the book How to Raise a Wild Child: The Art and Science of Falling in Love with Nature by Scott D. Sampson listed as a parenting book for outdoorsy parents on an Instagram reel a few years ago and wrote it down in a note. Cut to last year and I finally started this book, and not only did I love this book individually, it kicked off a whole new journey into rewilding my spirit, my home, and most of all my parenting. All of it.

How to Raise a Wild Child is a step-by-step, in-depth guide on how to create and nurture a nature connection with your little ones and the science behind why it’s truly so important for kids to spend time in wild places throughout their entire lives. I love that this book leans on both scientific studies and Dr. Scott’s personal experiences! (I feel like I can call him Dr. Scott because he’s also the paleontologist presenter on the PBS series Dinosaur Train.)

For most of us adults who love nature, this love and appreciation for it started as children – I know my parents fostered this love for nature in me. This book explores themes of unstructured play time for kids in the outdoors, especially considering how little the average American child gets of that each day (one shocking study sited between 4-7 minutes each day). That hurts my heart and really had me being much more cognizant of the time I carve out for my kids outside. He discusses ways in which to foster deep nature connections and how to care about something you have to have that foundational relationship. I also love that the parent is a potential central part of these relationships as a “nature mentor” because I crave that mutual respect and love for the earth as a bond with my own two kids.

I think this book is a really important and incredible read for any parent who is looking to foster little nature-lovers within the next generation. So, obviously, go and read this book, but I also wanted to share the three biggest takeaways that I’ve learned because of my own personal read through this book.

My Three Biggest Takeaways from Reading How To Raise a Wild Child by Scott D. Sampson

There are so many lessons to learn in this book, but these are the three largest themes that stuck with me personally in my journey to raise wild children.

I’m Not Here to Have all the Answers to Their Questions About the Outdoors…

… I’m here to foster a curiosity about the outdoors within my kids. This was a hard thing to learn because I’m a curious creature myself and I like having the answers. I also really love to share knowledge, so sometimes my go-to move was to point out things and hope they thought that fun-fact was worth remembering and saving in their little brains. But, Dr. Scott notes that this isn’t our job as a “nature mentor”. In fact, he states,

“Mentoring is far more about asking questions than providing answers. The great news here is that you don’t need to be an expert. The bad news is that you’ll often need to stifle the urge to offer answers and think instead about how you can extend the learning experience with a provocative question. But here’s the most important thing. Nothing, absolutely nothing, will spark your child’s passion for nature more than your own embodied passion for the natural world.”

This is a really empowering thing to learn, even if it is hard to control myself sometimes. I still give facts about specific questions like, what kind of flower is this? or can I eat this? But I try to let the follow up questions simply be curiosities that we can explore together. Because I’m truly there to be their cheerleader in the great outdoors and get them excited about going outside.

The More My Children See Me Act with the Outdoors with Adoration, the More They Will Mirror That

I will say the place where I feel most confident, most alive, and even the most joy, is outside. I’m comfortable there, I’m happy there. And I love that. And going back to the point above, showing my own curiosity shows off my own passion for the outdoors. So, letting myself feel the childlike wonder that nature naturally makes me feel is actually one of the best things that I can do to help foster their nature connection.

The more you demonstrate the value of nature through your own actions, the more kids will tend to adopt the same value.

I also love the encouragement he offers to plan time in the outdoors. Make playdates in wild spaces, which I became so good at this year: taking my kids on experiences in the outdoors with friends, family members and just us. It’s become such a normal part of our play that I’m so excited for the adventures we’ll have with friends in 2026.

Unstructured Playtime in the Outdoors is Paramount

This concept brings me so much joy for multiple reasons. I love the use of elements from nature and how they shape the imaginary games my children play. Whether it’s pine needles and sticks being the perfect kitchen tools for making mac n cheese or its building dams (that we remove before leaving) in the creek. One thing that I really love that he says is children should be the bosses in unstructured play time.

Young children actually learn best through play… Benefits are enhanced creativity and imagination, both of which blossom under the influence of unstructured play. … Brains enlarge and form complex neural pathways in response to playful experiences. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends sixty minutes of unstructured free play per day to support children’s physical mental, and emotional health.… Through play children learn how to socialize – make friends, collaborate, resolve conflicts, and bounce back from failure. 

Another part of this unstructured playtime is to let them take calculated risks. Let them get dirty. Let them get scrapes and bruises – I know my parents certainly did. Obviously, keep them safe, but superficial injuries heal and wins over risk create some of the most profound self-confidence that a child could ever ask for.

For the Love of Wanderlust Book Rating: 10/10

I’m forever grateful that I happened to see this book somewhere on Instagram. I can’t thank Dr. Scott enough for putting these thoughts and methods down to help me build the strongest nature connection in Charleigh and Liam as I possibly can throughout their childhood. This book quotes Stephen J. Gould saying, “We cannot win this battle to save species and environments without forging and emotional bond between ourselves and nature for we will not fight to save what we do not love.” I wholeheartedly believe this. I think that the connection that’s forged will change my kids’ lives. I hope they find peace, connection and safety in the outdoors.

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