| In the culture of "no child left behind" we are leaving | | | | However, fishing is a relational act. It involves |
| countless children in the dust of our inattention, and | | | | teaching (how did you learn to cast? Someone |
| on the swings of media leadership. Beyond | | | | taught you), and talking. It's a good time to share |
| standardized testing and social work scrutiny, our | | | | childhood stories with your kids, and make memories |
| children need parents and friends to spend quality | | | | of the things you catch and the ones that get away. |
| time teaching life's best lessons person to person, | | | | Far from the noise of the city spend some time |
| hand to hand, and line by life line. How can we do | | | | together creating a sense of community and |
| this? By taking our kids fishing. It sounds like a very | | | | common goals. The skills your child will learn from that |
| simple solution to a complex problem; however it | | | | experience will help them relate to others as time |
| would a great first step toward a healed society. | | | | goes on. Fishing Teaches Environmental Care Our kids |
| Fishing Teaches Peace The things required for fishing, | | | | live in a video world, usually disconnected to physical |
| besides a reel, tackle and bait, are quiet, peace and | | | | reality. Fishing will help them connect back to the |
| patience. Very few activities offer our children such | | | | earth they will someday be in charge of caring for. |
| important skills and challenge. America's children have | | | | Whether its hearing a robin's song, or seeing the way |
| been nurtured by a runaway society which has | | | | squirrels fly from tree to tree or noticing the life in |
| enabled short attention spans, a need for constant | | | | the pond they are fishing in, the good memories of |
| stimulation and an inability to sit quietly. Taking kids | | | | nature can translate into a desire to take care of the |
| fishing from an early age can teach them the good | | | | world around them. When fishing, kids can see first |
| feelings that come from being at peace. | | | | hand the problems caused by litter, pollution and |
| Concentrating on a bobber or learning to cast can be | | | | selfish uses of the earth. They can also begin to |
| a life rewarding experience that shows something | | | | realize how precious our ecosystem is and why they |
| doesn't have to be beeping, moving or singing to be | | | | need to be a part of conserving it. They can also |
| a worthwhile pursuit. Fishing Teaches Relationship Kids | | | | learn about animals, physical science and trees and |
| have been entertained by media through every stage | | | | plants while out on an excursion. Fishing is one way |
| of their development. Baby sitters plop them in front | | | | to teach a whole world in information, in time to save |
| of TV, parents have DVD players in their vehicles | | | | the world. Young people don't need more CD's, |
| and some restaurants even have "family sections" | | | | games or talking gizmos. They need time with |
| where movies play while kids eat. Our ability to have | | | | people, sharing the good things in life and casting a |
| dinner conversation, count cows on a drive or even | | | | line into their future. |
| talk about the events of the day has diminished. | | | | |