I used to roll my eyes when parents said, ‘I’ve learned so much from my kids’ – but since having one of my own, I've realised it's not about literally learning from them…
It’s just noticing the lessons that were always there.
What We Learn Outside
How do you feel after a day out in the bush or at the beach? I bet it’s relaxed, fulfilled, and simply balanced – and there are countless studies to back this up.
For kids, this is tenfold. Not only is the great outdoors a place to burn some energy; it also gets them well away from pesky screens and teaches them to better regulate their moods and concentrate. There is so much to discover.
This sense of wonder is how kids help show us the hidden lessons.
As adults, we are much too focused on climbing that hill to get a big view, the bluest water and the whitest sand (or insta content). My two year old will find an odd stick, a colourful pebble, or just a bug, and think it's the most interesting thing he's ever seen.
And he’s right. It’s the little details on the journey that us adults miss.
I’ve now noticed all kinds of fascinating details (and bits I’ve googled later) on the banksia pods we collect and the casuarina seeds at the beach – plus trying to notice the hundreds or thousands of species of ants, wild mushrooms, different leaves, and the various frog sounds when we’re out in the bush.
Even if you can’t make it out to your favourite campsite this weekend, you’d be surprised what your kids will discover at your local greenery.
What We Learn in the Bush
The further you get from ‘civilisation’, the more of these hidden lessons reveal themselves.
Not only are the outdoor lessons there, but comes with self-reliance, self-sufficiency and problem-solving.
Ever heard the joke (or maybe it's true) when you ask a kid, "Where does milk come from?" they reply, "The supermarket!". I want my son to know that fish comes from the ocean, and it won’t just leap onto your plate. To learn the dozens of amazing bush foods you can find; and the simple, satisfying meals you can make on the campfire.
Even just looking up at the night sky, far from the city lights, is a lesson in navigation, history, and culture.
Travelling to remote places with my kid has also made me re-learn and appreciate basic skills like first aid, as well as scrubbing up on map, compass, and radio skills.
There are obvious lessons, like preparation. You’ve got to have enough food, water, and fuel to get home, but I think problem-solving is where kids really shine. If something breaks, you don’t just throw it away; you find a way to fix it there and then. Kids often have endless ideas as they’re not constrained to narrower ‘adult-thinking’.
Plus, they’ll get some of the best lessons in geometry and physics when you’re showing them how to use a spare wheel to change winching angle, or to flex on a rock to install a loose spring. Which takes me to my next point…
What We Learn with our 4X4
There are the obvious lessons here, like learning how to do your own maintenance. I love that my boy sees me working on our LandCruiser, servicing our other cars, and restoring a few old classics I have. To me, it's a useful skill disappearing with the throw-away lifestyle, and something I value more and more since having a kid.
Beyond this, there are subtle lessons too, like taking care of the things you love and buying local, good-quality, Australian-made gear.
As my Aunty always says, ‘buy cheap, pay twice,’ and I see that reflected in the 4X4 community (most of whom seem to champion buying good-quality Australian gear). While we have seen cheap products flood the market in the last decade, the proof is in the pudding – and we’ve all seen piles of said gear break too soon on us, our friends, or out on the tracks.
The last lesson that adventuring with the family has left with me, is the importance of community. This rings true when your campsite neighbours invite you for a cuppa, and the big kids teach the toddlers how to play. Better yet, the sense of community really shows when every fourbie coming past will always check if you’re alright, offer a snatch when you're stuck in the sand, or just stop to chat conditions through the drivers window when you’re passing on a track.
What I’m getting at is – that when you’re on a family adventure, there are so many important learnings to be had. You’ve just got to stop and take notice.
Casey grew up and lives on Bundjalung land in the Byron Hinterland where his love of the outdoors began. He's a keen hiker, is happiest sleeping under the stars, and is often told he has too many hobbies which include photography, climbing, surfing, skiing, and restoring old cars. He's travelled to more than 40 countries and has worked as a broadcast journalist and in public relations for science organisations.
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