Children Voice Biophilia: the Phenomenology of Being In Love with Nature

Young children’s relationship with nature is a starting point for all future human interactions with the natural world and has a direct impact on the future of the sustainability movement. Phenomenological Research Using a qualitative phenomenological research approach (Moustakas, 1994; Polkinghorne, 1989) this study aimed to paint a picture of children’s relationship with nature. Children’s Conception of Nature Researchers have attempted to uncover certain aspects of the child-environment relationship for several decades (Alerby, 2000, 2001; Barraza, 1999; Bonnett & Williams, 1998; Campbell, Skovdal, & Campbell, 2013; Gebhard, Nervers, & Billmann-Mahecha, 2003; Hart, 1979; Hyun, 2005; Kahn & Kellert, 2002; Loughland, Reid, Walker, & Petocz, 2003; Moore, 1986; Payne, 1998a, 1998b; Rejesky, 1982; Shepardson, 2005; Shepardson, Wee, Priddy, & Harbor, 2007; Wals, 1994). The first phenomenographic phase which was published in Environmental Education Research (Kalvaitis & Monhardt, 2012) detailing the visual and quantitative results from analysis of 168 children’s drawings and written narratives.