Grow Wild Review: The Whole-Child, Whole-Family Nature-Rich Guide To Moving More

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Have you ever had something come into your awareness at just the right time? That was my experience with Katy Bowman’s new book: Grow Wild.

The past year and a half have been such a hard one for so many of us.

As a parent, one of my big concerns was the health of my children – mentally, physically, and spiritually. Beyond the global circumstances, there were so many added stresses just to daily life. So many things had changed and no one could see the other side of the issue.

I focused on things I could control – at least, to the best of my ability.

We dedicated more time to family. We spent more time cooking together and creating meals that nourished our bodies in ways beyond filling our tummies.

One thing that I really struggled with was exercise and physical activity.

Family walks around the block just didn’t seem to be enough. Local green spaces were crowded. Playgrounds were closed. We have no backyard for outdoor, physical play. We have a small house so big movements inside was not possible either. I felt trapped. I could feel my body changing in ways I wasn’t happy with and didn’t want that for my children.

Then Katy’s book arrived in my mailbox.

Grow Wild

It was when I was struggling most that Katy Bowman’s publicist, Melissa, emailed me about Grow Wild. The timing was perfect.

**I received my copy of Grow Wild for free but my opinions are my own and the way I acquired the book did not sway that opinion.

I have read all of Katy’s other books (see my review for Whole Body Barefoot) and really enjoy them. When I read that this book was about getting children to move more and to get outside, I was so excited to see what information was contained within its pages.

When the book arrived, I realized it was so much more.

The book presents ideas on how to work more natural movements into the whole family’s daily life and can be implemented by anyone who creates and facilitates children’s movement environments—parents, relatives, teachers, health professionals, and more. With over 200 full-color photographs of families moving, stories from other parents and alloparents in a variety of scenarios, and fully cited sidebar text for those interested in the research behind the book, Grow Wild is exciting for a wide range of readers. Humans live in many places and there are countless movement opportunities wherever you live, you just need to know how to spot them.

Movement Matters

We so often hear about the importance of exercise and physical activity. Go to the gym for an hour. Play a group sport. Walk more.

As an overweight human being, I hear way too often that I need to exercise more. As my children grow, I want to show them how to live a healthy lifestyle but how can I show that when I know I lack discipline in this area of my life? I could say it is because of chronic illness but honestly, that is mainly an excuse.

As a busy mom of 4, making time to exercise is hard (more excuses). As a parent trying to navigate the unknown during a pandemic, the thought of signing my children up for group sports is scary. How do you win?

One thing I love about Katy Bowman’s approach and this book, in particular, is that healthy living is not dependant on exercise. She focuses on movement, not exercise. She gives examples of how you can stack movement into your everyday activities to get more movement in and move your body in ways that it is desiring.

Harvesting produce from the garden and cooking a meal from scratch are movements that are often overlooked. She talks about walking as a means to do something (ie walk to the grocery store) instead of just walking for exercise. Creating dynamic working environments or sitting on the ground to eat a meal instead of in a chair allows for the body to move in different ways. Furniture free has always been a concept that fascinated me and after reading the chapter on the Home Container, I will be making adjustments in our home to allow for more dynamic movement.

There are so many ways to get the body moving in new and exciting ways. So many ways to step away from the sedentary culture that so many of us exist in.

30 Ways To Move With Kids and Grow Wild

Have you ever read a book that presents so many great concepts but lacks the practical steps to actually implement that knowledge into your life?

That’s not this book.

Grow Wild has so many amazing ideas about how to get you and your family moving in dynamic ways. In the pre-release kit, I received was an amazing PDF called 30 Ways To Move WIth Kids and Grow Wild. On this checklist are so many ideas about how to can implement the ideas that are talked about within the book.

You can download your own copy from Nutritious Movement here.

We really enjoyed taking the ideas from this list and trying them out. We made nature tea, found animal tracks (deer), made an obstacle course, turned putting socks away into a throwing game… All of these things were inspired by this book.

We also have just been more motivated to get outside.

Sometimes I feel like living in a city is a hindrance to getting into nature. But, as Katy points out, cities are still a part of our nature environment. They may not be wilderness but they are still nature. Finding wilderness in the city is possible as well – so we have been making the time to find the hidden gems of wildlife within the concrete jungle. From dandelions growing through the cracks in the sidewalks, birds making nests at the transit stations, and little places set aside for green spaces in public parks. Nature is there, you just have to be willing to see it.

I will be documenting more of our Grow Wild inspired experiences on Hedgerow Homestead.

Overall Thoughts On Grow Wild By Katy Bowman

Overall, Grow Wild is a wonderful book.

That’s the easiest way I can describe this book.

It is not a parenting book but it is, I believe, a wonderful resource for so many parents. It is also a great book for any individual, no matter the age, who wants to play more. As adults, we often forget the value of play – don’t hesitate to explore playing.

There will be people who might not feel aligned with some of the topics but, in my opinion, it is hard to disagree with the points Katy makes. This book may make some people feel uncomfortable because it does point out many of the issues of our sedentary culture. But remember that this is not written about an individual but society as a whole. It is not written to point out flaws but to inspire.

Grow Wild offers some amazing, tangible ways to implement the knowledge that is being shared in the book.

There are no excuses to not try out at least some of the things that Katy Bowman suggests. We can all do more, no matter how much we are doing, to add more movement and more dynamic movement into our lives.

Thank You For Being Respectful

I want to finish up this review by pointing out the thoughtful way sensitive topics were discussed.

From disabilities to breastfeeding, Katy Bowman addressed difficult topics in a very kind and heartfelt way. It is obvious that she is a caring person who made sure to address sensitive topics in a way that, I hope, everyone could see the perspective that she was coming from. She also addressed different parenting choices in a very respectful way.

For this, I just want to say thank you.

As a parenting blogger, I spend so much time finding the right words for topics and discussions with the intention of being as inclusive as possible. I am not here to judge someone else’s parenting experience, only to share my own. And I feel that Katy had a similar approach which I really appreciate.

If you want to read Grow Wild, you can find it on Katy’s Website: Nutritious Movement, at your local library, the nearest bookstore, or on Amazon.