The average North American child now spends about seven hours a day staring at screens and mere minutes engaged in unstructured play outdoors. Yet recent research indicates that experiences in nature are essential for healthy growth. Regular exposure to nature can help relieve stress, depression, and attention deficits. It can reduce bullying, combat obesity, and boost academic scores. Most critical of all, abundant time in natural settings seems to yield long-term benefits in kids cognitive, emotional, and social development. How to Raise a Wild Child is a timely and engaging antidote, offering teachers, parents, and other caregivers the necessary tools to engender a meaningful, lasting connection between children and the natural world.

SCOTT D. SAMPSON is a dinosaur paleontologist, science communicator, and passionate advocate for connecting people with nature. He serves as vice president of research and collections and chief curator at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, and as host and science adviser of the PBS KIDS television series Dinosaur Train. Sampson is also the program ambassador of Nature Rocks, a global initiative of The Nature Conservancy aimed at inspiring families to explore nature.