Oh, what fun a child can have by jumping in mud puddles, collecting bugs and listening to birds! And yet, many children today have become so occupied with TV, computers and video games that unstructured outdoor play is sadly becoming a thing of the past. I LOVE DIRT! is a call to parents, educators and caregivers to help children recover one of the great joys of childhood. Through 52 activities, readers will find a wealth of creative ways to actively engage children, ages four to nine, in nature. Each activity presents an open-ended project meant to promote exploration, stimulate imagination and heighten a sense of wonder: Bug Lullabies challenge kids to use their sense of hearing to pick out insect noises; in Cloud races children are engaged in a fun contest to see whose cloud reaches the designated finish line first: "Help Me Understand" sidebars provide answers to potential questions such as "What's a cloud?" - as well as fun science facts, making this a wonderful resource for any adult fostering a child's growth