One of my (and probably every parents) primary parenting goals is to raise children who can think for themselves – about how the world works, and about the choices they want to make and why they want to make those choices. Kids who can think for themselves are more resistant to peer pressure, have better impulse control, and are more resilient in the face of bullying. So as my kids are growing we are really trying to have them think before they act or react. Giving them space to grow can be hard in a world that is not exactly safe to just let them "go out and play and be back when the street lights come on" like I did as a kid. I love the woods for this very reason. It gives them a chance to make choices, build, explore, decide and have freedom. It gives me the chance to sit back and watch or ask them questions and wait patiently as they learn and decide for themselves. There is so much creativity that can be had from playing in the sand or building with sticks and the confidence that comes from being able to say "I did that" is unmatched. 
