Consider the Pikachus of the field. Wait, that’s not right. For the Colson Center, I’m John Stonestreet with The Point.

A new Cambridge study sought to “quantify children’s knowledge of nature.”

Using flash cards, researchers showed four-to-11-year-olds common species of British plant and wildlife—things like bluebells, herons, otters, and wrens. The kids couldn’t identify half of them.

Then they were shown pictures of Pokémon species like the Weedle, Bulbasaur, or Pikachu. Pokémon are made-up cartoon critters from a 1990’s Japanese card game that got new life due to a smart-phone game that involves walking around outside catching them.

The same kids identified 80 percent of the Pokémon species.

It’s a bit concerning that kids know the name of a non-existent electrical rabbit but not an otter. And there’s a more important point, too. The Bible’s packed with illustrations from nature. God reveals who He is through the natural world in a special way. When we’re out of touch with nature, chances are we’re out of touch with Him.

Our kids don’t have to be the next Audubon, but spending some time outside not catching Pokémon couldn’t hurt.