The world today is so full of electronic gadgets that keep our kids busy. This can make it even harder for parents to get their children outside to experience the wonders of nature. I’ve decided it’s time to write a post on how to get your child excited about the outdoors! It’s certainly not always easy, but as with anything, it takes diligence and the setting of routines.
While exploring this vast planet, let your child use all their senses – sight, smell, hearing, touching and tasting – to fully experience the pleasures of nature. The more they get involved, the more they will want to do. As a parent you can foster this love of the outdoors by participating with your children; together you can learn a lot.
Encouraging outdoor activities is a great way to help kids learn outside the classroom while also providing them with valuable life skills. Spending time in nature can teach your children about sustainability and responsibility as they gain an appreciation for the world around them. It can also help them to build confidence, foster creativity, and gain a greater understanding of the importance of physical activity.
Parental participation is key in building a culture of nature exploration. Take the time to plan activities together, go on outdoor adventures, and teach your children about the natural environment. With your guidance, your children can grow up to become well-rounded, nature-loving individuals.
Here are some things you and your child can do together to help foster a greater love for Mother Nature:
Take A Hike
Long distance hiking is out for the littlest ones. However, short walks are always fun. Parenting means getting out and walking the walk, so join your child in exploring nature trails or the sidewalks in your own neighborhood. To fully enjoy the wonders of nature, walk the same path at least once a month.
This will allow you and your child to notice the seasonal changes going on around you. Hikes with Tykes and Get Your Kids Hiking are two of my favorite books on getting your children hiking at a young age.
Walking is one of the best ways for parents to spend time with their children. It is an easy way to explore nature and observe the world around you with your little ones. When you and your children hike together, it provides numerous benefits for both of you. Not only do hikes together help to form special bonds and lasting memories, but they also provide physical activity, as well as a chance to learn more about the environment and each other.
When you’re out on the trails, remember to keep an eye on your children’s fatigue levels and make sure that you keep up a pace that allows them to enjoy the experience with minimal stress. With the right attitude and healthy snacks, your hikes together can be a fun and memorable experience.
Start a Collection
Kids like to collect things. Why not help them learn about the things they collect. Go to the library, or buy books that will teach both you and your children how to identify the rocks, feathers and leaves found in the wild. The Nature Connection is an incredible workbook for children and parents alike.
Books about plants will help identify which plants are safe, as well as which are poisonous. Help your child create a home-made flower press (use a heavy book) or a shadow box to hold all their treasures. The Kids Outdoor Adventure Book is an Honorable Mention of the 2013 National Outdoor Book Awards. Well worth checking it out for you and your family.
As you and your kids explore the outdoors and discover its wonders, be sure to discuss safety. Have a checklist of rules for your kids to follow so that they stay safe and don’t get lost. It’s also important to talk about respecting nature and not disturbing or collecting things that are illegal to take.
Tell your kids about how they can help take care of nature as they explore it. Show them how to pick up trash, not disturb animal habitats, and leave nature as they found it. This is a fun way for them to learn about respect and responsibility while also enjoying the outdoors. With a little education, you and your family can be mindful outdoor adventurers.
Create Works Of Art
As you and your children gather up twigs, seeds, flowers, and a host of other treasures found while nature exploring, think about what you can do with these objects. Discuss the many ways you can turn these treasures into usable items: branches make nice picture frames; you can make wreaths for various vines and flowers. See what animals your children can create using pine cones and seed pods. The ideas are as endless as the thoughts in their minds.
As your kids’ imaginations run wild with these objects they’ve collected, encourage them to document their creations. Show them how to photograph their art and share it with their friends and family. If they’re more tech-savvy, teach them how to use video to share their creations.
With some basic editing and the right angles, they can make their nature creations come alive. And, to add to their storytelling, suggest they record audio clips to accompany the video. This will bring a unique element to the stories they tell and the art they make. By using multimedia, they can bring their masterpiece visions to life.
Take A Safari
You don’t need to travel to far off lands to search for wild critters. Take your children on a walk through your own neighborhood and look for butterflies, birds, and any other wildlife that might be roaming your area. If possible, take your children to the forest and have them watch for even more wild animals. You might get lucky and spot a deer family enjoying a drink at the nearby stream.
Encouraging your children to explore nature in this way is a great way to teach them about the local wildlife. With the help of a wildlife guide or field guidebook, you and your children can identify the different species of birds and animals in your area.
Researching the habitat and lifestyle choices of these animals can help your children better understand the fragile balance between the environment and wildlife. Have your children take notes of their findings and encourage them to continue to observe their environment, always being respectful of the wildlife and their homes.
Have A Picnic
You can picnic in your own yard, or go to a nearby park. The idea is to get out of the house and have fun together. Be sure you have a frisbee or a ball handy, and be sure to use them! Picnics are always a fun time to explore nature and find more items to add to each collection.
Bring a blanket and your lunch, and don’t forget to bring along your camera or smartphone to capture the moment. Make it a point to take a group picture to remember the fun you had together.
Take advantage of this opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations and explore activities that can challenge your teamwork and creativity. Whether it’s playing tag or charades, engaging in activities is an excellent way to develop stronger relationships and create lasting memories.
Bugs Everywhere!
Exploring nature with kids is a great way to bond and build lasting memories. And what better way to do this than to explore the bug world! Children have this natural attraction to bugs. They are beautiful, fascinating critters; some of them are scary and most of them are “icky” to some extent. This is why kids love bugs!
Buy your children a magnifying glass and watch them play sleuth and find bug after bug. There are bug vacuums available for capturing the little critters, and kits that include a new home for those collected bugs.
From butterflies to bees, there are so many different types of bugs to observe and learn about. Depending on the age of the child, you can even engage in activities like bug races and bug hunts.
Plus, these critters are delicate and require special care when handling. Take the extra time to teach your children about gentle and safe ways to observe and interact with the bugs they find. Spending time outdoors with bugs can make for an exciting learning experience and hours of endless exploration and entertainment.
Feed The Birds
Buy books about birds, a bird feeder (or two), and some bird seeds. Place the feeders in your back yard and watch the birds that flock to eat. Help your children identify the birds that they see. Let them use binoculars to get a close-up look at the feeding birds.
Create a bird watching journal to log the different birds that visit your feeders. Take pictures to accompany the entries, and then use them to create a collage or a bird feeder mural.
Make a chart to track the frequent visitors, and learn about the basic habits, habitats, and food preferences of different species. Encourage your kids to do some research on the birds they’re seeing – they may be surprised to find out just how many fascinating birds live in your area.
Plant A Garden
Growing plants fascinate children. Help them explore nature by starting a garden. You can grow a few simple vegetables or herbs in small pots placed on a sunny windowsill. Or, you could go all out and plant a large garden.
Space will surely dictate how much you can grow. If space allows, create a container garden just for your child. Help them plant vegetable seeds that they will eventually eat. Give them use of a digital camera and a notebook to record the progress of their growing plants.
Seeing the effects of your labor can be a great source of motivation. Allow children to uncover the basics of gardening by getting their hands dirty and doing some of the work. Involve them in the process, such as helping with soil preparation, planting seedlings or watering their own plot.
Provide guidance so that children can understand the differences between vegetables and flowers; and how to harvest and store food properly. As your child starts to observe the life cycle of a plant, they will understand how plants germinate and grow. This is a great introduction to the nature around us and could potentially instill a lifelong passion for gardening.
Eat From The Wild
Finding edibles in the wild is always a treat. To ensure the safety of your family, buy a book about edible plants and learn which ones are safe and which plants to avoid. And since I am a huge fan of unique and hard-to-find books, I will refer you here for a vast array of intriguing topics. Your children will enjoy learning about the various plants and then more than enjoy the hunting and gathering of these edibles.
Look for wild blueberries and blackberries; gather up some honeysuckle flowers and enjoy a cup of honeysuckle tea; search for wild onions and use them in tonight’s dinner. Teach your children not to pick their bounty near roadways. These plants, while still edible, often contain too many toxic chemicals for human consumption, and may make your family sick.
With some knowledge of which plants are safe and which are best avoided, you can now start exploring the wonders of nature. Invest in a good quality book about flowers, berries and other wild edibles and their uses. Foraging in the wild can be a great opportunity to spend quality time with your family and teach them the importance of respecting and understanding nature.
Not only will they get to enjoy the beauty of nature, but they will also get to learn the unique characteristics of common plants and be able to identify them. With the help of a guide, they can learn to easily pick out edible mushrooms, ramps and wild asparagus. With some caution and care, the outdoors can provide your family with an abundance of nourishment that is truly unique and memorable.
Look Skyward
Children are fascinated with the night sky. Buy a map that identifies stars, planets and constellations. Using binoculars, a telescope, or just the eyes, gaze skyward with your child and take turns pointing out various constellations or planets. Lie on a blanket and watch the night sky, this is the simplest way to enjoy Mother Nature.
Exploring the night sky is the perfect way to spend quality time with your children and inspire their natural curiosity. Point out objects like the Big Dipper, Orion’s Belt, or the Milky Way, and explain the ancient mythology connected to the constellations. Then move beyond the known stars and teach your children how to use a star map to identify stars, planets and other celestial objects.
Let your children take turns using a telescope or binoculars to get a closer look at the wonders of the night sky. Finish off the night by lying down on a blanket together, counting stars and telling stories to your children about the twinkling lights in the dark sky.
Find a balance between having fun and teaching. Have the kids take part in helping you identify plants, pick up litter, and observe the natural environment. Ask your children questions to help spark their natural curiosity.
Let them get their hands dirty and explore the outdoors. Encourage them to be creative with activities like bird watching, scavenger hunts, or using sticks to craft art in the sand. Taking part in daily outdoor activities can make a momentous difference in the life of your children.
Parenting is a rewarding job when everything flows smoothly. The trick is to start early, do it often, and do it as a family. There’s a vast world out there: explore it – together!
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