How to Help Kids Appreciate Nature

Parents don’t need buckets of money to entertain kids during summer. There’s an entire universe of entertainment outdoors. Kids hooked on the natural wonders of the world don’t complain about being bored because they can always find entertainment climbing a tree or catching bugs and butterflies. There’s interesting activity taking place in dirt, in trees, in plants and in the sky. Here are eight ways to get kids hooked on nature.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• A flashlight
• A blanket
• A jar for catching bugs

1. Point out the Nature Everywhere
   Comment on the weeds growing through the cracks in sidewalks, bugs crawling across the pavement, flowers on the windowsill, leaves and branches on the ground.
2. Go on a Bug Hunt
   Turn over rocks, logs and leaves and take a close look. Handle the bugs gently. Collect them in a jar with a leaf and watch them for a while. Put them back where you found them.
3. Plant a Flower and Herb Box Garden
   Smell flowers. Learn which ones are edible. Plant herbs and basil. Add them to pizza. Eat your pizza under a tree. Notice bees coming around for a bite.
4. Spy on Birds
   Make mini-binoculars out of toilet paper rolls and spy on birds or other animals. Close your eyes and count the different bird sounds that you hear. Get a book on birdwatching from the library and keep count. Look for birds' nests. Hang a feeder.
5. Look at Clouds
   Get a big blanket and lie on your back, allow your body and mind to relax and look at the clouds. Tell stories to each other about what you imagine in the cloud pictures.
6. Visit Trees
   Find a favorite tree and take a nap under it. Give trees big hugs and pat their trunks. Notice the bark. Collect leaves and press them in a book. Climb the tree.
7. Take Moonlight Strolls
   Go for a walk at night with a flashlight. Play hide-n-seek at dusk with flashlights in a local park. Go out together at midnight and look at the night sky and feel the night air.
8. Become a Friend to the Earth
   Watch squirrels. Visit zoos. Notice all the shades of color in nature. Count the shades of green and blue. Splash in puddles, walk in the rain, wade in a stream, sit by a lake. Comment on how calming and relaxing being next to flowing water is. Ask the kids to identify a favorite spot in nature.