How to Help Your Kids Get Excited About Nature
From building a treehouse to playing hide and seek around the neighbourhood with friends, there was once a time when getting out and about was truly the best part of being a child. Fast forward to modern times and more children than ever are now spending hours of the day sat behind a television, computer screen or mobile phone. Did you know that the average 8-16 year old spends an average of 53 hours glued to some sort of electronic device? If you are a parent who is trying to find ways to get your kid out of the house and into nature, this is the article for you. And for more ideas to get older kids outside, try these ideas. Today, we look at 6 easy ways to help get your kids excited about the great outdoors, so read on to find out more!
- Make Camping A Family Tradition
The number of families who go out on camping trips has greatly plummeted in the last 2 decades. With busy parents who have to balance their time between working all day and taking care of kids at the same time, less and less children are being introduced to the world of camping and enjoying the wonders of mother nature. Making camping a family tradition is a great way to introduce your little ones to the outdoors and can create some meaningful bonding time for parents and kids away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. You don’t even need to go far — grab a camping tent, a few supplies and plan to spend a weekend at a nearby nature reserve where the entire family can unwind and enjoy the company of both each other and mother nature. Check out our top tips and family camping essentials list!
- Experiment With Gardening
Gardening is known to be an incredibly therapeutic activity that can improve the cognitive and social skills of children. Whether you live in an apartment or a house with an abundant front yard or backyard, there is always an opportunity to garden despite space limitations. If all you have is a small balcony, spend some time with the kids planting herbs such as Parsley, Coriander and Thyme which the little ones can tend to and eventually harvest to use in home cooked meals. Alternatively, if space permits, planting vegetables and flowers can be a great way to teach kids about where their food comes from while at the same time getting them excited to try a plethora of new fresh fruit and veggies.
- Visit Your Local Farm
Nature isn’t just limited to trees, flowers and vegetables — in fact, bringing your kids to a local farm and letting them get up close and personal with farm animals is a great way to expand your child’s awareness of everything mother nature encapsulates. Spending a day milking a cow, cuddling a chicken or even collecting fresh eggs is sure to instil a deep respect and gratitude for life. Depending on the type of farm you visit, your little ones may even get to hear the individual stories about each animal and their back story, allowing kids to connect deeper with not just nature but also the earth and its ecosystem.
- Organise A Scavenger Hunt
A scavenger hunt is a great educational activity for kids that not only challenges them but also keeps them connected to nature. Organising one is as simple as downloading a scavenger hunt template online and then picking a location that offers vast amounts of empty space amongst the branches and trees. Once you have your template and location in mind, all you have to do is gather the kids and their friends, hide clues and objects around the place and then let the kids do their thing! The satisfaction of finding hidden treasures turns the hunt into a reinforcing activity that will engage them and help them enjoy the outdoors while in search of the next list item.
- Use Technology To Your Advantage
If getting your kid away from technology proves to be a lot more challenging than you anticipated, adapting and using that very technology to your advantage can be a great gateway into exploring nature. All you have to do is have your child bring their phone or camera along with them to create photo or video journals of various nature trips. Sure — this isn’t as great as simply disconnecting entirely, but at least your kid will be using technology to focus on the world around them.
- Hit Up Your local Beach
If you’re fortunate enough to live near a beach, you certainly should take advantage of it. Nothing beats spending time at the beach with family on a warm and sunny day, splashing around the water and enjoying a variety of picnic snacks while you’re at it. Kids can build sandcastles, frolic in the water with a pool noodle and even collect a variety of seashells and rocks that can be used in art projects. Furthermore, the ocean has its own way of calming us all down, making it the perfect way to unwind after a busy week of school and activities. Find our best beach activities for kids here!
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The benefits of encouraging your kids to spend quality time outdoors can have significant positive impacts on both their physical and mental health. So while screen time is often the easier choice after a long and stressful day, it is still incredibly important to set aside time for outdoor play. We hope that this article has given you a few new ideas on how you can get your little ones excited about nature and its abundant wonders.
