Growing up my favorite place was outdoors! Playing in puddles or mud after a storm, the wind hitting my face when riding my bicycle, or throwing rocks like they were basketballs – I have many fond memories of playing outside!
But today, if I’m honest, most kids (or maybe just my kids) are having a hard time connecting with nature. Between video games, cell phones, social media, and more, a lot of kids choose technology instead of nature. We are trying to combat that by making time in a nature a requirement in our home. We do this by including a nature walk in our day, taking a field trip to zoo, playing in the backyard, or bike rides to the park. This has taken more work than I intended, but my hope is my kids not only appreciate nature but desire it!
If you find yourself struggling to get your kids to connect with the outdoors try following some of the tips below – they have helped me and I hope they will help you too!
Be their example Kids are the ultimate copycats. Choose to drink your coffee outside, go for an outdoor walk/run instead of the treadmill, etc. When I choose to drink my coffee outside, the kids will find and join me. When they do, we listen to birds chirping and then try to spy them! Another thing I do, is take them on my morning walk. We talk about the trees, leaves, insects, temperature etc. If they don’t join, I make sure I talk about the beautiful nature I experienced. The point is, if you enjoy nature activities they will learn to enjoy it too.
Be intentional Plan an outdoor adventure together. Try hiking, fishing, trail walks, star gazing, camping, or even “glamping”. Put it on the calendar, and make it happen! Get children involved with the planning and ask them questions about the upcoming excitement. For example, what do you think the weather will be like? Are you excited? What should we wear? What type of shoes will we need? Will it be muddy, grassy, rocky? What snacks or drinks should we take?
Do it with others We found a forest school group – and it has been one of my children’s favorite things! Our forest group goes down a trail and reads nature books together. Can’t find a specific group that works for you? No problem! Just ask another family to go on a nature walk, feed ducks at the lake, plant wildflowers, or even enjoy the fresh air at the Arboretum. Nature playdates are always more fun with others!
Make it fun Try having an outdoor scavenger hunt! Whether a nature scavenger hunt, a backyard scavenger hunt, a fall specific scavenger hunt, or our favorite, a zoo scavenger hunt. Another fun idea is making art with nature, helping with planting a garden or yard work like raking (as long as they can jump in the pile of leaves), or even dancing in the rain.
Nature is life giving … not just for our children but for us as adults. Don’t let it pass you by! If you are in need of ideas, here is an article to help you plan a local hike. Do you have any other ideas of how to get kids to love nature? Share in the comments below!
