We love to get out and get into nature. Getting out in nature helps kids to learn about the world around them and to appreciate it. When we are out the girls learn something new each and every time. Each time they see a new bug they haven’t discovered before, or they pick up a weird shaped rock, they are learning something. Everything from different bug species to different textures, to learning what gravity does.
Why do leaves fall from trees?
Why do the rocks fall when I throw them?
They ask questions and they discover. It’s a huge new world of exploration for kids.
Today I am sharing 5 Ways to get your kids to explore the world around them and learn to appreciate and respect our planet.
1. Let them get messy.
Let them play in the dirt, let them jump in rain puddles and pickup bugs. They can take a bath afterwards, but letting them have fun exploring and getting messy sometimes is the best way for them to learn new things. Don’t just let them get messy, encourage them.
2. Listen, acknowledge and ask open ended questions.
My daughters love to explore and ask me questions about everything they find. Mom are trees alive? Mom how do plants eat, mom where do birds live? Everything can be a learning experience for them. So listen, acknowledge and ask open ended questions as a follow up. It gets them thinking and helps them find the answer and sometimes answer their own questions. My daughter asked me the other day – Mom, how do plants eat? Rather than answering her question and ending the discussion I simply asked her – How do you think plants eat? She responded…from the roots? Turned out she already knew the answer and asking her helped her to see that she already knew the answer.
3. Let them help you.
Whether it’s watering plants or planting flowers, let them help. Answer questions they have about it and help them understand why you are doing the things that you’re doing.
4. Take them to new places. The backyard is an amazing place to explore, but new places can give way to new and interesting things. We visited our museum the other day and the girls discovered some interesting looking bugs. They even got really close to a particular duck my oldest called a turkey duck.
5. Uninstructed play.
Leave the structured activities for indoor play. Outdoors should be a time where kids can run around, explore and do their own thing. Digging, picking up leaves, collecting and throwing rocks….it may not seem like much, but with everything they do, they are learning about nature and to learn it is to appreciate and respect it.
If you need some help coming up with ideas your kids can do to learn more about nature then consider getting the The Kids’ Nature Book! It has an activity for everyday of the year and even takes into consideration the season changes.