Tips to Help Children Connect With Nature:
The world we live in now is vastly different. Children no longer have the freedom to explore the world around them, and many have little or no interaction with nature. Children nowadays face several barriers to natural exploration, including fear of harm, organized classes and activities, and electronic devices. Here are some beneficial tips that you can follow to let your child connect with nature.
#1 Go outside
One of the first things you can do is go outside and take a basic trail walk or nature trek in any nearby natural space—whether it’s a city park, a regional nature reserve, or a full-fledged provincial or national park. Even little amounts of contact with trees, plants, animals, insects, and watercourses, regardless of the size of the natural environment, can provide benefits to you and your children.
#2 Allow them to become messy.
You must be willing to accept the possibility that your children will become dirty as a result of their time spent in nature. If they’re doing nature “right,” they should have some dirt on their clothes and tree sap on their hands. Allow children to get messy by letting them jump in puddles, create forts, roll over rocks and logs looking for bugs and worms, and pick up sticks, leaves, and pinecones. The textures, sights, and sounds of the natural environment around them will engage their senses all the while.
#3 Play simple games
Playing games in the natural place you’re exploring might also help your children connect with nature. Games like follow the leader, I spy, hide-and-seek, and pick-up sticks don’t require any equipment or knowledge. If you’re feeling more ambitious and willing to put in some effort ahead of time, you could even organize a scavenger hunt or attempt geocaching.
#4 Make use of books and other resources.
There are many fantastic books and online resources available if you want to go deep into all of the inventive ways to get your kids connecting with nature. Great exercises and advice can be found in Angela J. Hanscom’s blockbuster book Balanced and Barefoot and Richard Louv’s Vitamin N: The Essential Guide to a Nature-Rich Life.
#5 Make a to-do list and a deadline.
#6 Keep It Fun.
Possibly most importantly; nature connection is designed to be enjoyable and interesting at all times.
So, if you’re out there and it feels like a struggle and not at all enjoyable, it’s a sign that you’re either working too hard or not paying attention to where the children’s interests are genuinely centered.
This isn’t to say that every moment should be high-intensity and thrilling.
Simply put, it suggests that the experience will be positive and free of resistance.
- What can we do outside that is entertaining, instructive, and fun?
- Where can we go to learn something new and different?
- What are the present season’s and climate’s ripe opportunities?
- What past interests have I noticed in the youngsters that we could explore more today?
Takeaway:
Children are spending less time with nature as a result of their urban lifestyles and strong reliance on digital technology, which can hurt their mental and physical health. There are many benefits of connecting with nature. When children are permitted to spend more time in nature, they thrive. Nurturing their love for nature can make kids happier because it allows them to have a link with nature that is full of adventure, discovery, and beauty. It also improves their observation abilities and feeds their curiosity, making them better thinkers and inventors. In Montessori schools, teachers ensure that children connect with nature by letting them do several activities.
