It is well known that children have an innate connection to the earth and all of its creatures.
They long to be out in nature, to get their hands dirty, explore and use their imagination. They know that the earth is ours to take care of, without being told.
They find great joy in watching a lizard run across the steps ahead of them or in seeing a deer munching on the trees. They love to sow seeds, pull weeds and eat kale.
Children thrive when given the opportunity to build a Fairy House out of natural materials or hide among the bushes or hang on the branches of a tree.
It is true that nature is dirty, it holds a lot of uncertainties and it is unfamiliar to our urban senses. It is not, however, something to fear. One step at a time, we can reestablish our relationship with Nature and in doing so, heal ourselves and our environment.
Reuniting Kids with Nature Activities
Each of the below activities is part of a series of low cost, hands-on activities that can be facilitated and experienced by anyone who has a passion for nature and who believes that a child’s time spent in nature is not only important but necessary.
Each activity includes:
- All the materials you’ll need
- How long the activity will take
- Step by step instructions
- Questions to further explore the experience
- Tips and tidbits of helpful information.
My decades of experience working directly with children in a hands-on setting has affirmed my belief that getting our hands dirty is a very good thing for the mind, body, and spirit of each of us! I hope that you will allow yourself some time to get outside to play and learn with the children in your life!
- Nature Journals
- Fairy Houses & Gnome Homes
- Bird Nests
- Habitat Building
- Make Your Own Play Dough
- Compass Creation
- Water Filters
- Quick Sand
- Recycled Paper Beads
- Erosion – One
- Erosion – Two
- Environmental Love Notes
- Bark Rubbings
- Recycled Veggies
- Salt Crystals
- Seed Bombs
- Soil Search
- Flower & Leaf Collection
- Make Your Own Recycled Paper
- Travelling Seeds
- Owl Pellets
- Butterfly Symmetry
- Caterpillars to Butterflies!
- Butterfly Lifecycle Mobile
- Self Appreciation Caterpillars
- Frog Lifecycle Mobile
- Bird Feeders
- Nature Walk
- Weather Chart
- Recipe: Squash & Tomato Bake
- Visit a Community Garden
- Recipe: Edible Birds Nests
- Self Watering Containers
- Recipe: Simple Apple Turnovers
- The Living Teepee
- Make your Own Flip Book!
- Growth Chart
- Germination Rates Experiment
- Veggie Garden in a Bag
- Bee Friendly Flower Patch
- Seed Saving
- Photo Scavenger Hunt
- Photo Project
- Dam Building
- 3D Flowers
- Living Observation
- Long Term Living Observation
- Textured Landscapes
- Recycled Egg Shells
- Climb a Tree!
- Build a Volcano
- Snow Flakes