7 Ideas for Parents to Get Their Kids Interested In Mother Nature

With Internet access, cable TV, and a gamut of gaming consoles, it seems kids nowadays don’t get to play outside and get mud on their shoes like we used to. Below are seven ideas for parents to get their kids interested in Mother Nature.

Get Your Kids Acquainted with Mother Nature:
1. Frolic in the backyard. So, where do you start? At home of course! If you have the luxury of outdoor space or a backyard, encourage them to hang out on the lawn once in a while. Sit down on the grass and feel the spines of Bermuda tickle your palms and rear ends. If hanging out in your own once-ignored backyard seems a little too silly for them at first, bring out the family dog. Let your kids frolic with the dog and run around the yard.

2. Look at the sky. The simplest way to enjoy a nice warm afternoon is to sit or lie on the grass and look at the sky with your kids. Try to distinguish different shapes and figures in the clouds; let your kids’ imagination run wild.

3. Write or draw their observations. Have some paper, pencils and crayons nearby. Ask your kids if anything catches their attention. Maybe one of your little angels will say, “I never realized how tall that tree was.” Or you can point out, “The sky looks so much bluer when seen through the branches and leaves of a tree.”  Encourage them to put their discoveries into drawings and you may be pleasantly surprised at how their works of art speak their thoughts.

4. Collect leaves. Collect fallen leaves and identify from which tree or plant they came. This sharpens your kids’ attention to detail.

5. Have a picnic. Lawn time offers the perfect opportunity for an impromptu picnic! And while you’re at it, use your hands when you eat. Kids love eating with their hands, and doing so encourages more creativity and playfulness.

6. Watch little bugs. Using a small magnifying glass, encourage your little one to watch little bugs and other creatures that you come across, and guess what kind of bug they are, where they live, etc.

7. Walk the dog. If you and your hubby take turns in walking the dog, why not bring the kids along and turn it into a family affair? Older kids can hold the leash while the little ones tag along. You won’t just get your kids to have some exercises—you’ll also be introducing them to the neighborhood. During the walk, teach your kids to steer the dog away from dangers like cars, garbage, and unclean water. Remind your kids to give space between people you pass so as not to scare them. Also, teach your children that one must be responsible enough to clean up after the dog. So if Buster decides to poo right on a neighbor’s driveway, you better have that little plastic bag to scoop it right off. It doesn’t take a dog walk to go on a tour of the neighborhood with your brood, though. There are interesting things beyond your gate that are waiting to be discovered.

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Parents may realize that venturing into the outdoors, be it within your own backyard or outside your home, is an exercise not just of discovery, but of dealing with things and people you meet along the way.

Parents must be aware of possible dangers and obstacles, and use this opportunity to teach kids about safety. Exploring the outdoors also develops your kids’ social skills, enabling them to become more open to different kinds of people and experiences.

Unless you already know of a perfect outdoor location to which to introduce your kids, you only need to introduce a little creativity anywhere to spark their interest in the outdoors and in Mother Nature. The seven ideas to get your kids interested in Mother Nature is just a start. A scenic stop along the road may seem quite ordinary at first, yet if it has a great view and a cool breeze, it just may be the perfect place. When on a road trip and time is on your side, venture into side roads that offer the mystery of the unknown. And even if you feel you know your way around a certain town, try to chat with the locals and ask if they could give you info on some secret hangouts they know of.

Photography by Alfred Mendoza