Fun With Nature

It is a well-established fact that parental physical activity very much influences not only children’s physical activity patterns, but also the choice of exercise environment. Thus, if parents engage less with nature then so will their children, not just in the present but in the future when they themselves become parents. It is fair, then, to say that a cycle of unfamiliarity and disconnectedness with nature would likely be passed on from generation to generation.

Although there is strong evidence to suggest that natural environments facilitate physical activity and provide health benefits, overall connectedness to nature is apparently declining among children and adolescents. Unfortunately, the current generation of youth is more often than not restricted from accessing nature due to parental fears regarding strangers, traffic and criminal activity. This lack of familiarity with nature can lead those urbanized adolescents to perceive the countryside as intimidating, and they are therefore reluctant to visit if they have not experienced it as children. This negative trend ought to be reversed, as research shows that the amount of time spent outdoors does appear to be a positive correlate of physical activity in both children and adolescents. Even small amounts of time spent in green spaces can lead to children engaging in higher-intensity activities.

Enjoying the outdoors does not require too much planning; you just need a sense of adventure and fun. Here are some tips:

Enjoy the Weather
Look at the clouds, and ask your child what shapes and images he sees; older kids can identify different types of clouds. On a windy day, watch how quickly clouds sail across the horizon. And while we all love sunny days, a few hours of bad weather can be fun, too; just watch a thunderstorm from a cosy window. Take wind chimes, kites, or flags outdoors to illustrate how a blustery wind can set objects in motion. Dress your kids in the right gear, and let them stomp in the rain and even in the mud.

Pick Fruit
A trip to a berry farm or an apple orchard teaches kids that produce does not just come from the supermarket. Ripened blueberries and raspberries are edible right off the branch. Be careful picking blackberries, which often grow on thorny stems. If your child likes to eat apples from the tree, make sure they’re organically grown. Once at home, do something fun with the produce, such as making a pie, a cake, or jam to show how nature’s bounty can be put to good use.

Get Growing
Give your children their own patch of garden or pots of soil, and have them plant vegetables, herbs, or flowers. The quick-to-sprout plants such as marigolds, basil, or tomatoes are fantastic for fast and rewarding results. Invest in small but sturdy gardening tools, and let your child dig a hole and plant the seeds. Teach them to water plants regularly and in the right amounts, and to look after them properly.

Stroll With Your Senses
Instruct children to explore green spaces, and especially the woods, with eyes, ears, nose, and fingers on high alert. Bring a magnifying glass or binoculars for a close look at plants, flowers, and trees. Peer under logs and rocks for insects and other little creatures. Encourage the kids to use their senses further by sniffing and feeling through the vegetation and flora. Then sit quietly and listen to the sounds of birds, water, and small animals.

Gather Nature’s Collectibles
Encourage your children to collect different items from nature and turn it into a fun hobby. They can gather pinecones and colourful autumn leaves. Older children can look for deer antlers and bird feathers. At the beach make sure to look out for pretty rocks and shells. Store items in a plastic/glass display case or showcase them in craft projects. To create something more artistic, glue seashells onto a wooden frame or seal leaves between sheets of wax paper using an iron.

Bring the Outdoors In
Maintain the momentum with lessons using books and magazines or trips to museums, aquariums, and nature centres. Countless places allow children to touch natural objects and study plants and animals up close. Also, pay attention to what it is available locally for nature classes, workshops, and activities just for kids.

Catch a Critter
Choose insects that fascinate your children – ladybugs, grasshoppers, or fireflies: all of these make child-friendly specimens. Show them how to use an insect net to capture the critter, then place it into a jar along with a small twig and a few fresh leaves. Cover the jar, but make sure to punch several tiny holes in the lid for air. Children can spritz the lid with water each day, supply new leaves, and clean the jar every few days. Be aware that certain bugs, such as ladybugs and butterflies, are tough to feed, so it’s best to release them after a day.

Celebrate the Sunrise and Sunset
Few of us take the time to observe the changing hues of the morning or evening sky. If your children are early risers, take them outside to listen to birdcalls and note the flurry of activity shortly after sunrise. Children who are artists at heart could be encouraged to draw or paint what they see. Older kids can record the moment the sun appears on the horizon and note how it changes as the days pass. At sunset, enjoy the sky’s multicoloured show, and look and listen for nocturnal creatures.

Gaze at the Stars
Read and explore astronomy books, or visit an observatory or a planetarium to learn what different constellations and planets look like. On a clear night, go outside with binoculars or take pleasure in gazing up at the moon. As children get older, they might spot a galaxy, a shooting star, or a planet. When a comet, a meteor shower, or a lunar eclipse comes around, gather the family to watch and learn.

Do not hesitate to engage in exploring the outdoors; you might be surprised how much fun it can be, at little or no cost, as well as rewarding for the whole family. Enjoy!

Text by Amalia Burca. Illustration by Lara Friedrich.

Amalia Bouch RN, BScN, MSc is currently practicing for London NHS (Children’s Services), in the United Kingdom, as well as having her private practice www.abcparentingcoach.com.