25 Nature Adventures for Kids
Ideas for exploring the natural world -- even in your own backyard.
by Jenni Frankenberg Veal
June 16, 2009
"Teaching children about the natural world should be treated as one of the most important events in their lives," says author Thomas Berry. If this responsibility sounds too heavy, rest assured that it is actually very simple to explore nature
with a young child. Most of these activities can be done easily at home or in the neighborhood. Some take a little online research, phone calls or planning, but they are well worth the effort for the memories they create and the love of the outdoors they can
inspire in a child. — Jenni Frankenberg Veal
1. Play in the mud. Mud can be made anywhere — in the yard, in a small pool, or in a bucket on the porch. Just combine dirt and water, and most children will know what to do from there. For extra fun, add utensils, pans, bowls
and buckets (thrift stores usually have super-cheap ones). If your child is hesitant, dig in yourself and show him that it can be fun to commune with mud. The point is to get dirty with reckless abandon. Another fun mud project:
Place your child's muddy handprints on construction paper to create a unique keepsake. Turn the handprints into inspirational "mud art" by writing this line from an e.e. cummings' poem at the top of the handprints: "The world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful."
2. Build a fairy house. Find an out-of-the-way place to build a fairy house, such as at the base of a tree, in a corner
of the yard, or even in a planter. Then search for natural materials that can become tiny chairs, tables and beds for elusive "woodland fairies." Let your child's imagination run wild as she searches for sticks, pine cones, leaves, seed pods, acorns, shells
and rocks that can be turned into a fairy's household items. When your child asks if fairies are real, just ask her what she thinks about it. For ideas and inspiration, read Tracy Kane's wonderful children's book Fairy Houses.
3. Grow a garden. Michelle Obama is growing a
White House Kitchen Garden this summer with her daughters. Try this yourself at home, either in a small plot in the yard or in planters. You can grow plants from seed in the early spring or purchase plants in late spring. Tomatoes, lettuces,
herbs and sunflowers are good plants to start. You'll learn in your first year and can expand upon your knowledge the next year. Keep a garden notebook to record your successes and challenges, as well as pictures of your farmers and crop.
4. Visit a nature center. A nature center is often a community's best-kept secret. These outdoor education centers typically offer helpful programs about local plants and animals, and nature
center naturalists are great resources for information about interesting activities in your area. Look in the phone book or online for your closest nature center and plan to spend a morning or afternoon exploring what's there.
5. Make a tree your friend. Have your child pick a favorite tree in your yard or neighborhood to make his own. Put a ribbon around it or something simple that declares it "his" tree. Name the tree and watch how it changes throughout the year.
Have your child draw and photograph the tree to create a special tree book. Find out what kind of tree it is, and watch throughout the year to see what animals live in it and what kind of seeds it produces. This is a simple way to develop a child's connection
with nature.
6. Find a secret hideaway. Help your child to find her own secret hideaway in the yard, woods or at a park — under a tree, behind or on top of a rock, or in a special nook at the park. This can be a hidden place for your child to read a book,
play and imagine. This can even become a spiritual place of sorts, such as a prayer rock or quiet spot under a tree for quieting the mind.
7. Go berry picking. There is nothing like picking your own strawberries, blackberries, raspberries and blueberries on a warm, sunny day. Look for local farms with pick-your-own opportunities. Or look for wild areas with berries ripe for the
picking — for free. Be sure all berry pickers are wearing hats and shoes (not flip-flops). If you have space in your yard — it doesn't take much — plant and grow your own berry bushes; it usually takes a couple years to establish bushes, but it is well worth
the effort. Look online for the best-tasting crops so you aren't disappointed when your plants bear fruit.
8. Rock hop in a creek. Childhood isn't complete without a creek to hop around in once in a while. Creeks are great for wading, water fights, crawdad-hunting, rock-hopping and exploring. Find a favorite spot and allow your child time to play
and explore. Be sure that any creeks children enter have acceptable water-quality ratings; check water quality through local municipalities and utilities.
About the Author
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Jenni Veal writes about nature education, travel and the natural landscape of the southeastern United States. As a magazine writer and editor based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, she enjoys helping parents to discover the beauty within nature with their children. |
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