Mother Nature is the best medicine for cabin fever, and perhaps one of the best teachers your kids can have. So make your kids put down their electronic devices and lace up their shoes because taking them outside is good medicine for the soul and the mind. Here are some nature learning activities that will get your children’s hearts and brains working.
Hiking
Studies show that green spaces are good for kids and their mental health. So is exercise, and you can hit two emotionally healthy birds with one stone by taking your kids hiking. Spending time in wide-open spaces has proven to be one of the safest, healthiest activities for kids and adults alike over the last year or so.
And nothing can compare to the first time your child spots a deer, gopher, or other wild animals in their natural habitat. If you’re waiting for your younger kid to be eligible for a vaccine, then hiking is still one of the best COVID-safe activities you can do with them.
Camping
Even if it’s only in the backyard, there’s something to be said for sleeping under the stars instead of in front of the TV. After roasting marshmallows in a firepit, they may surprise you by wanting to turn in early. After all, a sleeping bag inside a tent is much more alluring than a bed.
If heading to a campground or favorite spot in the woods, encourage them to listen to the sounds of nature. It’s easier to fall asleep to the sounds of crickets chirping than it is to traffic noise.
Crafting With Nature
Don’t be surprised if your kids’ imaginations are sparked by their time spent out in nature. Encourage them to bring home a few rocks, leaves, sticks, or flowers to create a nature-based project at home. Whether it’s as simple as painting rocks, or something more elaborate like assembling pressed-flower mobiles, challenge your kids to create using natural found materials in their arts and crafts.
Dig A Rain Garden
A rain garden is a longer-term project that can teach your kids about preventing erosion and water pollution. It’s also a great way to learn more about the flowers and plant life that will thrive in your yard. And let’s face it: Kid love playing in the mud. Don’t discourage them. Exposure to the microbes and good bacteria actually strengthens their immune system.
If you have older kids or teens, you can get them involved in the nitty-gritty planning of the garden. If you have younger kids, have them help you dig and plant and weed. When it rains, make a point of showing them how the runoff from the street or the driveway is absorbed quickly into the rain garden instead of pooling. Let kids of all ages choose their favorite plants to look after in the rain garden.
Kate Newberry writes about camping and hiking for several publications. She and her family have hiked everything from the Big Dalton Canyon in California to Pikes Peak in Colorado and the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee (although her kids claim the Smokey Mountains are just “small hills.)
