By Jane Marsh
For mums who admire the natural world, helping your kids explore the outdoors is essential. You want them to find a similar love for plants and animals as you did when you were their age.
How can you foster respect for nature in children? Look no further than these 10 tips to help your kids love the outdoors.
1. Visit Their Favourite Animal
If your children love a particular animal, take them to a zoo or aquarium where they can see it in person. You’ll have an easier time if their creature of interest is more common, but these places make for exciting trips. While you’re there, you can talk to them about why aquariums and zoos are vital to keeping species alive that no longer have a home.
2. Go on a Nature Walk
Your adventurous kids may love taking a walk through your backyard or on a nearby path. While you’re out there, you can point out different animals and plants to them, potentially talking about why they’re vital to the ecosystem. To amp up the fun, try finding or making a scavenger hunt and see how much the family can find.
3. Grow Things Together
Have you always wanted to start a garden? Are you thinking about expanding the one you already have? Encourage your children to follow in your footsteps by including them the next time you plant something. Show them how to nurture the plants and talk about what beautiful flowers or nutritious food they will become.
4. Take Them Camping
If a childhood camping trip inspired your love of the outdoors, it may do the same for your kids. There are tons of activities you can get up to while camping that can have your children begging to go again before the summer ends. Not to mention, getting them away from technology can help them discover many benefits and skills.
5. Sleep Outside
If you can’t find a place to take a camping trip, try creating your own campground in the backyard. Your children will get a very similar experience – especially if you have a fire pit – as they would if you went somewhere to camp. Additionally, you’ll have a quick way to escape the rain and be able to use a stove if cooking by flame isn’t your strong suit.
6. Create a Fairy Home
Adding some mystical whimsiness to your kids’ nature education can help them find fascination whether they’re younger or older. As you’re gathering materials from your yard, talk to them about how some tinier wildlife or even a fairy could move into the little house they’re creating. Mixing magic with outdoor exploration may excite them about the outdoors.
