Most children love being outdoors. But sometimes you need creative ways to encourage them to spend more time outdoors. Here are 5 nature activities for young children that may encourage a love for nature or being outdoors, while being educational too.
1. Bird Watching
You can buy a small inexpensive notebook or make your own with several sheets of paper and yarn or a stapler. Take your book and a pencil or crayons on a walk to a park. When your child observes a bird they can draw it or write down a description of it. Later you can look it up online or in a book to identify what kind of bird it was.
2. Nature Mobile
Use two sticks that are each about a foot long. Make an X out of your sticks and use twine to connect them. Using more twine hang objects you find in your backyard, park, or on a nature walk. You can hang flowers, pine cones, leaves, etc from your mobile.
3. Color Walk
This is a fun variation to a nature walk. Assign each child a color. Younger children can hunt for small objects that match their color (rocks, leaves, etc.). Older children can write down what they saw that was their assigned color.
4. Treasure Map
If you have more than one child you can give one a small “treasure” (dollar store toy, candy, or other treat) to hide for their sibling. Then help them draw a treasure map to find the item. Older children can write directions instead of drawing a map, (Go to the pine tree, take 3 steps left, look for a brown rock, etc). this activity can also be done indoors.
5. Rock Painting
Take a walk on a trail or in your neighborhood. Find some medium sized smooth rocks. Take them home and paint designs or faces on them.
Written by AlwaysAMama
Mommy blogger that enjoys writing as a hobby.