Raising Your Kids to Love Nature
When I was a kid, I remember playing outside for hours after school and on the weekends. It was normal for us to play flashlight tag with the neighbors or run down to the creek to search for dragonflies and frogs. I have fond memories of taking long walks with my dad and building snow forts with my siblings. Most of my favorite memories are from outdoor adventures and time in nature.
Unfortunately, in recent years we have seen a negative correlation between technological advances and time in nature. In other words, as our technology becomes more enticing, we spend less time outdoors. Kids are more likely to be found staring at a screen rather than searching for bugs or watching the clouds drift. However, with the state of our environment, we can’t afford to have a generation of kids growing up indifferent to our environmental effects.
What Can We Do?
Fear not, thankfully it’s never too late to raise your kiddos to be nature lovers! There’s a lot you can do right now, and it’s not complicated as you may think. Check out this list of 20 tips to help your kiddos fall in love with nature so they can grow up to be stewards of their environment.
Number One Tip – Start Them Early
As soon as it’s safe to do so (for most this is soon after birth), bring your precious baby outside. You can babywear or let them experience tummy time in nature. Let them feel the texture of the grass with their feet or tree bark with their hands. They learn so much in those first months and years of life and bringing them outdoors often opens up their world even further.
When my boys were babies, they took the best and longest naps when they were tucked inside a baby carrier while I explored the outdoors. They loved being out in the fresh air and observing all the new sights and sounds that Mother Nature has to offer. They may be older now, but they are still most calm when we are outdoors.
Make it a Family Affair
When you turn nature time into family nature time, you may be surprised to see the positive impacts it has on not only your kids but the adults too! Here are a few ways to turn nature time into a bonding time for your family.
Start Some Outdoor Family Traditions
I have a thing for traditions. I love having something to look forward to each year, regardless of the occasion! These can include anything that provides meaning for your family and brings you closer together. Some examples include:
First-Day Hikes – Hiking on the first day of the year to set a positive tone for the year.
Opt Outside Hikes – Hiking on Black Friday after Thanksgiving as a way to focus on family memories instead of the consumer rush.
Solstice and Equinox Celebrations – There is something special about celebrating the start of a new season! Check out these articles I wrote for Hike it Baby on how to celebrate the changing seasons: The Spring Equinox, the Summer Solstice, the Fall Equinox, and the Winter Solstice.
Neighborhood or Park Light Walk – If your neighborhood or nearby park has some spectacular light displays during the holidays, make it a tradition to enjoy them as a family every year (don’t forget the warm beverages and layers!).
Make it a Family Lifestyle
This may be tough at first, especially if you live in an area with harsh weather. However, making little changes, such as taking post-meal walks around your neighborhood or heading to the backyard after your little one’s nap, can make a big difference. If you’re like me, you may need a little external motivation to help make nature part of your lifestyle. My family takes part in challenges, such as the 1000 Hours Outside and 52 Hike Challenge, to give us a little extra push to spend more time outside.
Share Photos and Memories from Previous Outdoor Experiences
My boys LOVE seeing photos of my husband and me on adventures before they were born. We tell them funny stories about the mishaps we had and our favorite outdoor discoveries as a couple. We also go through photos and videos from outings we took when they were younger. It never fails to motivate them to get outside and make some new memories in nature.
Nature at Home
Finding nature doesn’t have to involve loading the family into the car and driving to the trailhead or park. You can find nature right where you are. Here are some tips for enjoying nature in and around your home.
Do Some “Inside” Activities Outside
You may be surprised at how many “inside” activities can be done outside. We enjoy reading books and having picnic lunches in our yard or on our porch. My youngest also enjoys bringing his toy cars and action figures onto the deck for some epic races and imaginative play.
Bring the Outdoors in with Décor
You may not always be able to get out in nature, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy nature. You can bring in nature-themed décor to display all the things you love about nature. For us, we like to display photos from past adventures, paintings of nature scenes that inspired us, nature artwork my boys have created, etc.
Create a Nature Table Each Season
A nature table is simply an area in your house where you keep “treasures”, photos, and little mementos that remind you of past experiences in nature each season. This could be as small as a little jar that holds shells, rocks, and other nature finds, or as big as a table with themed books and other seasonal offerings added in. If you want to stick closer to the Leave No Trace Principles, you could skip the “treasures” and include seasonal crafts, photos, postcards, etc. that remind you of the season. There is no wrong way to create a nature table!
Grow a Garden Together
There is nothing quite like the pride of eating something that you have grown yourself or stepping outside to find the seeds you planted have bloomed into gorgeous flowers. It’s also a great way to teach your kiddos a little responsibility through the care and maintenance of the garden. You could do something as simple as growing a few herbs in pots by the window or as extravagant as a lush garden in your backyard. For our family, we will be trying our hand at using a Tower Garden this year, and my boys are already super excited to give it a try!
Popsicles are Way Easier to Handle When Eaten Outside!
Let Them Be Kids
Have you noticed that in today’s society, it’s harder than ever to just let kids be kids? It’s as though the expectations of our children have gotten steeper, and their childhoods are getting shorter. Instead of giving in to the new “safety” norms and the social media police “shaming” us for letting kids act their age, let’s try letting kids be the tiny, curious, sensory-seeking humans they were meant to be. Here are a few ways to accomplish this in nature:
See it Through Their Eyes
I mean this literally. Get down to their level and really see what has their interest piqued. Did they spot a line of ants marching across the trail? Follow their tracks and see where they are headed with your kiddo. Do they see moss growing on a nurse log? Look around and see what other plants or critters you can spot with them. You may be surprised how much more you discover when you slow down and observe like a child.
Allow Risky Play
As a parent, it can be hard to allow your children to take risks, whether it’s climbing a tree or exploring the slippery rocks of a creek. However, risky play has several benefits for kids. It helps to develop a child’s sensory, motor, and balance systems while also building confidence, self-awareness, and problem-solving skills. When kids are allowed to figure things out for themselves and make mistakes, they are learning crucial skills for their future. For example, I allow my kiddos to climb rocks and trees, but I will not physically help them do so. I will talk them through it but allowing them to figure out their footing and technique themselves ensures that they can also get back down on their own.
My Older Kiddo Enjoying Some Climbing Practice
Let Them Go Barefoot
This can be a tough one (especially if you have had a bad experience running around barefoot), but there are a number of benefits to letting kids go barefoot. These include aiding in proper foot development, helping kids develop body awareness, strengthening the feet, ankles, and legs, etc. It’s also just plain fun and a delight for the senses. If it makes you nervous, try starting them out in your yard or other safe spaces where they are less likely to run into dangerous materials. Check out this article I wrote for Hike it Baby for more information on the benefits of going barefoot along with tips for making it happen safely.
Let Them Get Messy… Really Messy
This can be hard… really hard for some people (my husband included). The thought of having to drag a muddy, wet child through the house to get cleaned up makes him cringe and groan at the same time. However, there are various studies (like this one from Science Advances and this one from The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology) that show evidence of the benefits of muddy play for the immune systems of our kids. When we expose them to the diverse microbes found in soil, we are enhancing their immune system to help them fight off the germs that cause common illnesses.
On top of the benefits for their health, it’s just plain fun to get dirty! It’s like a sensory delight, especially for little ones who are eager to discover everything they can about their environment. Yes, they may taste-test the mud or drink water from the slide. Chances are, they are helping to diversify the microbiome of their gut. When was the last time you felt the squish of mud between your toes? You may find it just as delightful as your kiddos do!
Play to Their Interests
Sometimes kiddos (especially older ones) can be resistant to tearing their eyes away from the screens and getting out in nature. Here are a few ways to entice them to get outside and stay outside longer.
Go on a “Treasure Hunt”
Who doesn’t love searching for treasure? Even your big kiddos can be persuaded to go on an outdoor adventure if there is some sort of “treasure” hunt involved! One option for this is Geocaching, which uses GPS coordinates to lead you to a hidden cache along or trail or in a park. Simply download the free Geocaching app on your device, and search for a cache near you on the map. When you click on one, it will open the information and hints along with a GPS function that will help lead you to the treasure. Some are tiny and involve simply signing the scroll. Others are larger and include tokens and trinkets you can trade out. For more information, visit the Geocaching Website.
Other options include scavenger hunts put on my various cities, letterboxing (which is similar to geocaching, but with clues instead of GPS coordinates), and games like Pokemon Go (which is especially appealing for older kiddos). You can do a quick online search for your area or ask around in local outdoor groups to see what is available near you.
Play Outdoor Games
Playing outdoor games not only brings some fun into your outdoor time, but it also helps your kids notice all of the amazing things found in nature. Games like scavenger hunts and i-spy encourage them to look for specific aspects of nature (we like the Go Find It cards for inspiration). Old school games such as hopscotch and four-square encourage kids to move around while taking in the fresh air. You could even create a simple outdoor obstacle course using chalk or materials you have around the house. The options are endless!
Ask Questions to Promote Curiosity
Children are naturally curious. As Carl Sagan put it, “Every kid starts out as a natural-born scientist”. We can encourage that curiosity and sense of wonder by asking questions such as “where do you think that ant is going?” and “Why do you think some trees lose their leaves and others don’t?”. You don’t have to know the answers (or even provide the “right” answer), the simple act of helping them investigate and observe their environment is enough.
This also strengthens your connection with your kiddos because it shows them you are interested in what they have to say and how their mind works. You can even take it further by researching the answers together if your kiddo shows an interest. If not, don’t push it. They will discover the answers soon enough.
My Excited Boys When They Found Their Very First Geocache
Focus on the Journey, Not the Destination
Too often we focus on where we are going rather than the experience of getting there. Instead of always focusing on the end goal, check out these tips for enjoying the journey of raising little nature lovers.
Go Outside Often
Not every trip outside has to be a well-planned adventure. You could simply step into your backyard for some sunshine or eat a snack or meal on your deck. Don’t have a yard? No problem, you can go for a walk nearby, stop by a park while you’re running errands, or take a meandering stroll to the mailbox. Along the way, point out the nature you observe to your kiddos, whether it’s a pretty wildflower or the sound of a bird calling.
Let Them Lead on a Hike or Walk
Most kids (especially toddlers) love being in the lead at times. They get to feel the independence and control of choosing which way to go and what to look at. Even if your “hike” is simply a quarter mile of observing every cool bug, leaf, and twig on the trail, it makes a difference to your little one and goes a long way to instilling a love of nature in them from a young age.
You May Be Surprised What They Discover When You Let Them Lead
Offer a Variety of Outdoor Experiences
Providing a variety of different experiences helps kids see nature from different aspects. From studying the ladybugs in your backyard to the giant trees on a hike nearby, you can showcase the many different parts of nature without the need to spend a cent. We enjoy playground days, lake exploration, backyard cloud spotting, hikes to waterfalls, splashing in creeks, etc. Even exploring the fields near a shopping center while running errands counts as an outdoor experience!
Surround Yourself with Like-Minded People
This one has been a huge game-changer for us. It started when my youngest was 9 months old and I discovered Hike it Baby. Today, we take part in a 4H Nature Explorers Club, a Homeschool Nature Club, and the local Hike it Baby branch. We have met most of our friends this way, which is huge as a military family. Finding people who also want to raise nature lovers and enjoy the outdoors motivates us to keep getting outside. We may not get very far down the trail, but our kiddos love and respect nature, and that’s the important part.
Lower Your Expectations
I will admit that this was hard for me at first. I loved the feeling of climbing to the peak of a mountain, taking in the views, and feeling my muscles burn from the exertion. However, that needed to change once my oldest started walking. He protested (and LOUDLY) that he wanted out of the carrier after the first mile or two. We had to adjust, and I had to lower my expectations. Once you shift your mindset, you can learn to love nature differently, seeing it through their eyes. We still enjoy the grueling, kid-free hikes from time to time, but we also enjoy the short trail explorations with our kiddos leading the way.
Enjoying a Slow-Paced Trail Exploration With Good Friends in Our Nature Club
You Can Raise Your Kids to be Stewards of Their Environment
Our children are more connected than ever, with screens everywhere they look. However, this connection has caused a disconnect to the nature around us. These tips and tricks can help your family reconnect with Mother Nature so that we can raise our future generations to respect and take care of her. Because we only have one Earth, and it’s up to our kiddos to be better stewards than the generations that came before them.
Do you have favorite tips and tricks for helping your kiddos love nature? Let me know in the comments below!