Seven things to do at home with kids
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GRIZZLY BEAR IN DENALI NATIONAL PARK. © GIVEN PHOTOGRAPHY 2020
It’s spring and the natural world is awakening. It’s the perfect season for kids to explore outside. Even though many of us are sheltering at home, they need not go far to connect with nature. Their own backyard or around the block are wonderful places to explore. With their innate spontaneity and curiosity, kids seem to discover something new at every turn. In my opinion, this kind of fun exploration makes for happy and resilient kids. And what they learn on their own is invaluable. Here are seven nature-themed activities to help inspire kids this spring season to connect with nature in some small ways. You can easily adapt these for all ages with adult help, if needed. Also, I’ve included a couple for rainy May days and good use of screen time! If you’ve got some ideas of your own, please share in the comments.
Sprout some seeds. Nothing says spring more than tiny seedlings poking their sweet heads up through the ground. For a DIY project, kids can plant their seeds in egg cartons with a little garden dirt. To stay organized, they can write plant names directly on the carton. To make it even simpler, many egg cartons can be planted directly in the soil when the seedlings are ready. If you want something a little fancier, lots of inexpensive seed kits designed for kids are available on line. I saw plenty of options on Etsy. Most come with pots, seeds and labels. Not only will you be sprouting seeds, you’ll be sprouting curious kids as they watch these grow into veggies and flowers.
Create a nature rubbing notebook. This activity is a great way to get kids to observe the world where they live. Gather several sheets of white paper and old crayons. Cut the white paper into eight 4 inch by 4 inch squares. Then peel the paper off the old crayons. Venture outside with kids or send them on their own to find a variety of leaves in your yard or near your home. Make it fun. See how many different ones they can find. Look at different trees, plants and bushes. Maple, ivy, and laurel make good rubbings. Pick ones that are a bit thicker and have cool shapes. Once back home, have them place each leaf under a sheet of paper and rub the side of the crayon back and forth across the paper to make a tracing of the leaf. Press hard to get all of the veins. When finished, write the leaf’s name on the paper. If they don’t know the name of the plant or tree, help them look it up. After the rubbings are complete, staple the sheets together on the left side to make a notebook. For a little more fun, create a cover with stiff paper and title it.
Save the earth in some small way. Before you recycle that big cardboard box get some more mileage out of it by letting kids turn it into an outdoor play box. It can be made into anything from an outdoor fort to a playhouse to a pizza stand. Maybe even a spaceship. Kids will only be limited by their imagination once they get the idea that they can make the box into something awesome.
Make a fat ball for the birds. For basic recipe, melt some suet or lard and stir in nuts and seeds. Throw in some raisins if you have them. Put the mixture in a small round bowl. Cut a piece of string and partly submerge it in the middle of the mixture. Then place in fridge overnight to get solid. Remove the ball from the bowl and hang it on a tree branch with the string. Kids will love watching the birds flock to this tasty ball of protein.
Listen to a book on audible. Are you missing your trips to the library? Audible is offering free books for kids of all ages! No sign up necessary. You’ll find lots of classics with nature-bent themes, including Swiss Family Robinson, Bambi, The Secret Garden, and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. This is a great diversion for kids during those May showers!
Go on a nature expedition. Make a list with kids of natural things to collect in yards or around neighborhoods. Think about natural elements in the area. They can collect seedpods, leaves, fruits, wildflowers, flowering weeds, feathers, pine cones, rocks, and more. See what else they can come up with on their own as they explore. This is fun to do with little ones. Don’t forget a basket to carry all of the treasures.
Do a mini-report on an animal or bird. Here are some topic ideas for elementary kids to research online. (This is a great adult-kid project to do together.) How do you tell the difference between a grizzly bear (like the one in the picture above) and a black bear. Where do red fox live and what do they eat. Name all of the different kinds of whales that live in the ocean. What kinds of bugs, birds, and animals live in a swamp. Make a list of big birds that have long skinny legs and include where they live. Identify and write about some of the birds that visit your backyard or neighborhood. This can be a fun learning project, again, for those rainy days.
