4 Essential Ways to Get Your Kids to Love Nature
What is there not to love about sunshine, y’all? One of my favorite parts about summer is how much clean and fresh air there is to breathe in. However, this feeling of sunshine on your shoulders and the consistent opportunity to get outside usually isn’t appealing until you’re older. Especially with kids these days who love technology, the urge to get outside all day long, every day of the summer, doesn’t sink in. So, what can we do? I think a huge step in the right direction is just to get them to fall in love with all the beauty of nature. To help y’all out, I’ve listed a few different ways to get your kids to love nature. Check them out!
Explain How it Helps Them
Now, this doesn’t mean that you have to suddenly become Ms. Frizzle, but you can teach them about how nature affects them. For example, you can simply explain some of the reasons why kids need outdoor playtime. If you can talk to them about how sunshine will help them stay healthy, how running in the sunshine helps their development, and how exploring enhances their creativity, they’ll understand why you’re pushing for so much time outside.
If we don’t explain our reasoning to our kids, they battle our decisions. Give them the facts and they’ll see your thinking!
Get Out and Explore With Them
Similarly, if your kids don’t see your loving nature, then they’re not going to be encouraged to do the same. So, do your best to get out and explore with them. Set up fun little nature scavenger hunts in the backyard, jump around in the rain with them, and let them help you in the garden. When children can play with us, they’ll see how much we enjoy it and end up feeling the same!
Head on Camping Trips
Camping may not be for everyone, but it sure is a wonderful way to get your kids to love nature. Whether it’s just a night under the stars in the backyard or a weekend getaway to a national park, these trips will get your kids up close and personal with nature. Sure, they may not enjoy the bugs, but they’ll see all the big and little things to love about being outside. Not to mention, it’s a trip the family can take at any time and for a very low cost.
Watch Nature Shows and Documentaries
If it’s a rainy day or you simply want to help the kids learn, then turn on a nature show or documentary. There are plenty of kid-friendly options, but I love the simplicity and serenity of all those nature documentaries. Disney Plus has a bunch of options and so does almost every other streaming service. Find one that looks the most interesting for the day and turn it on. If the kids have questions, pause the show, and do some research together. Now’s the time to delve into questions—it spurs interest and often leads to love!
