Getting kids outdoors and having fun…safely
During these stressful times, nature provides a way to feel connected and a sense of calm. The rhythms of nature, like the sun rising and setting, are consistent and therapeutic. Watching clouds drift overhead and trying to find shapes in them sparks creativity as much as it soothes.
If children are feeling anxious or unsure of their world right now, it's important to remember the healing capabilities of nature. If weather permits, schedule outdoor time for your children every day. Foster appreciation of nature by encouraging children to go outside and sit quietly for a few minutes, then ask them to try to draw or write a story about what they heard, saw or experienced. Other simple outdoor include conducting a scavenger hunt for a variety of items, or maybe things of a certain color. Challenge them to count how many animals they can see;. Have them close their eyes and try to sketch how something in the backyard or a park looks (then have them open their eyes and see how they did).
For more ideas on how to enjoy nature without leaving your backyard or local park, the Flying Deer Nature Center Program Director, Devin Franklin, created an excellent resource— Put On Your Owl Eyes. Children will see the natural world around them with brand new eyes as they learn to follow its signs, hear its language, and understand its secrets. You can purchase it online or if you find yourself financially unable to purchase a copy, Flying Deer would be happy to send you one. Contact Flying Deer at info@flyingdeernaturecenter.org.
The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has created a website just for kids called Kids Go (Get Outside). The website offers several resources that can enhance outdoor learning and exploration, including nature bingo cards, outdoor journaling tools, information on animals, activities for seek and find hikes, and much, much more.
DEC also has a list of quick activities that are easy to set up and allow children to experience nature safely from their own backyards or local park. The activities are both educational and help heighten mindfulness. By creating a “finger safari” children have the opportunity to “claim” a small piece of nature and get to know it thoroughly. In an area no more than one-foot square, children can explore looking and feeling. The square can be created using bark, grass, leaves, dirt, or even a crack in the sidewalk. Task children with finding all the different colors and textures in their micro nature square. Find this and other suggested activities on the DEC website: DEC Quick Family Activities
Sometimes it may not be feasible to get outside with the kids. However, with an open window and a little quiet, it may be possible to hear the chirping and singing of birds. Children can visit Cornell’s Lab of Ornithology’s website All About Birds to learn the different songs birds sing and try to identify the birds they hear. Encourage children to start a journal of the various birds they have identified through sounds. Through this practice, they will have created a unique and personal catalog of local birds.
The Little Pine Learners 100 Things You Can do in Your Backyard is a wonderful list of low-preparation activities designed to try at home during long breaks from school and is ideal for people homeschooling their children or for the COVID-19 situation. The activities are designed to keep children entertained and engaged for ten minutes up to a couple of hours, and encourages outdoor play all year long. From creating art with items found in nature to just unplugging and reading or doing school work outdoors, the site has ideas for children of all ages who are seeking a little motivation to connect with the outdoors while practicing physical distancing.
Another source of easy ways children can connect to nature from home is the National Park Trust's 5 Ways to Bring Parks to Kids. This website will help you turn your yard, neighborhood trail, or even windowsill into an educational park experience. There are links to download and print activities to help kids stay engaged with nature no matter where you live.
Columbia River Fisheries Program Kids Activities offers an extensive list of nature-related games and activities, including memory games, word scrambles, and coloring books.
Although it's challenging to uphold safe practices and physical distancing while also trying to keep children connected to the natural world, we hope sharing these resources helps spark creativity, safe engagement, mindfulness and the ability to tap into the healing power of nature with your children.