Take Time to Play in the Dirt

I love hiking. I like to get out and log some miles. It is my personal love of hiking and spending time outdoors that has led me to want my children to learn to love the same things. But it is easy to forget that they are kids and they have their own ways of exploring things.

Kids don't want to spend all day walking on a path. They see so many things to discover and play with along the way. Sometimes it is hard for adults to keep taking breaks and not get to their final destination but remember it is the little things along the way that make the trip fun and memorable for your children.

Recently we took a hike in Arches National Park near Moab, UT. Every time we stopped for a little water the kids found themselves playing in the sand. We live in the Rocky Mountains and the hikes we usually do around our home the ground is solid dirt, rocks, and often full of pine needles. The sandy paths of Utah were fun and different from what we were used to and the kids just couldn't keep their hands out of it.

I was tempted to rush them along so I could get to my destination but then I remembered that building the connection with the natural world was the whole reason we were out there and their desire to dig, follow bugs, and draw in the sand was accomplishing the goal even if I didn't cover the miles I had hoped for.

So get them outside but be sure to let them travel at their own pace and smell the roses or whatever they feel the need to do.

Guest Post: Let The Kids Stay Up Late

Today we have a guest post from Suzy of Hip Mountain Mama.

There are so many amazing things that happen in nature after the sun goes down when most kids are sleeping. I am a pretty responsible mom and always make sure the kids get enough sleep, however there are definitely times that call for a little late night fun. Colorado summer nights can be breathtaking with the perfect temperature, bright stars, and fresh air. Letting the kids to stay up after the sun goes down allows them to experience nature in a whole new way, even in your own backyard. Left to their own devices they will undoubtedly come up with their own games, adventures, and explorations. However, you can also guide them or give them a few props to set them on their way to an exciting night. Below are a few ideas of things to do by moon light in your own backyard.

1. Get some blankets out and lie down to look at the stars. This activity is so simple yet so amazing that you can spend hours just gazing at the sky, stars, and moon.

2. Have a fire. If you have a fire pit already this is a great way to spend an evening. If you don’t you can purchase a fire pit from any home improvement store or you can build your own. Roast marshmallows, tell scary or funny stories, and really connect with one other.

3. Play flash light tag. Grab a few flash lights and play tag…the person who is it tries to shine their light on someone else and once they do then that person is it.

4. Play music and sing songs….if you have a few musical instruments grab them and have a jam session. If not you can always sing favorite songs together while sitting in a circle…just be conscious of not being too loud if you have neighbors close by.

5. Go for a late night walk. If the moon is out and bright you can walk by moon light, otherwise you might want to bring a lantern or flash lights.

6. Have a camp out. No need to pack up the car and travel great distances to go camping…simply set up the tent in your back yard and have a backyard camp out. The kids really love this one!

7. Just let the kids play. Don’t give you kids any ideas of what to do, just let them play…you will be amazed at how easily they will play and how excited they will be that they are allowed to stay up late and play in the dark!

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Suzy lives in Northern Colorado where she loves spending time in nature with two daughters. She is owner Hip Mountain Mama and blogs at http://www.hipmountianmamablog.com/.

Nature Bingo: A Kids Nature Activity

Looking for a fun activity for your children to do in nature? Have you tried Nature Bingo? Nature Bingo is a fun and easy activity that is suitable for preschoolers through elementary ages children. This fun nature activity will have you kids busy searching for items in nature. It is like a nature scavenger hunt but when you find something you simply draw a picture of it and leave it behind for others to enjoy.

First, follow the link and print this page or make your own to suit the natural items you might find in your neck of the woods.

Then take your children to any natural area and send them out hunting for the items. When they find something on the page like a special rock, a pine cone, animal tracks, or a certain flower then have your child draw what they found right on the page.

Just like Bingo, if you get any four in a row you win. If you get four in a row then try and find as many more as you can.

This activity makes an afternoon in nature more fun and kids will learn more about the items they find and you can discuss what these items are doing in nature. Then my kids always enjoy looking over their drawing on the car ride home and talking about all the fun things we found. Drawing really makes the items come to life your your child's eyes and helps them remember more of what they experienced.

Go ahead, give it a try. Use mine or make your own.

Another option with younger children is to use pictures or clip art in the boxes and just have them search for items and check them off. For young children identifying items in nature is plenty fun but if the child can draw I recommend doing as described as above.

Have fun!

Print my game card here.

Make your own here.

Animal Tracks

One conversation that I use a lot with my own kids to keep them excited about a hike is to talk about the animals. My daughters love to think about what animals we might see, what signs we might find of animals, and what animals might we hear.

It seems strange to me that every child knows what an elephant, tiger, and lion look like but they don't know the difference between a fox and a coyote. Television and books are quick to point out exotic animals and the sounds they make but our children don't know anything about the animals that live all around them.

How to have fun with talking about animals:

• What might we see today?
  
• Where do they sleep?
  
• What do they eat?
  
• Identify animal tracks
  
• Identify animal scat
  
• What animals eat other animals? How do animals protect themselves?
  
• What animals hibernate in the winter
  
• Do the animals come from an egg or live birth?
  
• How do they use camouflage to blend in with their surroundings
  
• Do they migrate? Why do birds fly south in the winter?
  
• Are they scared of us or should we be scared of them?
  
• Do they live in large groups (herds) or live alone?
  
• If you find a hole in the ground guess what animals live in there.
  
• Stop and watch an ant hill. What are they doing? Where are they going?
  
• Find a feather. Who does it belong to?
  
• Find bones, skulls, fur. Who does it belong to? What probably happened?
  
• Discuss the food chain.
  
• How does everything in nature fit together? (ex. Bees pollinate flowers)

These are just a few examples of conversations to start with your children. Their imagination and questions will follow and before you know it you've got a full hike in. Remember, be sensitive with children about animals that may scare them. I'm careful with my children about Bears and Mountain Lions. You don't want to scare them into wanting to go back to the car.

Don't be afraid to tell your children that you don't know an answer to their question. When you get home look it up online. There is nothing better than learning about nature together.

What other animal conversations could you start with a child?

Ideas for Keeping Kids Excited about a Day Outside: Bring a Friend

The best way to get a child excited about doing something in nature is to bring a friend. This is also the best way to prolong a day in the wilderness. One child or even a child with their sibling is much more apt to whine and want to go home than a child with a good friend.

Just like an adult brainstorming exercise, a group of people together can come up with much greater ideas than one person can on their own. Ideas seem to run wild and children take one idea and build upon it until soon they've spent ours playing in nature and still aren't ready to go home.

This past weekend our family of 4 met another family of 4 at Rocky Mountain National Park for an afternoon of snowshoeing. We all had a blast and heard much less complaining about the cold from the kids than if we had gone alone.

There are times when it is great to spend time alone in nature with your kids but it is also very important for your child to share the experience with other children. Sharing your favorite natural places with your friends also helps other get out more often. If we are going to have a real impact on the future generations we must get as many kids as possible into nature. So the next time you head out, grab the neighbor kid or invite an entire family to join you.

The Cycle of the Sun and Moon

Are you trying to come up with things in nature that interest your children. One thing that our family enjoys is talking about and following the cycles of the moon and sun. The moon is always changing. It is in a different spot in the sky and is larger or small at different times of the month.

It sounds really simple but most people in our society have no idea where the moon is in its cycle. They may notice the full moon but don't stop to check out the beautiful crescent moon. My kids are fascinated knowing that the moon is actually not giving off light but is simply reflecting the light for the sun. Also the idea that the moon is circling around the Earth while the Earth is circling the sun is a fun discussion with little kids.

The sun rise and sun set is also a very beautiful time of day. Depending on the clouds and current weather patterns the sky may be a combination of pink, purple, and red. It is easy to take a break once a day from your hectic schedule to enjoy the sun set with your children. Teaching your children about the cycles of the sun and moon is really easy. The sun rise and sun set are things that your child can see everyday.

Teaching them to simply take a moment to enjoy it is the easiest way to get your child to see how nature is working around them. You'll be amazed at the questions these simple actions will lead to. But don't worry if you don't know the answer. Just tell you child that you want to find the answer together. Type their question into Google and learn about the wonders of nature together.