One of the biggest things I hope to give my kids is a love for the outdoors. Not in a big dramatic way. Just a simple, everyday appreciation for being outside. It’s important to me that they care about our planet and animals.
I have a kindergartener and an almost two year old, so our days are not exactly peaceful nature walks through the woods. Most of the time it’s chaos and everyone gets dirty, but I wouldn’t have it any other way!
Those little messy moments outside are exactly what builds a love for nature over time.
Start Small and Stay Close to Home
You do not need national parks or big trips to raise nature loving kids. Most of our outdoor time happens right in our backyard (we are blessed to have a big one).
We go for walks, check on the same trees, and notice how things change week to week. My kindergartener loves pointing out signs of seasons changing and “planting” rocks and twigs.
Kids do not need something new every day. They actually enjoy seeing the same places over and over. It helps them feel connected to the world around them.
Let Kids Get Dirty!
I think one of the biggest mistakes adults make is trying to keep kids too clean outside. Or inside for that matter. I’m going to do 3824792 loads of laundry a week so we might as well have fun.
My toddler will happily sit in the dirt for twenty minutes if I let her. She will scoop rocks into a bucket, dump them out, and start over again like it is the most important work in the world. She’s going to love the hose this summer!
My older daughter loves collecting things. Leaves, pinecones, acorns, little sticks. Our pockets are always full of something.
It might be messy, but that kind of hands on exploring is how kids learn to love nature instead of just looking at it.
Slow Down and Notice Things
Kids are naturally curious. If we slow down enough, they will show us what they are interested in. They’ll bring you a bevy of questions that you can research together.
One day my kindergartener stopped in the middle of the driveway because she spotted a cute little worm after it rained. What should have been a five minute walk turned into twenty minutes of laughing and watching that worm wiggle across the pavement.
Moments like that are actually the whole point.
Nature does not have to be rushed. Sometimes the best thing we can do is just stop and look closer.
Make Outdoor Time Part of Daily Life
For us, being outside is just part of the rhythm of the day.
I’ve realized it’s much easier to feed them outside because I don’t have to clean up the crumbs. Sometimes we walk, sometimes the kids ride bikes, sometimes we just sit in the yard. Things like painting, music, and singing are just made better by the open air.
Kids start to expect it. They know that going outside is normal and part of everyday life instead of something special that only happens on weekends. The park after school is a given once the weather hits 50 degrees.
Share Your Own Love for Nature
Kids pick up on what their parents care about.
I talk to my kids about things I notice outside. A pretty sunset, the smell after it rains, the first flowers in spring.
We take little road trips and point out lakes, rivers, farms, and mountains along the way. Even driving somewhere can turn into a small nature lesson if you pay attention.
You do not need to be an expert naturalist. Just being curious and excited about the world around you is enough.
Let Kids Be Bored Outside
My kids have never said that they’re bored outside. A stick becomes a wand. A pile of rocks becomes a pretend store. A patch of dirt becomes a construction site.
Kids are incredibly good at inventing their own fun when we give them the space to do it.
What’s your connection with nature? Are you raising nature loving kids?
Let me know below!
O.
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