Nature Activities
Today’s Guest Post is from Janna who blogs at The Adventure of Motherhood , we met at a conference and immediately bonded over our love of activities and linking them to books.
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Mountains of toys, video games, movies, and computers were either non-existent in my childhood or almost non-existent. Three of my favorite toys really weren’t what most people would consider toys, but they gave me hundreds of hours of enjoyment.
Outside is where I wanted to be. I wanted to be in the dirt, playing with water, or up in a tree.
Dirt
- looking for roly polys or “pill bugs”
- making mud pies
- squishing my toes in mud
- digging a hole in an empty lot
- burying things
- riding my brother’s dirt bike
Suggested Book: Jeff Foxworthy’s book of poems Dirt on My Shirt
Water
- swimming
- spraying the hose
- the sprinkler
- water guns and balloons
- dancing in the rain
- splashing in puddles
- observing earth worms
Suggested Book: Mo Willems Are You Ready to Play Outside? (An Elephant and Piggie Book)
Trees
- to hide
- to rest
- to enjoy the shade
- to challenge
- to swing from a branch
- to pick some fruit
- to dream big dreams
Suggested Book: Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree
When it comes to having fun outside, I still find myself in the dirt, spraying the hose, or attempting to climb a tree. These are three things I intend to share with my daughter, and joys I hope to never outgrow. What things will you never outgrow from your childhood?
If you have children’s books that you love and would like to share them with other moms, please consider linking up to my weekly meme called Feed Me Books Friday. It’s kind of like an online book club from moms, and a great way to compile a stellar library list.
If you’d like to learn about a project to record the stories of YOUR youth join me at MommysPiggyTALES.com.
Getting Started In early Spring, we had lots of fun starting seeds indoors! This helped to give Emily an appreciation for how long it takes plants to grow. She took very good care of her seedlings.
Next, we planted seeds and transfered some of the seedlings over to the garden plot. We found it helpful to have a kid-friendly garden layout, so as to avoid any little feet accidently squashing plants. Some good options include: raised beds, container gardening, or going with a square foot garden layout.
Kid-Friendly Garden Ideas
1. Raised Beds
2. Container Gardening
3. Square Foot Garden Layout
We chose to go with a square foot layout, which gave us plenty of vegetables and was a clear way for Emily to navigate her way around the garden without fear of stepping on any of the seedlings.
To be even more kid-friendly, we even gave Emily her very own space within our lot where she could grow whatever vegetables or flowers she wanted. She chose lots of broccoli, tomatoes, lettuce, and marigolds!
If possible, give your child his/her own special garden space!
Ten Gardening Chores Kids Can Do:
- Planting Seeds
- Making Seed Markers
- Watering Plants
- Weeding (with supervision)
- Harvesting Vegetables
- Loosening Soil
- Laying Down Straw
- Decorating the Garden (handmade mobiles, pinwheels, banners, etc.)
- Picking off bugs.
- Collecting Seeds for Next Year’s Garden
Garden Themed Books! Of course, we took advantage of our local public library as much as possible over the course of the Summer. Our favorite “garden” reads are The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss….
….and Seeds! Seeds! Seeds! by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace.
….and decorating a photo frame with dried beans (which Emily learned are also seeds). There are many more gardening craft ideas on Frugal Family Fun Blog too!
With lots of hard work, our garden was in full bloom!
Gardening is one of the best ways for kids to learn about where their food comes from, basic plant biology, and exposes kids to nature. As an added bonus, we saved lots of money by growing our own organic vegetables! I made a fun garden goody bag for Emily to harvest her vegetables in, and it was a great hit! I love to share good things, so I thought you might like one too!
Good luck!!
Congrats Luna!! You Won. Check your email !
You could do this activity with flowers as well.
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Katy is a mom of one who loves art, mystery novels, and anything involving peanut butter–she blogs about raising her little miracle at Bird on the Street.
With Earth Day coming and spring warming us up and taking learning outside I have collected some of our favorite nature crafts and activities ! If you remember how your perspective changed when your teacher decided to take your class outside you don’t need to be told how such a simple act can open up young minds to learning.
Giant Sunflower Craft ( above)
Looking for Earth Day Activities?
Spring is finally here! I love spring and everything it brings from baby birds, to flowers and especially Easter candy. This sensory tub was a huge hit with my son and we have been chilling outside digging in it , filling the eggs with the birdseed and bugs and not worrying about it spilling on the kitchen floor.
- Gather your materials. You will need a plastic tub or large casserole dish, some birdseed, kid garden utensils, some Easter eggs, plastic bugs, and flower sequins.
- Pour your birdseed into the tub.
- Add your bugs, shovels and sequins.
- Add your little gardener and have fun.
Garden Books
Quiet in the Garden
Jack’s Garden
Song of the Flowers
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Newspaper Flowers
Nature Color Match
Sensory Tub : Coffee Grinds
