Spending time outdoors provides many benefits for children. If you can tempt your children away from their screens, here are some of the benefits of spending time outdoors in nature.
Exploring Nature Up Close
One of the best ways to teach children about nature if you are fostering in Birmingham is to let them explore it up close. Take children out in the garden or to a park and encourage them to use all their senses to make discoveries. Have them look under rocks and logs to see what creatures live there. Let them dig in the dirt, touch the bark on trees, smell different plants and flowers, and listen to birds singing. Equip them with magnifying glasses so they can observe insects and other small organisms. Providing hands-on exploration promotes curiosity and an appreciation for the natural world.
Identifying Plants, Animals, and Habitats
Outdoor time is the perfect opportunity to teach children about the living things that inhabit the world around them. Point out the different types of trees, flowers, and other plants that grow in your area. Name the parts of plants, like stems, leaves, roots, flowers, and seeds. Show kids how to identify common birds by sight and sound. Help them recognise animal tracks to figure out which creatures have passed by. Explain what makes up different habitats, like forests, ponds, and meadows. Naming and classifying living things gives children language and concepts to understand the natural environment.
Learning About Nature Cycles and Patterns
Many natural processes happen on a cycle and exhibit recognisable patterns. Help children become aware of these by pointing them out on your outdoor adventures. Show them how the sun rises in the east and sets in the west each day. Track how the moon changes shape and position over the course of a month. Observe how the seasons progress through changes in weather, plants, and animal behaviours. Look for patterns in where certain birds nest, how ants march in lines, or how animal trails form through the grass. Tuning into cycles and patterns in nature builds observation skills and an understanding of science concepts.
Encouraging Environmental Stewardship
An important benefit of nature education is that it lays the foundation for environmental awareness and stewardship. Teach children to be gentle with living creatures and plants outdoors. Explain why we should put things back where we found them. Demonstrate how to respect nature by following Leave No Trace principles when outside. Discuss how people can help protect habitats and natural resources. Nurture an early appreciation for the outdoors so children are motivated to care for the natural world.
Making Outdoor Learning Fun
The key to getting kids interested in nature topics is making outdoor learning active and fun. Incorporate games like nature scavenger hunts or guessing the animal from its track. Have contests to see who can find the most varieties of leaves or clouds. Tell stories from nature while sitting under a tree. Set up a mud kitchen, fairy garden, or fort-building area outside. Make up songs about the weather, plants, or animals you encounter. Play follow the leader on a nature hike.
Interacting playfully with the outdoors will spark children’s inherent curiosity and sense of wonder about the natural world around them.
