I know you wished your children said “Mom, Dad I’d love to play outdoors, more often.” It is not as hard as it sounds to slowly change an electronic influenced lifestyle, to an earthier one, full of pleasant and unexpected surprises. Here are some ideas on how to incorporate nature into your daily routine.

Take a walk to a nearby park;

walk through your neighborhood or even in your own backyard to search for signs of wildlife, flowers, or trees. You will be surprised at what you see, from flying birds and changing cloud shapes to hardworking ants, while enjoying the aroma of colorful fallen leaves on the ground.

Be observant

as you and your child are walking. Can she find a stick shaped like an I or a Y? Remind her to respect nature by taking only “treasures” on the ground, but not twigs directly off trees and bushes.

Enjoy a personal scavenger hunt

with all of the beautiful items nature has to offer. Ask you children to hunt for a leaf, a cone, a flower, a rock, an acorn, a twig or anything they would like to collect from the fall season.

Imagine your window is a picture frame,

and tell your child how the picture outdoors changes and looks different in the morning and night, and in the summer and winter. Encourage her to name and use her five senses, and explain how she feels. Watch the miracle of growth together by planting flower seeds in a pot and watering it frequently.

Sit under the stars and observe the night sky.

Watch the stars, various moon shapes, and nightlights that fascinate children of all ages. It could, also, be an idea for a simple ‘sky and star observation’ astronomy activity.

Try to make it a routine, and read or do homework at your favorite spot in the backyard or nearby park.

You will be surprised by how much more you actually do, and by getting to enjoy the afternoon breeze and a choir of happy singing birds.

All of these activities are geared towards sparking curiosity and appreciation for nature. The whole family can be involved in spontaneous, yet fun-filled, great outdoors play, and it will not-cost you a penny!

Ω