11 Fun Ideas for Exploring Nature With Kids

Find a quiet corner with your kids and cultivate the art of sitting and watching. After a few minutes, birds and other wildlife will become more comfortable with you, and may come close by. Even very young children are capable of pretending they are creatures hiding.

This activity works particularly well in view of a bird feeder, where kids can observe birds eating and flitting back and forth. In my work with kids, I’ve found that they will settle into watchfulness more easily if I participate with them and use an exaggerated whisper. I teach them how to sneak with quiet footsteps, how to slowly creep up on a bird or a squirrel, and I am careful to model stillness and wonder. When you can be calm with a child, and point out what you observe as if it is incredibly special and magical, they will be more likely to adopt and imitate your attitude.