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Spring is a great time of year to enjoy the outdoors! A nature walk is the perfect way to take advantage of the weather and spend time with your preschooler, too. Nature walks can be long or short. They can be as simple as walking around the backyard or neighborhood, or it can be along a trail at your favorite park.
The “Medicine” of Nature.
Everyone benefits from fresh air and sunshine. Being outside is known to boost the mood and provide some much-needed Vitamin D. Another asset is that most children tend to sleep better when they spend plenty of time outdoors. Take advantage of these benefits by taking nature walks with your preschooler.
Focus on the Senses.
Throughout your walk, encourage your toddler to focus on using different senses. Start with sight. Ask your child what kind of things he sees or tell him specific things to look for. Ask him to find three things that are green or two different colors of flowers, etc. Next, focus on smell. Take time to notice the smell of freshly cut grass, or water in a trickling stream. Maybe there are some flowers nearby to sniff. After that, tell your preschooler to close his eyes. What does he hear? Birds? Insects? A creek? Footsteps? Lastly, how do things in nature feel? Try touching the trunk of different trees. Find some smooth and bumpy rocks. Compare texture of leaves.
Start a Collection.
Another fun thing to do is collecting various kinds of leaves or rocks. Because leaves will dry out and eventually crumble, you can help your child make leaf rubbings from different types of trees and put them in a special notebook. Be sure to label as many as you can. Alternatively, your preschooler could start a rock collection by finding one special rock from each walk you go on. You can help him look for rocks that have unusual colors, shapes, or textures.
Although all these things are fun, the best thing about nature walks is spending time together. Get out there, explore, and have a great time!
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Want to learn more about Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy of New Territory located in Sugar Land, Texas? Our mission is to provide secure, nurturing, and educational environments for children ages 6 weeks – 12 years. We help children to bloom into responsible, considerate, and contributing members of society. For more information, give us a call or stop by for a tour! We’d love to get to know you and your family.