Getting your kids outside or doing something new is vital to stemming off boredom. Spending time outside is hugely beneficial for our children with health benefits and getting them to try new things means they can improve on a huge range of skills. But despite this, today’s children spend more time indoors doing individual activities. The good news is that there are many ways you can help. By encouraging your children to appreciate non-technology based activities, you can foster a happier (and healthier) lifestyle.
Here are a few things that you can do to encourage them to do something a little different.
1. Introduce Your Children to Animals
Introducing young children to animals isn’t just a great way to help them learn about the world around them — it can also encourage a sense of respect for others. Most kids have books to help them learn the different names of animals, but nothing beats seeing animals either in the wild or at zoos. So, why not bring them face to face with some of their favorite creatures? Nature walks, trips to the zoo, and an afternoon at a petting farm are all great ways to get your children outdoors. To make the experience even more memorable, look for farms that give kids the opportunity to feed, stroke, or look after the animals. They might also give you the chance to bottle-feed baby goats or hand-feed rabbits! Companies like the New Heritage Feed Co that provide food for farms that children can give to the animals. This is a cute, educational thing that your kids can leave the house for.
2. Grow Your Own Food
You don’t need to be blessed with a huge backyard to grow your own food. With just a few plant pots and compost — as well as some space on a kitchen window sill — you and your children can start growing tasty plants straight away. Herbs such as basil, parsley, and chives are all ideal for growing in small pots in your kitchen. Seed packets usually cost a lot less than buying the herb in the supermarket, and will be a lot more fun to grow! From potting up the seeds and watering the plant to harvesting the finished herb, growing your own food is an excellent way to teach your kids about topics such as photosynthesis. And it’s a lot more interesting than reading school books because they get to eat their research at the end!
3. Encourage Your Children to Get Hands-on with Nature
Young children mainly experience the world through touch. One of the best ways to encourage a love of nature from the beginning is to spend time with them outdoors, exploring items such as conkers, twigs, shells at the beach, and fallen leaves. As a parent, being squeamish about getting your hands dirty can stultify your kids’ curiosity. Instead, encourage their interest if they want to pick up something while you’re out and about (assuming it’s safe to do so) and explain what the different items are. Bear in mind that picking wildflowers, hedgerows, or tree bark is often frowned upon. Reminding your children not to damage the natural world is one of the best ways to help them look after the planet — and it’s an attitude that will hopefully stay with them for life.
Conclusion
If you’ve been looking for ways to encourage your children to love of nature and animals or just pick up a new skill, we hope this article has shown just a few things you and your little ones can try. Whether it’s at home or in the great outdoors, there a plenty of ways to teach your kids new things.
