From Backyards to national parks: Safe ways to get your kids active in nature

Please enjoy the following guest post by Jenny Wise on safe ways to get your kids active in nature.
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Jenny created Special Home Educator as a forum for sharing her adventures in homeschooling and connecting with other homeschooling families. Jenny is a homeschooling mom to four children.

To a small child, the great outdoors is a place filled with wonder and awe. From the wind blowing through the trees to finding treasures in the dirt, children are naturally drawn to the natural world. Plus, playing outside boosts your child’s mental, physical and emotional health. Parents strive to give their kids experiences with the natural world, but often need to find safe, secure ways to do so. Here are a few tips to help encourage and support your child as they explore the outdoors.

Backyard Geology

​There are many wonders right in your own backyard— no matter how big, small, urban or rural. The backyard is an ideal place to get your little one comfortable exploring outside while also allowing you to keep control of the reigns. Most little kids enjoy digging in the dirt, so why not help them take that love of dirt a little deeper? As HomeAdvisor notes, “Backyard geology gives children an actual excuse to dig around in the dirt while still learning, which can encourage even the most skeptical of kids to at least give it a try.” You’ll be able to get your kid excited for the activity by:

• Researching the kinds of rocks and minerals native to your area that you might find.
• Learning about the Mohs Hardness Scale so you can determine the toughness of any stones you find.
• Gathering the tools you need, like a hand spade, magnifying glass, sunscreen and a hat.

 
You don’t have to travel to the ends of the earth to ignite the explorer in your child’s spirit. You can explore your backyard both day and night.

Backyard camping

Backyard geology can even lead to an overnight archeological exploration. You can create a safe environment for your child to get comfortable camping by pitching a tent in your backyard. Spend the night star gazing and learning how to safely cook over a campfire, all while just a few comfortable feet away from the warmth (and bathrooms) of the great indoors. In addition to picking out constellations and roasting s’mores, you can also:

• Build a tree fort.
• Make a nature collage.
• Play games like horseshoes, bocce, croquet or bean bag toss.
• Sing songs around the campfire.
• Tell spooky (or not-so-scary) stories in the tent with a flashlight.

 
Backyard exploration empowers your child with a sense of independence and adventure, but also gives you a chance to keep a close eye on how things progress. When you’re ready to move out of the backyard, try exploring in a nearby park.

Park Hopping

When you feel like your kid is ready, give them a taste of the great outdoors that isn’t as controlled as your backyard by taking them to several different parks in your town. You can start with a small park with a playground and then graduate to a larger one with walking trails. You can encourage your kid to explore Mother Nature by:

• Going on a nature-themed scavenger hunt.
• Watching and journaling about birds, squirrels and other native wildlife.
• Practicing orienteering on walking trails.
• Geocaching or going on a treasure hunt.

 
Parks are a great way to expand your kid’s experience with the natural world. When they are ready to venture further, consider a state or national park.

State and National Parks

When you expose your child to the untouched beauty of a state or national park, you are instilling in them an appreciation for the environment and a commitment to conservation. With your child, you can explore a state or national park for a day, a weekend or even longer with activities like:

• Camping
• Hiking
• Kayaking
• Horseback riding
• Rock climbing
• Fishing
• Exploring ruins

 
In many parks, kids can even become junior rangers. This is an exciting goal to talk about when you are starting out by enjoying backyard nature activities.
 
Getting your kids outside means making them happier and healthier. Playing outdoors has been shown to reduce stress, teach social skills, improve cardiovascular health and reduce the risk of obesity. Being outside lets your kid do the thing they love the most— be a kid.

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David B. Younger, Ph.D. is the creator of Love After Kids, for couples that have grown apart since having children. He is a clinical psychologist and couples therapist with a web-based private practice and lives in Austin, Texas with his wife, 13-year-old son, 4-year-old daughter and 6-year-old toy poodle.