Nature Activities For Children
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Introducing a Child, to Nature
There are many activities available for teaching a child about the natural world around them, but some of the best lessons can be spontaneous. No matter how you choose to teach your child about nature, keeping it fun is very important.
You can include living things, weather, geology, or even astronomy. Once a child becomes aware that nature is all around them, they will probably begin to explore it a little on their own with a little encouragement.
Resources for helping a child learn about nature.
When introducing a child to nature, it is helpful to have a plan. These resources can help a lot with that.



Fun With Nature (Take Along Guides) by Mel Boring, Diane Burns, Leslie Dendy
Fun with Nature helps kids discover the incredible more...0 points
Nature/Walking (The Concord Library) by Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau
Together in one volume, Emerson's Nature and Thoreau's more...0 points
Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv
Richard Louv was the first to identify a phenomenon more...0 points
Sharing Nature with Children, 20th Anniversary Edition by Joseph Bharat Cornell
As Joseph Cornell's classic book reached its 20th more...0 points
Sharing Nature with Children II by Joseph Bharat Cornell
This companion volume to Joseph Cornell's classic, more...0 points
Nurture by Nature: Understand Your Child's Personality Type - And Become a Better Parent by Barbara Barron-Tieger
Every parent knows that children, even babies, hav more...0 points
The Kids' Nature Book: 365 Indoor/Outdoor Activities and Experiences (Williamson Kids Can! Series) by Susan Milord
Shore to desert, country to city,exciting nature activities more...0 points
I Love Dirt!: 52 Activities to Help You and Your Kids Discover the Wonders of Nature by Jennifer Ward, Susie Ghahremani
I Love Dirt! presents 52 open-ended activities to help more...0 points
Birds Nature Activity Book: Educational Games & Activities for Kids of All Ages (Children's Nature Activity Book) by James Kavanagh
Designed to complement the K-12 curriculum, this e more...0 points
Get Your Child an Ant Farm
When I was a boy, there used to be red ant mounds in the area we lived in. Sometimes the ant hills would be very large, containing hundreds, perhaps thousands of ants. They were the type that could bite and sting.
We would catch as many of them as we could, and put them in a jar full of sand, and watch them build tunnels. Of course an actual ant farm works much better, but I know from experience, that kids can find ants fascinating.



Uncle Milton Uncle Milton Giant Ant Farm
The largest viewing area of any Ant Farm® habitat more...0 points
Uncle Milton Illuminated Ant Farm Gel Colony
Watch ants build 3-D tunnels in nutrient-rich gel. more...0 points
Take a Walk
Listen for the call of birds, and teach your child what different birds sound like. Help them learn to identify common birds in your area.
Explain why a squirrel is carrying a nut. Does the squirrel have a nest in one of the trees? Point it out to your child. If there is an acorn on the ground, explain where it came from, and what happens if it sprouts the next spring, and that an oak tree will grow, and what an oak tree looks like.
It's important also, to learn when your child is receptive to learning, and when they just want to play. Pushing them to learn when they aren't in the mood can ruin the experience for both of you, so don't force the issue.
Teach them about the life cycle of a Butterfly.
The life cycle of a Butterfly can be fascinating for a child, and adults too.



The Life Cycles of Butterflies: From Egg to Maturity, a Visual Guide to 23 Common Garden Butterflies by Judy Burris, Wayne Richards
For every person who has ever watched and marveled more...0 points
Butterfly Life Cycle Stages
These meticulously designed Painted Lady lifecycle more...0 points
The Life Cycle of a Butterfly [With CD] by Bobbie Kalman
This title is suitable for ages 6 to 12 years. It more...0 points
Painted Lady Butterflies (Life Cycles) by Donna Schaffer
Describes the physical characteristics, habits, and more...0 points
Insect Lore Live Butterfly Garden
Witness one of nature's most spectacular transform more...0 points
Fascinations GreenEarth Butterfly Kit
Green Earth Butterfly Kit by Fascinations Watch and more...0 points
Insect Lore Butterfly Bungalow
Insect Lore Mini Butterfly BungalowExperience the more...0 points
Go to the park and feed the ducks.
Most people feed bread to the ducks, but bread is actually not a good food source for them. A better alternative is cracked corn.
Learn About the Life Cycle of a Frog
This is another activity that I participated in when I was a child. It is still amazing to me how they start as a tadpole, and then change into something completely different, when they become a frog.



Uncle Milton Uncle Milton Planet Frog
Welcome to Planet Frog, a magical place where children more...0 points
From Tadpole to Frog (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 1) by Wendy Pfeffer
Wendy Pfeffer describes the amazing metamorphosis from more...0 points
From Tadpole to Frog (Lifecycles) by Gerald Legg, David Stewart
Large illustrations and simple text present the li more...0 points
Kit, Grow-A-Frog
Grow-A-Frog - Appropriate for Grades K+ -- Glass-l more...0 points
Three Rivers Amphibian Grow-A-Frog Kit
Visualize metamorphosis with this amazing kit; Inc more...0 points
Learning Resources Giant Magnetic Frog Life Cycle
Giant Magnetic Frog Life Cycle;Realistically detai more...0 points
Guestbook Comments
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ItayasDesigns
Apr 19, 2012 @ 1:24 pm | delete
- Great article! I plan on spending lots of time with my little grandson exploring nature. :)
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veryirie
Apr 4, 2012 @ 8:18 pm | delete
- Taking a walk and showing your own appreciation of nature and living creatures and insects is something priceless to share with a child. Wonderful page!
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goo2eyes
Nov 27, 2011 @ 2:03 pm | delete
- the child should be trained to love nature hoping she or he has no allergic reactions to some flowers, plants or feathers.
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DebonaireExoticAnimalEncounters Nov 1, 2011 @ 3:59 pm | delete
- So very true !!!. We have always been interested in nature and the children from being very young were shon animals and plants. Now we go for a walk and its who spots things first. All the children are naturals at spottinng wild animals that can be easily missed.
Excellent Lens
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anilsaini
Oct 22, 2011 @ 12:31 am | delete
- Very nice thoughts.
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AnthonyAltorenna
Sep 6, 2011 @ 9:14 pm | delete
- My kids grew up in a rural area surrounded by woodlands and wildlife, and each has a real appreciation for Mother Nature.
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sponias
Aug 26, 2011 @ 4:30 pm | delete
- Children really need a contact with nature. This is very important for their emotional health. It was a good idea to create a lens reminding this importance to young parents.
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A-Redneck
Aug 12, 2011 @ 10:46 am | delete
- You are so very right. I see quite a few parents without an appreciation for nature or their pets passing these messages onto thier children. I wish the opposite were true and a little different message could be sent...
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VickiSims Jul 31, 2011 @ 8:48 am | delete
- Since many children don't play outside all day and watch wildlife like many of us older folks did when we were young, It is so important for someone to show them about nature so they can learn to appreciate and enjoy it. Great ideas for parents and grandparents who want to teach children about nature and the outdoors.
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![The Life Cycle of a Butterfly [With CD] by Bobbie Kalman](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61qb0YRvluL._SL75_.jpg)









