Kia ora and hello,
As you are probably aware, I am a ‘Nature Play’ advocate.
Below are my top 5 experiences to foster a connection with nature. These are suitable for both children and adults.
*If you give any of these a go, I would love to hear your experiences. Please share in the comments section*
1. “Smelly cups” (Sarah Sheenan)
Get a cup, bowl or even a shell.
Go Outside
FIND a stirring/mixing STICK.
CREATE a perfume from nature using what is in your backyard by collecting ingredients from the ground.
STIR, SMELL, MIX, ADD… REPEAT
NAME your perfume
SHARE your perfume with each other.
RETURN it to the earth and make another!
*Smell it, connect with it, name it, share it*
2. Plant a sensory garden
Thyme, lavender, mint, lemongrass, chives, pansies, nasturtium,
So easy… use what you already have/eat
Ask neighbors for cuttings – connect with your community,put a shout out on local pages
For pots – pallets are great, but so are old crockery bowls, ramekins, pots you have laying around,gumboots or even create a new space in a corner of your lawn.
*A sensory garden is a great addition to an outdoor play kitchen* see Create an ‘Outdoor Play Kitchen’
3. Imaginative storytelling in nature
Lay on the grass/sand or other (nature… not concrete), look for pictures in the clouds and take turns to tell imaginative stories about what you see.
4. Awaken the senses
5 things you can see
4 things you can hear
3 things you can feel
2 things you can smell
1 thing you can taste
*You can do this everywhere… your daily walks, on the back lawn, when you explore new places or even as a calming tool for your child if feeling anxious*
5.Play. Uninterrupted play.
Allow your child the time and space to just BE in nature. Watch what they notice. Watch what makes them curious. Notice what interests them.
As the adult, play the silent or minimalist role. Speak only when they seek your input and hold back from giving ‘answers’.
Example
“Mum, look, I found a spider.”
*Move closer, go and look.
“What is it doing mum?”
“I’m not sure son, let’s watch”
But mum, where does it live?
“I’m not sure son. I wonder how we could we find out?”
When we answer for children, we take away their chance of discovering it for themselves. When we do this, children miss out on the whole array of things they will discover and learn along the way of finding out the ‘answer’.
Pretend you dont know the answer.
Allow them the time to think.
Give them the tools for research – look/listen, think, read.
Overarching rule when connecting with nature is GO BAREFOOT.
“Shoes insulate humans from the earths healing energy”.
Of course, having an environment rich in natural resources will authentically foster a connection with nature. Plants inside, collections of natural treasures for play and exploration and a healthy attitude towards being with nature. Its time to change our attitude
For further reading, check out this book:
