Nature learning has emerged from the growth of homeschooling as a whole. At first glance it can be hard to see the depth of knowledge and value that this style of learning can offer. This is especially true if your family doesn't place much value or desire being outdoors. But whole curriculums have been created that teach ALL the subjects. Like these exist guys! And they can completely shape the dynamic of your family.

Being out in nature doesn't seem to be the norm anymore. But I say this as a city person. With the rise of electronics and lack of access for some to be outside, a lot of us need to relearn how to do just be outdoors. Kids who grow up in rural or country settings probably aren't having the same experience. 

Outdoor play and learning help:

• Your child understands their bodies more, they are engaging in significantly more vigorous activity.
• It helps immensely with their eye development. recent research is showing that more and more kids are dealing with near sightedness.
• It helps kids learn to socialize better. Studies are showing kids are growing their social- emotional intelligence. Being in nature levels the playing field between children.
• Kids engage in more risky play. This is so important in learning where their limits and informs their imaginative play.

There are vast benefits to having our children play and learn outside. Even if you just have your kids go outside for unstructured play, there is immense learning and connection that is going to happen. And with these curriculums taking the classroom outdoors, it's hard to ignore the benefits that will come.  

For curriculums and nature led activity ideas go to this page here on the website.

If using a nature curriculum just seems like too much and you need much smaller steps to start learning outdoors, here are some suggestions:

• Take a book outside to read aloud while your children play. Even if they are just playing on the sidewalk. You guys don't have to have grass to be outside.
• Buy a cool nature book with vibrant colors to capture your child's attention. (We did that with a neat bird book Samue got. He even took the book to Walmart to pick out bird seed.)
• Go to a park to play. If you can find a park that also has a creek, this would be ideal. Don't be nervous if you don't see others playing in the creek. Unless there are specific signs up saying no trespassing, you guys are allowed to be there. (Also, as a side note, your kids shoes ARE washable. Don't let having shoes ON stop your kids from playing in nature. See picture above.)
• Let your kids play in the dirt piles they see. (Lol unless it's an ant hill of course.) But playing in the dirt is going to make a HUGE spark in their imagination and curiosity. 

​What do you think? What are your families' favorite things to do outside? We actually went and bought some creek toys so the boys could have their own things to play with. It should really level up their play time! 

Lori
To Know God and to make Him Known

Kids Nature Book Recommendations:

* These are affiliate links but do not add any extra cost to you!*

There are lots of arguments on the best way to educate our children. I’m not here to take sides.

Educating our children well is the main goal. 

It does not matter if your child is homeschooled or public schooled or private schooled. Our unifying goal as parents and care-takers of the next generation is that they are educated well. This is the way, guys, that we build a better future. By pouring into our children.

So what does this look like if schooling location doesn’t matter?

Be present with them. This doesn't mean you only do kid activities or cater your time to your children. It means you actually hear them, respond to them as a person, look them in the eye every chance you get. 

Let your child discover the world around them for themselves. Don't guide them, or helicopter over them, through discovering new things. Take a few steps back and let them explore themselves. A child will only learn their true limits when we let them test those limits. A child will learn faster that a worm is safe when they discover that worm on their own.

Ask probing questions to your children and let them make their own conclusions. This is a hard one because it requires us to retrain our thinking. But don't ask questions in a way that provide the answer. Make them work through the question to get to the answer. Provide guidance if needed, but don't lead them.

Allow your children to watch you to live life so that they can learn how to do so as well. Our children will learn from our example if we let them. If we keep them preoccupied all the time, they won't be present with us.

Stepping back and letting kids make decisions on their own. Don't strong arm them. There is a big difference between your child having an opinion, or a strong opinion, and them just being bad and disobeying. Give your child a chance to decide on what they will do. Learn who your child is and what their responses are to things. It will actually be easier to discipline bad behavior this way but allow your children to figure out who they are.
 
What do you think? Anything you would add or take away from this list? It seems like it is exceptionally hard to be present with our kids these days. There seems to always be something much more important to do. Once we slow down and focus on these actions while raising our babies, I think their real learning begins. 

​Lori
To know God and to make Him known
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