A Grandparent's Guide to Getting Kids Outside
Although I am writing these posts now from the vantage point of a stay at home mom, this was not always the case. During the first two years of my son's life I worked three, thirteen hour days (this included a long commute), a week. I was a professor so I was fortunate enough to have the summers home and holidays off. But with that said, the days that I did work on site, my son was under the loving care of one of his Grandmothers or his Father. Yes, we were fortunate to have such a flexible schedule and family close by and willing to lend a hand. Since having my daughter, who is now a year and a half, I have resigned from teaching to focus on my artwork and writing while being a stay at home mom.
Every family has their own way of juggling schedules to the best of their ability to make sure that their children are taken care of and bills can be paid at the same time. If getting your kids outside on a daily basis is a priority, it sometimes might involve getting others on board as well, if you are not the one at home with them one or more days a week. If you are fortunate enough to rely on family then it could potentially make it easier to voice this desire and help make this happen. Hopefully, everyone will be on board! Today I wanted to cover ways to make it easier for Grandparents to get their young Grandchildren outside. Not always the simplest of feats but infinitely easier with a positive outlook, some tips and tricks in your back pocket, and some go to ideas on how approach your outdoor ventures!
Depending on the number of grandchildren, the range of ages, and the varying dispositions, the outdoor experiences will differ. But as long as the caretaker reads the children's limits and is able to adjust accordingly, there are plenty of suggestions and tips that are applicable across the board. Today I wanted to put together a list of ways that you can share with Grandparents who would like to get your kids exploring the outdoors.
BE PREPARED
Pack a go-to bag and / or crate by the back door.
This one can be done by the parent OR grandparent in advance.
In it you can include things like:
bottle of water
kleenex
wipes
band-aids
healthy snacks
kids binoculars
bug catcher
magnifying glass
zip-lock baggies for collecting things
sketch book
field guides
camera
small pail
shovel
Make a list of nature trails, centers, parks, creeks, forests, fields, beaches, etc. nearby. That way when you want to go on an impromptu adventure you don't have to give it much thought.
......................................................
KEEP IT SIMPLE
Backyard
Sometimes the backyard is just as great a place to explore as any. Give the kids an area to dig. Lay out a blanket for a quick picnic or cloud watching spot.
Below is my daughter unfolding a Japanese Lantern for the first time. A real treasure in her eyes ( and mine!). We ran across them while exploring my parents' backyard...
Neighborhood Nature Walk
You can also take a Nature Walk around the block or down the street. Collect sticks, stones, pinecones, seed pods, acorns, leaves, or whatever else is around.
Nature Collection
Keep a nature collection area on your steps or porch to have on hand as natural toys / tools / and education talking points!
This one stemmed from a walk in the woods with a free printed nature guide book I found online with items we could check off along our way.
Ditch the Stroller
Ditching the stroller once little ones are able to walk is a great way to get young ones directly involved with nature. If you don't want to be stuck holding them then don't walk too far.
Local Nature Centers
Really get to know your local nature center(s). Have a list of hours, any special events, and exhibits. The one near my house has free planetary shows for kids every week. Also they may have a naturalist on staff that is willing is to answer kids questions and give them hands on experience with topics that show interest in.
......................................................
GET EXCITED
Involve Kids in the Planning
Get them involved with the planning if they are old enough to communicate. Even if it's giving them a choice between a couple scenarios (ex: duck pond vs. throwing rocks in the creek).
Tap Into Their Interests
If they are currently interested in a particular topic (the moon, bugs, dinosaurs, etc.) than plan a day around that. Get library books in advance to set the stage and then get outside. I've buried rocks and shells in the backyard for some great dino-digs! Whatever they are into, go with it.
I had a great experience with our local nature center that I will quickly share with you. It illustrates just how much it pays to ask questions! As the days were getting shorter right before the time change, my family's evening walks began involving listening for owls in our neighborhoods. After hearing one, we were really excited and wanted to learn more. So I took the kids to the nature center down the road and asked if I could speak to the naturalist on staff to see if they could recommend any good trails in the area for owl spotting. She did give us some great suggestions AND we also got to meet this beautiful creature who they were currently caring for!
.......................................................
BRINGING NATURE INDOORS
Indoor Nature Collection
Some days getting outside for a short time is all that can be done. If you are inside and want to foster that connection with the outdoors there are a lot of ways to use natural materials that have been collected in days past for nature art or play.
Make Things
I have a lot of posts coming up on this and have share ideas in this vein in the past. As an artist, making things is second nature to me so we are always finding ways to re-use materials. It's really fun to recount the day that these things were collected while making stuff as well.
Nature Table
An indoor nature table is also a great way to play and learn. I have a pile of larger clean rocks and sticks that get used for building and stacking while supervised. I put them out of reach otherwise because of the ages of my kids. They have also used shells and rocks to set up shops and play store. They come up with a lot of creative uses for the natural materials that make their way into our home!
.....................................................
Hope this helps inspire you to take an active part preparing your kids and their caretakers to get outside. And for Grandparents reading this I hope it gives you some ways to simplify and enjoy the experience!
Parents or Grandparents, if you have any tips or tricks that I haven't included here please share in the comments. I'm sure everyone would love to hear about what has worked well for others!
: )
