How Do We Make a Child Friendly With Nature, Even if He Doesn’t Want to Go Out?

Many children do not want to spend time in nature. The reasons may be different:

• increased interest in modern games and technologies;

• strict parental control of the playground;

• lack of time due to the load of the school and extracurricular program;

• monotonous and boring walks;

• discomfort in crowded, noisy, and not always clean parks,

• fear of insects or animals, fear of getting dirty, and so on.

Fortunately, parents can change their child's attitudes toward nature. This requires a short-term plan and a long-term plan.

Daily actions

Let the child play without you.

Many parents are afraid to leave their little ones alone in the yard. But what if he gets dirty / falls / gets pushed? - These are just some of the parents' fears that keep them from constantly monitoring their child and warning them, "Be careful not to."

Thus, the child always feels like, under a magnifying glass, he can not be independent and play as he likes. If you want to keep an eye on him, you should do this remotely, so that the child has the feeling that he is in his (playful) territory, has his area where he and his peers are, without adults.

The hyper-protective parent, in an attempt to prevent certain risks, may cause the little one to lose self-confidence, to form a series of complexes, and thus he will no longer feel like playing outdoors.

By the way, encourage the child to play in the heart of nature, where there are no specially arranged spaces. Outdoor games develop motor skills and increase the ability and desire to move, plus the little one will always be surprised to discover new things.

Do is not afraid that the little one will get dirty.

Many parents fear the danger of germs. Yes, no one wants to get sick, but some tend to overdo it. On the contrary, the body has to deal with microbes in the process of growth, to learn how to fight them - this is the only way in which immunity is formed. And extremely sterile conditions can only harm the child.

Don't be afraid that your baby will get his hands dirty. He will wash them after the game is over. Did he get his clothes dirty? Nothing serious.

Choose for play comfortable clothes that are easy to wash and not too expensive, as well as comfortable shoes. It is normal for the little one to look for adventures and try to discover the world around him. Let it roll through the grass, climb the trees, jump into the puddles after the rain.

It is such moments that remain in the beautiful memories of childhood. We are part of the environment. So do not separate the little one from nature, but help him to discover it, to protect it, and to love it.

Allow 30 minutes for evening walks.

Do whatever it takes, but set aside at least 30 minutes each day for the outdoors. Run together (who gets to a certain point first), ride a bike, play ball, catch soap bubbles, play catch, play tennis, jump on a trampoline. At least take a walk - it will benefit both you and your baby.

Weekly actions

Even if you are very busy during the week, at least on a weekend day you plan to perform one of the actions described below.

Discover wildlife together.

Go out in nature to the museum to find out curious things. Many children are afraid of geese, rodents, reptiles, etc. If the little one gets to know them better, he will overcome the fear and fall in love with them. Here's what you can do:

• Read with the child about the animals and plants that can be found near your home, go in search of them, returning home you can draw them together.

• Gather leaves and put them in a notebook at home where you write their name - kids love to collect.

• Look for shapes in nature. If you have chosen the circle, look for all the circles in the flower petals, in the pebbles, in the leaves. Then look for triangles, stars, squares, any other shapes that come to mind.

• Study the snails. Snails are fascinating creatures. It is enough to go out in a place with abundant vegetation after a summer rain to find them. Take a few snails, place them on a large burdock leaf, and watch them advance, how they move their horns, what a sticky streak they leave behind, how they eat the leaves, and so on.

Look for traces of pets and try to guess who left them.

Listen carefully to all the sounds. Try to identify who produces them and imitate them. Imitate the croaking of a frog, the chirping of a duck, the knocking of a woodpecker. Thus, the child will learn to distinguish creatures, will know how to name them, and will know their song. The sound of water, insects, the wind blowing through the branches are perfect music for calming and maintaining emotional balance.

Read stories about different animals or plants. If the little one knows the story of a bunny or a hedgehog, a frog or a lizard, he will enjoy the encounter with these creatures in the bosom of nature.

Talk about plants and animals with delight and enthusiasm. The child will share the same emotions.

Go your hikes for a few hours.

Hiking can be done in parks, but it is best to organize them outside the city, in wild natural areas. For a start, do these half-hour hikes, and then, over time, you can extend them to a few hours. Choose concrete routes in advance, each time is different so that the little one has the opportunity to discover something new.

Before you start hiking, make sure you have everything ready - proper clothes, water, and maybe some snacks. Be prepared that the little one will get dirty from head to toe because for him the process is more important than getting from point A to point B.

Choose routes where there is water - river, lake, pond. Children love to see their reflection in the water, to listen to the murmur of the spring, to throw pebbles on the water mirror. To make the experience even more impressive, you can take duck food with you, for example.

Combine hiking with a short picnic. This is another tactic that significantly increases the child's interest factor in going out into nature. Prepare some special picnic dishes in advance or let the children choose some special things at the store. Be sure to leave the environment clean after the picnic.

Communicate with the child along the route. Highlight things that your child can touch, see or even smell. Ask questions: "What kind of animal do you think left that mark?", "What bird do you think is heard?", "Why do you think this plant is so shaped?", "How many colors do you see?". Of course, be prepared to answer the little one's questions as well.

Monthly shares

Once a month you can organize activities that would help the child to know nature more deeply. You can visit a botanical garden, go to a zoo, a planetarium, or organize camping in the heart of nature.

It's a good idea to go to a farm. The child will be curious to see how a cow feeds her calf, will be excited to feed the chicks, will see how a horse is cared for, and so on.

An equally good idea is to go to a garden. Gather vegetables together and then eat them. If neither you nor your relatives have a garden, create your garden by the window.

It is difficult for the little ones to understand where the pizza we put on the plate comes from, so planting and picking vegetables is an important experience for them. Ideally, the child should be involved in the whole process - from planting to harvesting.

Annual actions

At least once a year, every family should plan a trip for a few days in the heart of nature. A perfect option is to organize real camping - tent, evenings spent around the fire, studying the starry sky, and so on.

It is also suitable for an organized trip with accommodation at the hotel, with climbing lessons, horseback riding, boat trips, etc.

And one more thing: every man in his life should plant at least one tree. Make it a tradition to plant a tree with your family at least once a year. Ask your child to help you dig a hole, put soil around the root, and water it. Find a name for it, water it, and visit it all the time. It's great to see the tree grow with the tree.