Invitation for Adventure: Using Language to Motivate Kids to get Outdoors

You may have experienced your child's hesitation or even resistance to spending time outdoors, in which case the toughest part is usually getting them to go outside at all. Once you are enveloped in nature, children usually lose themselves in exploration or activities, and then it's hard to get them to go home. But how do you convince a kid who thinks it would be funner to play on his iPad, or build with Legos, that they should come along on a hike?

The first suggestion I have is: DON'T CALL IT A HIKE. A child will most likely associate the word 'hike' with arduous, monotone walking. They will drag their feet the entire way. Other examples of language that will be met with resistance and even resentment are, "We have to walk the dogs," "You need fresh air," "You need a break from the computer" "You need to move more," "You can't just watch tv all afternoon!"

Imagine the difference if you say one of the following:

"I need your help building a fort! I've already packed lunch and drinks. Are you ready to go?"

"I found a secret trail that I've never seen before, come along, I want to show it to you. Bring the camera, who knows what else we'll find!"

"I've got a scavenger hunt list printed. I wonder how many of the items we'll be able to find today!"

"The blackberries are ripe. Let's see how many we can pick for making pies!"

"Look, I packed binoculars, a shovel, and a compass. Let's go on an adventure!"

"I've got paper and markers, let's make a map of the park to show Mom/Dad/best friend! We could even bury a little treasure for them to find!"

"Check it out, a new plant and animal guide. Let's go see if we can spot anything from the book. Maybe you'll even find something that's NOT in the book!"

"Here's the GoPro. I'll bet you'll find some cool things to film in the woods!"

"There's fresh snowfall. That means animal tracks! Come on, let's go! I've got hot chocolate and graham crackers in my bag."

"OK, I packed comic books and snacks. Now we just need to find the perfect spot in the forest to enjoy them. I'll bet you and your friends will find the perfect spot!"

All of these are formulated as invitations to share an adventure. These, and others, have worked for me and my son on many occasions. It requires a bit more planning on your part, but approaching time spent outdoors this way can really change the way your child feels about nature. It cultivates a positive association to outdoor activities. Your child may even begin to have ideas of their own, and invite you on a few adventures!

I would love to hear about ways you motivate your kids, so please share in the comments!

Tweet

Outdoor Project: Sensory Play with Toddlers

A fun way to expose toddlers to nature is by introducing them to the different textures, smells, and even tastes of organic things. My friends and I held a playdate back when our children were toddlers and set up a circle of trays with different things for them to explore with their hands. 

Here are the things we used that day:

We knew that our kids were likely to put things in their mouths, so we made sure to only include items that were not toxic or poisonous. 

Don't worry if your child puts things like a pine cone, a leaf, or sand in their mouths, as long as you have collected these from areas where dogs and other animals don't frequent. 

Hope you have a great time with this sensory-play project!

COMING UP NEXT ON A CHILDHOOD IN NATURE:

Reed's Mama Gabrielle shares a little about their time in nature in California!

Tweet

Gear: Nature in a Baby Carrier / A Papa Post

Hi Readers, I'm Dawn's husband and Rafael's father, Ramon. I want to tell you about my experience using a baby carrier, mainly the Baby Björn.

We live surrounded by forest, with dirt paths that aren't always suitable for a stroller or buggy. I wanted to stay active, and didn't want to limit myself to flat pavement. As long as Rafael couldn't walk, using a carrier made it possible to off-road it comfortably, which made a huge difference in our every-day lives.

We had three different baby carriers, but the only one that fit my frame comfortably was the Baby Björn. I was really glad we found one that was easy for me to put on and that wasn't awkward for my body shape and size like the others were. I went on hikes with Rafael in two other brands and it was awful. We were both uncomfortable for most of the time, so we couldn't really relax and have fun. Having the right gear was key to enjoying the time I spent out in the wild with my son.

I went on countless walks with Rafael in his Baby Björn and we made beautiful memories. I especially loved doing pull-ups with him as extra weight, or getting a good workout from hiking with him in his carrier on sunny days. Being active outdoors is something I love, and it's a good feeling to know that I've shared that with my boy from an early age on. If you share things with your kid that you are genuinely interested in, they'll feel that. And your enthusiasm will be contagious. So I'm sure the love I have for the nature we have here has rubbed off on him.

I definitely recommend both parents or partners trying on the baby carriers before buying them. Every body frame is different, and not every carrier will be comfortable on every shape. So unless only one of you will be carrying the baby, definitely try to find something that is comfortable for everyone!

COMING UP NEXT ON A CHILDHOOD IN NATURE: Sensory Play with Toddlers!

Tweet

Outdoor Project: A Stick House

Welcome! I am so excited to finally be launching this blog. Thank you so much for joining me here!

The reason why 'The Story of a Stick House' is the very first post for A Childhood in Nature is that the construction of our humble little fort was a huge game-changer in my son Rafael's experience of spending time in the woods. 

Before we built it, our walks in the woods had been very simple. We would take our two dogs, pack the essentials, and head out, with no plan or destination. And while there were definitely highlights, things to be found and collected, bugs to be spied and berries to be eaten, Rafael was becoming a little bored with our walks.

This changed drastically once we built a small, simple shelter.

It was hardly more than a pile of sticks thrown together, and it kept coming apart. 

Rafael and his friends seemed suddenly drawn like a magnet to the woods once we had our rickety, tiny fort up. But after pieces of the roof started coming down on children's heads, I realized we needed something sturdier. I had no experience with building forts, but one morning I discovered a fallen tree and thought, Why not lean some sticks on it? 

We found a log to have as a bench, and a tree stump that was perfect as a little table. Since then, we frequently meet with friends for playgroups and picnics. And all we have to say is, "Meet us at the stick house."

Having our stick house makes our time in nature so much more fun. And the really wonderful thing is that, other families enjoy it every day as well! Sometimes we see hikers taking photos of it, or children we don't know playing there. 

People have vandalized and destroyed our fort countless times. It's just a part of having something that doesn't actually belong to you out in the open where anyone has access to it. Of course it's upsetting to arrive at our stick house and see it in pieces, but we never get tired of the fun work of building it back up.

If you would like to build a stick house, here are two options that can help you.

Option 1: These stick houses are simple, because all you need is a tree with a long, naked trunk. They are shaped like a tipi, but don't have much sitting space. Perfect for one or two kids to hunker down in.

Option 2: (This is what we built.) 

These stick houses are roomy and you could even camp inside with a sleeping bag!

It is very important, though, to make sure the fallen tree is still fresh and hard, not at all worm-eaten or rotten. If it's too old and soft, it will break under the weight of the 'walls.'

I hope this post inspires you to build a stick house, or any kind of structure, with the kids in your life. They will be so happy you did. 

If you build a fort, or already have, we'd love to see it!  Send photos along with your name and where in the world you're from to: achildhoodinnature@gmail.com

COMING UP NEXT ON A CHILDHOOD IN NATURE:

A mother of two shares what it's like living surrounded by Canadian wilderness!

Tweet