Why Should I Make a Mud Pie? 

Sticks, mud, leaves, and rocks are the tools children use to learn and play with and these items are all found right in their backyard. This week we will be talking about this type of play; called nature play. Nature play has been a growing practice around the world in places like Europe and Australia. Nature Play embodies several different concepts including free play, theatrical or imaginative play, and outdoor play. The common root of these ideas is learning lifelong lessons through hands on experiences with nature without the interruption of adults. There are lessons for our young ones to learn from trial and error, working together as a team, and expressing their ideas through creativity, all while doing it by themselves. When children work and play by themselves they create stronger connections to how and why something did or did not work. If a child is playing with blocks and someone builds a tower for them, they never truly got the chance to experience the why or how the blocks can stack together without tumbling over.

Why encourage playing in nature? Connecting with the outdoor world brings life to our imagination.  A plastic toy boat is a boat, but a stick with a dose of imagination can be a spoon, a wand or a key to the unexplored world found in the woods. Daily time spend outdoors has also been proven to be just as important as the right amount of sleep and a healthy diet for our child to develop properly. 

In order to truly understand this concept it helps to look back on your own childhood. Reminisce on the memories you hold while playing outdoors. Most of us will remember a time when mom told us to take our roughhousing outside until dinner time, a time when it was okay to roam the woods until the street lights came on, a time when stirring soups made from mud, grass, and flowers was commonplace, and time when all the kids in the neighborhood were climbing trees until we could see the top of our houses. These are the kind of memories the next generation needs in order to appreciate the wonder found in the forest. If they appreciate the wonder then they will grow up to respect the Earth and become “greener” citizens of the community.  

“If we want children to flourish, to become truly empowered, then let us allow them to love the earth before we ask them to save it.” – David Sobel

 

 

You are the Magician

How to help create the magical memories of outdoor exploration for your young ones is easier than you may think. An important thread throughout these nature play experiences is the lack of adult interruption. It is important to sit back and watch your child play. Letting them work through challenges is just as important as letting them play in their imaginary world. When they work by themselves it allows them to create the necessary stepping stones to figuring out the problem at hand. As adults we know that not every personality gets along in harmony,

but we learn to work with others. When children play and argue together they learn the important lifelong lessons of working together.

With younger children or in cases where your child decides to climb trees or cross the creek over a fallen log, adult supervision may be necessary. However letting them work through the challenges helps them to become confident in their decisions whether they fail or succeed. This doesn’t mean you cannot bond with your children over nature play. We as adults have our opinions and presumptions, but it is key for us to put them aside. Guiding your children through play with what you say is important. When interacting with children try to keep your questions and words open ended. Ask questions that allow them to teach you about their world.

The Messier the Merrier

Nature play activities to try with your children are endless and super cheap! All you need is materials from the backyard and a sprinkle of imagination. Nature soup is an easy go to activity that encourages children to exercise their imagination while getting their hands dirty. If you don’t mind the mess of the soup, try making mud pies.

For a little less adult interaction try setting up a discovery blanket. It’s as simple as placing a blanket in the grass and setting out pine cones, seeds or anything that will catch their attention and see where their imagination leads them. Now that you have the tools and ideas. Start creating those positive memories of the outdoors with your kids and watch the magic happen!