“What Nature can Teach Us”
Find all the posts by my nature teacher alter ego Ela Wild! This series is designed to help parents teach their children using nature, bonding in the process. There are fun activities and ideas to spark conversation and exploration. Every month there is a new Ela Wild blog post and a new #ElaWildChallenge to help you get outside and have fun as a family! Check out Califf Life Creations on Instagram for inspiration.
Recent Posts
The cold months are here and we don’t last long outside. While I strive to inspire you to get outside every day, no matter the temperature, these months can be tough even for the most outdoorsy families. That’s why I’ve decided to focus this installation of “What Nature Can Teach Us” on indoor nature ideas to get a connection to nature even when you can’t get outside.
Fall leaves are magical for so many reasons. There is something about a big pile of leaves that is irresistible to kids. They can bring out the kid in adults and always spell fun. There are so many learning opportunities for both kid’s bodies and minds hidden within this addictive fall play. Sure, kids will get dirty, but isn’t that what bathes are for, right?
What is your reaction when your child picks up a stick? Do you immediately fear injury? Many parents do. Playing with sticks is a natural childhood activity and, while there is a risk of injury, the benefits far outweigh that risk. You could call the stick the “original toy” since kids have been playing with sticks since long before we had dolls and blocks. With a little stick play etiquette and a splash of creativity, a stick can transform into anything.
We’re going on a bug hunt! Hunting for bugs is a great way to get kids outside to learn and observe nature. Bugs are misunderstood but are a crucial part of the ecosystem. I know many kids (and parents) have an “ew” factor bordering on an irrational fear of bugs but they are rarely the bad guy in the story. Going on a bug hunt helps to shed those fears and replace them with fascination and curiosity.
We can learn from nature in many ways but getting hands-on experience is irreplaceable. That is one of the reasons I was so excited to start composting with my kids. The amazing thing about compost is that you can make it anywhere. Whether you live on a farm or in a small apartment, there are ways that you can learn to compost and teach your kids about composting.
When the weather warms up, kids naturally want to play outside more. This is the perfect time to go exploring and discover new things. Creeks are a great place for kids to play, explore, and learn. Spring is one of my favorite times to go play in a creek since they are bursting with life.
If there is one aspect of nature that everyone can see and enjoy, no matter where you live, it is the clouds. It doesn’t matter if you live in the country or the city, as long as you can look out of a window, you are bound to see clouds. They can be different shapes and even different colors depending on the type of weather approaching. There is so much you can learn from simply watching the clouds.
Nature is cruel. True or False? This is my least favorite saying since it is so incredibly false and leads to a lot of misconceptions about the natural world. The fact is that kindness is everywhere. Nature is not cruel. It is kind and through nature, we can teach our children a sense of empathy and kindness that is lacking in our modern world.
There is something magical about the snow. It blankets the world in beauty and has this way of making you feel happy. There is something about snow that makes kids want to go out and play while making their parents feel like kids again themselves. Playing in the snow is not only fun, but it is also beneficial.
Outdoor play doesn’t have to stop in winter. Just because it’s cold out does not mean that you have to stay indoors. There are a lot of benefits to getting outside in winter, and a lot that you can learn. As long as everyone bundles up, winter is a great season to explore outside. You get to experience places in a whole new way. There is so much fun to be had outdoors in the winter and so much that we can learn from the cold, snow, and ice.
Nature learning doesn’t have to always be about being outside. At some point in the day, you need to come in and the perfect transition is a nature craft. It is a great way to bring nature learning inside. We love to collect things outside and then use those to create something inside. Whether it is painting rocks or making trees, I’ve found that creating a nature craft is a great way to bond and have fun together.
Earthworms are fascinating creatures for children. My son is always looking for earthworms and I’m always looking for ways we can learn from them. Everything in nature can teach us something, and earthworms are no exception. This month we are going to talk about how to look at earthworms and what we can learn from and about them.
Ela Wild here, back with another installment of “What Nature Can Teach Us.” This month, we are talking about the benefits of child-led exploration. How it develops observational skills and helps us slow down and connect with our children. It is a great way to get kids interested in natures by using their curiosity as the guide.
Hello Everybody! My name is Ela Wild. Have you ever noticed that there is something magical about kids in nature? Watching their curiosity blossom into learning is one of my greatest joys. It is amazing how much nature can teach us and our children. I have been fortunate to grow up in nature and to raise my boys in it as well. I know not everyone gets this experience so I wanted to help people understand how much our environment can teach us.
