Backyard Nature Fun activities are quick-and-simple ways to explore nature in your own backyard.
When it comes to getting outside, I’ve got a new mantra: Keep it simple. Keep it fun. Like playing in the dirt.
All you need is dirt. What could be simpler than that? The dirt we’re currently enjoying is left over from a patio paver project my husband completed recently. But you could easily dig some up in your own backyard or buy a couple of bags of dirt at a local home or garden store.
Don’t worry about what your kids will do when you let them loose to play in the dirt; they’ll figure it out. Trust me.
The Explorers beg to play in the dirt every day after school. They keep it pretty simple – running the dirt through their fingers onto tree stumps,
making tracks for their trucks to navigate, creating stick gardens,
burying rocks, then rediscovering them,
and digging with shovels.
And always without their shoes on. So they can really get into it. Which is exactly what I want them to do.
Take-Home Tips
- Keep the dirt kid-friendly. The soil in our yard gets hard and dry, which isn’t very kid-friendly. We either add some water to loosen things up (and make mud!) or buy fresh soil from a garden store.
- Add natural elements to the mix. The Explorers made quick use of the tree stumps, sticks and rocks I brought to the dirt pile as they played. With these items at their disposal, their imaginations seemed limitless.
5 More Ideas for Getting Outside This Week
- Blow bubbles.
- Make a snack-o-lantern.
- Pick your own flowers (with permission, of course).
- Find something in nature you’re thankful for & capture it with a camera.
- Go stargazing.
Happy Exploring!
