Day 22: Have a Cloud Race

Welcome to Day 22 of 31 Days of Backyard Nature Fun, a month-long series offering simple ways to get outside exploring the natural world. To see activities from earlier this month, head here.

When we’re short on time and the day is feeling chaotic, I grab my nature fix the only way I know how: I look up. In the sky, there is always something interesting happening, something that reminds me to slow down, breathe and be present.

This month, I’ve shared several ways kids can connect with nature just by looking up – whether it’s at a sunset, the moon or stars.

During the day, it’s all about the clouds.

Big thanks to my dear friend Suz for sharing this idea with us. Suz is the author of Fed Up with Frenzy, a how-to guide for slowing down and creating more distraction-free time with your kids. She also blogs over at Slow Family Online.

Day 22: Have a cloud race.
Watching the sky and clouds can be somewhat of a luxury in our busy lives. When we think of unhurried childhoods, many of us picture a lazy afternoon or early evening, laying in the grass and gazing at the sky overhead, allowing ourselves to daydream as the clouds drift to form various shapes.

Clouds provide the perfect backdrop for our imaginations, after all. They are lovely, miraculous, ever-changing, and not to be missed, even in the most frenzied childhood.

As you concentrate on the clouds, you’ll probably discover differences in their formations, appearances and speeds as they move across the sky. What do some different clouds look like to you? Is there a story you can make up, starring a cloud?

Got two or more people and seeking a more structured game? Have a cloud race! To find out how, head over to Slow Family Online.

Just joining us? Catch up on what we’re up to at 31 Days of Backyard Nature Fun.