How to Get Your Kids Their Daily Dose of Nature

If you’re a fan of Go Explore Nature on Facebook, you know I recently participated in the KidsDiscoverNature.com 30-Day Outdoor Challenge. The idea behind the challenge was that getting outside for at least 30 minutes a day for a month would make doing so a habit.

My goal during the challenge was to take an honest look not just at how much time we spend outside every day, but how much (if any) of that time is spent connecting with nature.

Now that the 30 days have come and gone, I’d like to share some of my lessons learned. I’m hoping you’ll see that connecting kids with nature every day isn’t as tough as you might think.

DO keep some ideas handy.
At the beginning of the challenge, I created a list of things we already like to do – like taking neighborhood walks and spending time in our garden – then added things I thought might be fun to try, like going on a hike and bird watching. I kept the list handy so ideas would be at the ready.

Bringing a favorite toy outside was a huge hit!

DON’T bite off more than you can chew.
If 30 minutes of outdoor time isn’t realistic for your family, start with 10-minute blocks instead. Then build nature time into routine activities. How? Eat outside, turn a neighborhood walk into a nature scavenger hunt or explore a tree while you’re at the park.

DO remember that simple is often best.
Connecting with nature can be as simple as heading out your back door. Encourage the kids to play in the dirt, climb a tree, hunt for bugs and watch the clouds go by. If you need some inspiration, check out these 50 ways to explore nature in your own backyard.

DON’T forget to look for nature in unexpected places.
We discovered a fish tank at Union Station, strolled a magical garden in a hotel in Las Vegas, swam in a pool with a swim-up shark tank (also in Vegas) and watched pelicans soar from the deck of the Queen Mary. Nature is always around you; some times you just have to stop and look for it.

The boys in a swim-up shark tank in Las Vegas

DO schedule time for family nature adventures.
Your backyard is a great place to discover nature. But sometimes it’s fun to go someplace different or try something new. Schedule some family time in nature – go tide pooling, take a hike or visit a nature park.

DON’T discount indoor activities.
It was toughest for us to get outside on busy, overscheduled days. That’s when books that connect kids with nature can come in handy. We also love the Gus Outdoors DVD series, which is all about kids exploring nature.

A few of our favorite books about nature

DO share nature with friends.
During the challenge, we enjoyed bird watching, beach combing, wetland exploring, hiking and more with friends. Turn play dates into opportunities to get outside.

Exploring a (dead) crab with friends

DON’T give up if you miss a day.
There were at least a few days during the challenge when we didn’t make it outdoors – and others when we were outside but not connecting with nature. Instead of giving up on the goal completely, I geared up to do better the next day.

DO lead by example.
The more excited I am about a bug, plant, tree or shark, the more my kids become interested, too. The best part? After a little while, your kids will return the favor with their own interests and enthusiasm.

Me & the flower-loving big explorer

DON’T forget that time in nature is good for your kids – and you!
There’s plenty of research to support the idea that nature is good for kids. But it wasn’t until I kept a record of our outdoor activities that I noticed a direct link: The more time we spent playing outside and exploring nature, the better our moods (especially mine!). And that made getting out there the next day that much easier.

The 30-Day Outdoor Challenge may be over, but our efforts to make time for nature every day isn’t. I’d love to hear how you do it!