Sharing nature with children is a wonderful way to get them excited about the wonders of wildlife, but is also one of the biggest blessings you can have in your own life.
My friend Karyl at Native Plant Wildlife Gardening describes it this way:
Today I watched a neighbor’s kids. We made toad houses and planted sunflowers and it was a treat for me. My garden does not look like much – it is too young yet but to see a habitat garden through the eyes of a child makes it amazing. There is a lot of life going on in my backyard, I’m just too used to it. Everything was WOOOOOOWWWW! to them. You know what, it is pretty WOW.
Yesterday I had a very important date–with my 4 year old neighbor Libby and her 2 year old sister Penny (and their mom, too).
They knew that I had seen the Eagles who for the first time ever, are nesting at John Heinz NWR, which is located in the shadow of the Philadelphia Airport. Their Pappy had also seen these Eagles, and they wanted very much to see them, too.
I packed up a pair of Bushnell 8 x 25 binoculars (perfect size for Libby’s little hands), an 8 x 25 monocular for Penny, and my spare binoculars for Mom and off we went on our grand adventure.
I was hoping that some Great Blue Herons would be wading near the bridge because large birds that stand relatively still are excellent for young children. We scoped out the bridge, but…..no Herons.
But Libby and Penny were unconcerned. We heard a big fish splash in the water, and it was so much fun to keep saying “SPLASH!”
We found a life size carving of a Bald Eagle and we spread our arms out to try to reach the tips of its wings, but we couldn’t because Eagles have verrrry biiig wings.
We made wishes on Dandelion seed heads, and got so silly laughing at the seeds flying everywhere.
We went down the “secret passageways” in the woods and amused ourselves by stomping across the little bridge to scare away the trolls.
It made us very happy to see the Mommy and Daddy Tree Swallows sitting together on top of their houses.
We giggled every time the Canada Geese said “honkhonkhonkhonkhonk” and we practiced saying that, too.
And we got to run, REALLY fast along the pathways.
We never did see the Eagle, but we sure did have fun!
How do you share nature with the kids in your life?
Guest blogger bio: My friend Carole Brown is a great writer, educator and photographer. Her site, Ecosystem Gardening is dedicated to teaching you to garden sustainably, conserve natural resources, and create welcoming wildlife habitat in your garden so that you will attract more birds, butterflies, pollinators, and other wildlife. You can follow Carole on Twitter @CB4Wildlife.
Reading this again brings back such fun memories! Thanks for letting me come out and play at your place!
Carole´s last [type] ..How to Save Energy in Your Landscape
RT @balmeras Kids and Nature, Enliven Your Life http://bit.ly/bQyn9V
RT @balmeras: For the night shift: Kids and Nature, Enliven Your Life http://bit.ly/bQyn9V
Kids and Nature, Enliven Your Life http://bit.ly/bQyn9V by @CB4wildlife
via @balmeras
Kids and Nature, Enliven Your Life http://bit.ly/bQyn9V < a lovely post (and reminder!) from @CB4Wildlife @ The Grass Stain Guru
RT @balmeras: Kids and Nature, Enliven Your Life http://bit.ly/bQyn9V < a lovely post (and reminder!) from @CB4Wildlife
RT @balmeras: Kids & Nature, Enliven Your Life http://bit.ly/bQyn9V < a lovely post (and reminder!) from @CB4Wildlife @ The Grass Stain Guru
RT @MyGreenSide @balmeras: Kids & Nature, Enliven Your Life http://bit.ly/bQyn9V < a lovely post and… frm @CB4Wildlife @ TheGrassStainGuru
RT @biofriendlyblog:@MyGreenSide @balmeras: Kids & Nature, Enliven yr Life http://bit.ly/bQyn9V lovely post @CB4Wildlife @ TheGrassStainGuru
In case U missed it this wk: Kids & Nature, Enliven Your Life http://bit.ly/bQyn9V < a lovely post (and reminder!) from @CB4Wildlife
RT @balmeras: Kids & Nature, Enliven Your Life http://bit.ly/bQyn9V < a lovely post (and reminder!) from @CB4Wildlife
Wonderful…sounds like you had a great time! Thanks for sharing it.
That’s one of the terrific things about going out to experience Nature with kids – they are so observant and everything is interesting and new and exciting to them. No matter if you saw what you “set out to see” or not, doesn’t matter, there is so much else to see. Through a child’s eyes you can truly enjoy Nature.
Tara´s last [type] ..Weekly Greens – July 16th
RT @KatHaber RT @balmeras Kids & Nature, Enliven Your Life http://bit.ly/bQyn9V
RT @argentbeauquest: RT @KatHaber RT @balmeras Kids & Nature, Enliven Your Life http://bit.ly/bQyn9V
Nature is such a great teacher! via @balmeras (Love the photos!) http://ht.ly/2eKUH