Nature Activities For Kids

1.Plant a seed- Even if you don’t have a yard, your child can plant a seed in a cup. Marigolds are a good choice for flowers because they grow quickly. Transfer the plant to a pot when it gets too big for the cup.

2.Use natural materials as toys- Add baskets of stones, dried flowers, sticks or shells to your child’s play area. Children love to sort and count these, and they make wonderful additions to block buildings. In the fall, I like to give children gourds and acorns to use as pretend food when they play “house” or “restaurant”.


3.Paint rocks or sticks- Painted rocks look beautiful when displayed in a clear glass bowl. Painted sticks can be displayed in a flower vase or simply tied together with a ribbon and set on a table.

4.Adopt a tree – Choose a tree in your neighborhood and visit it regularly. Give the tree hugs, sketch it, sit
and observe the birds and other animals that live in it. Make crayon rubbings of the tree’s bark by holding a piece of paper up to the tree’s trunk and rubbing with the side of a crayon.

5.Ribbons in the wind- On a windy day, tie ribbons onto a stick and encourage your child to see what happens when she holds the stick in the air. Look for other things that blow in the wind too!

6.Photo scavenger hunt – Make a list of natural items to find (a pink flower, a smooth rock, a tree that is taller than Daddy, etc.) Take a digital camera and photograph each item as you find it.

7.Seed Mosaics- Save seeds from vegetables and fruits that you eat. (Or you can purchase seed packets) Glue these seeds onto paper to make beautiful artwork. If you want, your child can paint the seeds, either before or after gluing.

8.Build a fairy house (indoors or outside)-  Click here for instructions  Remember to be creative and have fun!

9.Keep a nature journal- Give your child a notebook and encourage him to record his observations of nature. Depending on the age of your child, he might draw pictures, write descriptions, or dictate words for you to write. Glue or tape samples of natural items that you collect onto the pages.

10. Explore a puddle- Most adults think of puddles as nuisances … something to walk around. But if you look closer, you will see that there is a lot going on in that puddle! Encourage your child to examine bugs, worms, and other forms of life that might be in or around the puddle. Draw a chalk line around the puddle and come back the next day to see if the puddle is still the same size as it was earlier.

11.Create a “Nature Table” or tray – Set aside a small table for your children to use as their “Nature Table”. (If you don’t have room for a table, consider using a tray that can be stored on a shelf and brought out when you want to look at it.) Encourage your children to collect things that remind them of nature… both inside the house and outdoors. Set these items attractively on the tray or table. Look at them and touch them often. Change the display with the seasons or whenever you are inspired to.

12.Stick weaving- Choose a stick that is shaped like the letter “Y”. Tie string from one side of the Y to the other. Weave ribbons, grass, flowers and other natural materials between the strings.

13.Sandy footprints – When you go to the beach (or even if you are just playing in your sandbox), create a permanent reminder of that wonderful feeling of walking barefoot in the sand. Click here for instructions

14.Beach bottles- When you are at the beach, collect sand, shells, feathers, pebbles and other natural treasures. Put these in a bottle and display them in your home.

15.Make an instrument- A sistrum is a rhythm instrument that has been used by many cultures for centuries. You can make one using a “Y” shaped stick and some bottle caps. Click here for instructions

16.Start a rock collection- Encourage your child to look for rocks everywhere. (Children can find rocks anyplace… even in city parking lots!) Make a rule that your child can only collect one rock from each place you visit. This will help your child focus on the individuality of the rocks, so that he can choose the most “special” one.

17.Make mud pies- Yes, it’s ok to get dirty! If you don’t have mud, go ahead and add some water to dirt and make your own!

18.Press flowers in books- Follow these directions to make pressed flowers. You can glue the pressed flowers onto greeting cards, bookmarks, stationery or framed artwork.

19.Nature sculptures – Encourage your child to use natural materials to create 3-D art. You can stick grasses, leaves or flowers into clay or you could stack rocks and sticks. If you provide the materials, your child will know what to do with them.

20.Just go outside and PLAY! - Freedom to play outdoors is probably the best way for kids to get connected to nature.