Mother Nature's Playground

Mother Nature's Playground

Each year, a small fortunue is spent on toys for our children.   Sadly, many times this includes video games, which, perhaps with the exception of a few, do little to stimulate children's minds or provide much needed exercise. Because it's so important to keep young minds and bodies active, why not take advantage of nature's playground? It's free and it's as close as the great outdoors.

Manufacturers and developers are busy designing and redesigning toys, books and television programs, making them more entertaining for kids. In some cases, they include good educational content; however, more often than not, it's the "entertainment" value that they are focusing on. By introducing your child to nature, you're opening up a whole new world, which will both entertain and stimulate the imagination, while being educational. Nature can inspire future scientists, economists, creativitive thinkers, and conservationists, while encouraging a sustainable lifestyle.

Let's face it. With today's faltered economy, we are all looking for ways to have a good quality of life on a budget. By including nature exploration in your family activities, you have good quality entertainment and enlightenment for little or no cost. As soon as you step out the door, nature is all around you. You'll find it in backyarda, parka, nature centera or natural museuma. Why pay for costly toys, outdoor play structures, or memberships to  entertainment centers, when you can explore the great outdoors and get full benefit of stimulating and educational play?

Research indicates that, children that are given opportunities to explore and investigate will gain experience to make sound decisions on their own.  This added confidence helps to improve their retention and learning, as they are actively participating in their own education by applying practical experience to theory.  By introducing children to an environment where inquisitive thinking is nurtured, they develop their learning skills and grow to be independent thinkers. In fact, we can all benefit from the lessons learned, while exploring the world outside.

It's become increasingly important that we all do our part to be more environmentally conscious. What better way to help do your part than to encourage your children's interest in their planet, while they're young and impressionable? When people, children included, develop an appreciation for the environment, they are more apt to do their best to improve and preserve it.

I had what I consider to be a privileged childhood. I was blessed with space, fresh air, green grass, and all kinds of trees for me to climb or just sit in their shade and let my imagination fly. We had a resource reader, which provided information about various wildlife species, including how to identify their tracks. I had fun. Actually, I had loads of fun. As an added bonus, my mind and curiosity was stimulated and I learned valuable lessons, which I still draw on today. Nature gave me the freedom to be a kid; but it also gave me a priceless education.

While unstructured outdoor play is terrific for children, you can also seek out places that offer structured classes and learning sessions for kids that focus on the natural world. Check your local park, zoo, library, or museum. There's a good chance they have classes you can sign up for and, since many of these organizations are nonprofit, they're usually affordable as well as informative.

I've found a terrific resource for kid's indoor and outdoor activities.  CreativeKidsAtHome.com provides a variety of crafts and activities designed to engage children's minds and encourage exercise.

There's no reason why kids should have all the fun. There is no greater escape than getting out and enjoying the rich bounty that nature offers. Enjoy quality time together and reconnect with each other. There's a great big world out there, just waiting for you. 

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