Humans evolved in the crucible of nature, so we are adapted
to spend far more time outdoors than our current lifestyles tend to allow.
Numerous studies show the advantages of spending time in nature, for both kids
and adults--reducing stress levels, increasing attention span, gaining
confidence, becoming more flexible in response to change. With much of
education today transferred from school to home, being outdoors offers great
learning opportunities.
Here are tips for cultivating your child's friendship with
nature.
Enjoy free play. Encourage free play outdoors, within
set boundaries, allowing kids to follow their curiosity and exercise
creativity. At times, you'll want to provide a framework by taking them on
expeditions. Try a family stroll through the woods or the neighborhood, go
skiing (either cross-country or downhill), go fishing, go biking, lie outdoors
on a summer night and gaze at the stars.
Create a field guide for their trips. When you're out
together, point out the sights and sounds of nature, watch birds and bugs, and
find other ways to pique kids' interest. A field guide, to focus attention on
identifying plants or creatures, encourages keen observation and engages the
whole family.
Enjoy visiting local sunflower farms. Did your kids know that sunflowers follow the
sun? When you visit the farm ask your kids to notice where the sunflowers are
facing. 
Start with short hikes. If your goal is to go
wilderness camping, start with short hikes and work your way up to bigger
trips, advises Michael Lanza, author of “Before They’re Gone: A Family’s
Year-Long Quest to Explore America’s Most Endangered National Parks” (Beacon
Press). Notice how your child handles smaller challenges and try to judge their
readiness for more ambitious plans based on both experience and physical
capacity.
Hudson Valley Parent has culled many lists to find best
trails.
Encourage them to learn a new sport. If your kids
have patience, they may enjoy fishing. What’s great about fishing is that any
age kid can participate. (Editor’s Note: I remember taking my boys, both under
5, to a local pond. They used worms to fish with that they dug up from the
garden. Sometimes it was as simple as a rod and string. Both my boys, who are
now in their 50s, continue to fish. And my granddaughter and grandson have joined
in too.
Find unusual places that the kids have not visited. Have
fun at the many farm markets in the region. Let the kids decide the fruits and veggies
they want to buy. Then let them loose in the kitchen helping you make a
delicious dinner. You could reverse the process by letting them choose recipes
and then go to the market to shop.
Let kids plan a future vacation. Although
long-distance travel may not currently be an option, kids can make use of the
Internet to gather information and plan future adventures. Videos and websites
can whet their appetite for outdoor sports from kayaking to rock climbing and
introduce them to locations they'd like to visit.
Make change part of the plan. Be flexible and be
prepared. If your little one would rather throw stones in the creek than study
plant life on the shore, that's perfectly okay. If a rainstorm interrupts your
hike, you've hopefully brought along the gear to stay dry or you know how to
find yourselves a shelter. Those unplanned events also provide important
learning experiences for kids.
Many, but not all these ideas came from a previously published Boston Herald
article.