The wildflowers are starting to bloom, new leaves are growing on the tips of branches, gardens are beginning to sprout… this is the time to take the kids out for a walk to look for the signs of spring. This can be a quick walk around the neighborhood or the park, an exploration of your backyard, an excursion into a local nature area, a trip to a botanic garden, or a visit to a nearby farm.
Let your child be your guide, allowing them to explore and point out the things they see to you. If something misses their eyes, this is a great teachable moment. Go ahead and ask your child questions. Listen to your child. Answer their questions. Point out things they may have missed. Stop and look around. Listen. Smell.
Here are just a few things you might notice…
- Tree seedlings
- Baby animals
- Birds making nests
- Blossoms on fruit trees
- Buds on a tree
- An increase in insect activity
- New leaf growth
- Wildflowers
- Changes in the weather
- Changes in flow of creeks and rivers
- Sprouts in the garden
- Migrating birds
- Frog eggs in a creek
- Colors
- Scents
- Frogsong
- Birdsong
Enjoy!
hike.wander.wonder 
Brilliant! My grandson, 6 years old, takes me to all sorts of exciting places, the local park, a nearby bird sanctuary, anywhere we can run wild and see nature at its best.
Here in Scotland the weather isn’t always great, but the scenery is!
Some recent blogs:
http://anelephantcant.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/anelephantcant-do-poetic-justice-to.html
Look forward to reading more of your adventures.
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Scotland is absolutely gorgeous, and one of the reasons is the rain. I hope to make it back for another visit one day. After reading The Water Horse to my son, he’s begging to go, too!
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When my kids were little we used to hike around a nearby lake. Before we started hiking I would give them a list of things to be on the lookout for such as frogs, birds, flowers, etc. It was always a joy to see them really observing their surroundings while trying to fill their list. I never remember them once complaining about the hike. Occasionally I’d have to give the littlest one a piggy back ride for a bit. 😀 Hopefully some day your child will realize what a thrill you’ve made of growing up by having so many activities available to them. Keep up the good work.
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I like that… a kind of scavenger hunt hike. I’ll have to do that one soon, and I’ll write a post when I do. Thanks!
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