These books about camping for kids are sure to inspire plenty of outdoor fun! From making s’mores around a campfire, to putting up a tent, here is a great collection of camping books kids will love even if you’re camping in your own backyard (or living room). Be sure to check out the camping activity […]
Creating an Ocean Sensory Table
August 6, 2014 by
Sensory tables are incredibly popular with preschoolers. They bring a tactile experience to a lesson that is often remembered long after the book smarts have made their way in one ear and out the other. Creating an Ocean Sensory Table is easy and inexpensive to do at home. Here is how we created an Ocean […]
Five Amazing Hikes to Take With Kids
July 5, 2014 by
These five amazing hikes to take with kids weren’t a conscious thing at first… it just started with a walk in the woods, which then turned into a weekly walk in the woods, which then turned into a hike with friends out beyond the confines of cellphone reception and into the world of “leave only footprints, take […]
Ways to Play and Learn with Water Outdoors
May 15, 2014 by
These creative ways to play and learn with water outdoors are sure to delight kids of all ages! When the weather starts to warm up, you’ll want to refer to this list to keep cool and have lots of ideas for good clean fun on-hand. Here are 10 of our favorite ways to play […]
Fine Motor Craft – Winter Snowflake Ornaments
February 19, 2014 by
This fine motor craft to make Winter snowflake ornaments can be set up as a quick and easy “invitation to create” while celebrating Winter with the kids! Added bonus — some unique snowflake ornaments that are sure to add a little sparkle to your home. To make the Winter Snowflake Ornaments, you will need: craft […]
Books about Animals in Winter
January 15, 2014 by
Does your child want to learn more about animals in winter? Reading is a wonderful way to obtain new information and encourage children to use their imagination. Here are ten of our favorite children’s books about animals in winter. Books about Animals in Winter Stranger in the Woods by Carl R. Sams II and Jean […]
Birds in Winter
January 13, 2014 by
Last weekend, our region experienced extreme sub-zero temperatures. While outside watching bubbles freeze, my youngest son noticed a fluffy bird shivering on our neighbor’s air conditioner. “Mommy,” he began, “I feel so bad for that little bird! It must be cold!” His empathy and curiosity led him to a series of excellent questions: How do […]
Exploring Nature with a Camera
September 30, 2013 by
The natural world is something that interests our entire family, so this year we are devoting more time to nature study. At first, nature study can seem a bit overwhelming. As adults, we feel the need to know everything as we set out. We often worry about being able to answer all of the many […]
Ocean Themed Fun
July 26, 2013 by
Interested in teaching your children more about the ocean? Make a day out of it! Here are some ideas for planning a day filled with lots of ocean themed fun. Eat ocean themed food Make an octopus’s garden snack with a bell pepper as the body and 8 legs wallowing in the dip of your […]
Beach Keepsake Craft
July 24, 2013 by
One of our favorite places to go for vacation is the beach. It’s so relaxing and enjoyable, yet at the same time, the kids love to explore, build, and discover on the shoreline. This summer, I decided to use this opportunity to create a beach keepsake using their discoveries. The supplies you need are quite […]
Around the Web: Exploring Nature with Kids
July 7, 2013 by
This week we’ve shared a fun fossil finding activity at a creek and five tips for exploring nature with kids, but we don’t want the sharing to end there! We’ve gathered 10 inspiring posts from around the web that are sure to get your kids playing and learning outside. 1. Make a nature study kit […]
5 Tips for Exploring Nature with Kids
July 6, 2013 by
It’s important for children to be encouraged to connect with nature, but what if you are a little timid when it comes to exploring the outdoors? Whether you identify yourself as an “indoors” person or you just don’t know where to start, here are a few things you can do to make the transition a […]
Fossil Hunting at the Creek
July 5, 2013 by
Summer is hot and the water in the creek is cold! We had fun cooling our toes while hunting for fossils! The rocks in the creek we visited were predominantly shale and limestone. Mixed into the bunch were some incredible fossils! I explained to the boys that fossils were impressions of the remains of creatures […]
Exploring Nature with Books
June 12, 2013 by
The best part about summer for me is getting outside with my children! I love watching their eyes light up when they pop a wild berry into their mouths or find a snail along a forest trail. We spend hours and hours outside each day, sometimes doing more formal learning such as species identification and […]
How to Create a Wildlife-Friendly Backyard
May 23, 2013 by
Kids love to look at and examine animals. But we don’t always have a backyard that encourages animals to come to us. So, how can you promote animals in your backyard? First you have to know what kind of animals you are wanting to attract. Are you wanting a variety of birds? What about insects? […]
Becoming a Chicken Mama
May 8, 2013 by
Raising baby chickens is a rewarding task that leaves us with entertainment, wonderful learning opportunities, and of course, amazing eggs. If you have ever thought about raising your own chickens for eggs now is the time to consider giving your children the rare experience of having their very own backyard flock! My daughter is […]
Insect Lab Nature Investigation
May 1, 2013 by
Spring brings flowers, warm air, green grass . . . and insects. Many, many insects! Due to mild weather and their natural instinct to hunt for food after winter hibernation, insects are abundant in the spring. Many spring insects are young; they have recently hatched out of an egg case or matured from pupae to […]
“April Showers Bring May Flowers” Handprint Art
April 24, 2013 by
Have you ever gazed at your child and wondered to yourself, “How did he get so big?” or, “Did she grow in her sleep last night?” Colin had just come home from preschool and was excitedly sharing what he had learned that day from his teachers. As he yapped on and on, it became one […]
