Compared to the usual fast-paced, the slower and relaxed way of life during the lockdown made almost everyone appreciate nature, and the fact that it was blooming in all its glory was on everyone’s lips! Almost everyone remarked on the chirping birds and other nature sounds. People observed flora and fauna more closely, and it was no different for us either. We, too, would wake up to slow mornings and enjoy the nature sounds in our sanctuary – our little green garden, for an hour or so. We would watch the birds chirping and singing around, observe butterflies flittering and fluttering from flower to flower, notice the busy ants marching back and forth carrying food, hear the bees and insects buzzing and droning here and there! And ‘Chocolate’, our neighbour’s dog, would never miss wagging its tail seeing my little one!
Well, so many things happen in nature and in my little one’s wandering mind around animals, insects and birds! Most of what goes unnoticed by me are always brought to my attention by my little one! We are kind of instinctive partners for each other to grow and learn, you can say.
It is during this time that I got thinking if I am doing enough to teach my little one about nature, its resources, its importance for our well-being, to our existence, economy, and society at large. Are we conscious and active enough about our participation in nature and wildlife conservation?
And just then I realised …
“𝐍𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞, 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲.”- Pallavi Prakash Kumar
Quite self-explanatory? isn’t it?
Though wildlife primarily exists in the forests or outside the city limits but if we look closely, the creatures and animals sharing the world with us can be found just under our feet or up above us in the sky. In the garden, there are birds looking for water in the summers, squirrels hoarding nuts for winters in the backyard, frogs croaking in the pond during the rainy season and dog/s crossing the road during heavy traffic. ‘Saving one animal won’t change the world, but surely for that one animal, the world will change forever’. Survival of even one rescued animal or creature would send a ripple through the ecosystem. I AM SURE OF IT.
Ahh! Feeling grounded to the bountiful nature and Mother Earth!
Without further ado, let me share with you some fun ways and activities that I like to follow to help my little one actively participate and learn about nature and wildlife conservation. Trusting that if not all, at least some from this list would definitely bring you and your children closer to nature and we can all participate in our small little ways to help build and maintain the ecosystem.
Here goes:
- Explore parks and go for nature hikes
Take your little ones out on nature hikes and let them explore wildlife sanctuaries. They will appreciate what they see from their point of view. You could have a Q&A related to nature and wildlife. The Wild Wisdom Quiz book series can be your great partner if you like to travel with books.
The first thing that I like to do whenever we go out to any new place is, ask my child to list down (orally) 5 or 10 things he saw, heard or noticed around. With this approach, I have seen a child usually zooms in and become mindfully present to the surroundings he/she is in and appreciates the environment a little more. Try this with your little ones too and let me know if it was a helpful tip or not! As a multitasker, I also follow this exercise myself to become consciously aware of what I’m doing, the purpose of work at hand, how I’m contributing, etc.
We can shape compassionate and responsible future citizens by creating awareness about nature. Associating kids with the natural world can help preserve our natural environment and even enhance it. It will help them gain a deeper appreciation of life and lead them to respect our planet.
- Watch documentaries/shows related to the topic
A nature documentary, show, or movie can be an excellent educational experience for children. This can be very beneficial in inculcating awareness about nature and furthering conservation efforts. It is one of the simplest and quickest ways to foster nature and wildlife conservation learning.
- Feed birds
The benefits of having interaction and discussions with our children about nature and animals are immense. It helps children develop empathy for other living creatures. Along with taking care of the environment, children also learn to take care of plants and animals.
Include little details like the types of birds you see and the types of food they eat in your interaction with them. For example, some eat insects, bugs, and worms, while others prefer seeds and fruits.
In addition to having fun, they will identify bird species and understand the concept of co-existence.
We can also engage in a simple activity of feeding birds and keeping water for them (especially in the summers) and encourage them to start doing so independently.
- Practice Tree therapy and Plant a Tree
Educating the next generation on the importance of trees is another step in protecting the environment.
Consider creative ways to share your thoughts on trees; perhaps walking amongst the trees is the easiest. Allow them to climb trees. Let your children take photos of as many different trees as they can find. Pause and check if there are any peacocks or birds or squirrels in them.
A trip to Nainital (Uttrakhand, India) is what we prefer during the long weekends, especially in July.
And don’t miss out on the golden opportunity of participating in tree plantation drives with your little ones if one is happening in your locality or society!
- Promote nature photography by encouraging it
Ask your young ones what they’d prefer to photograph? Encourage them to capture images of insects and bugs and see how excited they get. This will help them appreciate nature and the diversity of life it sustains.
By teaching our children to photograph the outdoors from an early age, we not only allow them to make good use of their free time but also help them experience a whole new world. As a result of all this, children who pursue nature photography as a hobby are more likely to be creative, confident, and socially aware adults.
I want to add that hobby is always a personal choice; never impose a particular one on a child, but help them find one that they would like to follow.
- Book Reading
We live on a planet that is home to incredible and diverse animals. Yet, many of them are on the brink of extinction. They are either being forced out of their homes, or their lives are in danger because they cannot find food and water for survival.
To help children delve deeper into the world of animals and learn the trivia on wildlife, some of the good books are ‘101 things to know and do to save animals (The Green World)‘ and ‘10 Indian Animals You May Never Again See In the World‘ by Ranjit Lal,
These books contain valuable information for beginners, including helpful recommendations and the experiences of many trying to help safeguard nature and its wildlife. You will also find lots of fun activities and DIY projects to try at home in these books!
One of my favourites is ‘Wild Symphony‘ by Dan Brown- the debut picture book of Dan Brown- it has mindful, mysterious, musically entertaining content. Read the book aloud keeping a prop in your hand and enjoy life-lessons that every wildlife animal has got for our children and us.
- Help them grow their flowers and vegetables
Children have a lot of fun when they garden, and it can be beneficial to them in many ways. For instance, they will learn new skills and understand the process of growing their food.
Moreover, gardens attract various kinds of butterflies, ladybugs, and other fascinating insects. You can start by giving them their own garden space (if possible!) Make sure it is a safe place with age-appropriate gardening tools.
You can even visit nurseries and gardens for ideas. Introduce composting, recycling and gardening techniques to teach children about sustainability.
- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Various people are working to preserve nature in different ways. Waste creation has risen significantly as a result of the increase in the population, making recycling more crucial than ever. It eases some of the pressure on limited natural resources.
Ensure that your children always throw items in the appropriate bins. Create different types of crafts by using recyclable materials such as cartons, newspapers, cardboard boxes, etc.
You might also like to create flashcards that contain images of recyclable and non-recyclable items.
In my opinion, children need to be taught the importance of recycling from an early age to shape the young minds early on and make the world a better place.
- Let them adopt a pet
Pets can instill compassion and respect for nature and its surroundings in children. In addition to teaching children responsibility, it also gives them a sense of nurturing. Caring for their pets also helps them build empathy towards all living beings.
Allow them to care for them. Additionally, it may provide them with an insight into the natural cycles occurring around them. My little one will be a pet parent soon. Wait for our announcement!!!
And finally,
Educating children need not be boring at all. We must introduce them to nature at an early age. We got to let children experience everything they do as part of the learning process, and the best way to achieve this is to incorporate fun activities into these teaching moments.
Happy Parenting! May you always feel the healing and restorative power of nature!
Ciao.
