Have a great big pile of dirt with loads of shovels – OUTSIDE! (In the classroom would be so much fun, wouldn’t it!! Not really what I am suggesting however.
Have a nature table in your classroom, home, day care which you change and update seasonally. This in it self, can be a piece of art. The children can collect little things on your walks or from their surroundings.
Tell seasonal stories, finger plays, songs and so on during circle or during your days.
Keep the TV and computer etc etc etc off. These only stunt our imagination.
Have logs to walk on in the yard (or to turn over and find ants and earthworms).
Have bowls of stones, sticks, acorns, walnuts etc etc for the children to play with. Children do not need a lot of toys. The less they have, the more their imagination has a chance to play!
Read books and poems about nature
Tell the children about your experiences in nature
Go on long walks
Play outside during all weather so the children learn about their world and start to develop a relationship with their surroundings. They just need to be dressed appropriately.
There are loads of crafts to do with nature found items, which are simple and delightful.
Just shhh and notice how much nature is in your home and how you could have more. Notice the smells and sounds we surround our children with and eliminate as many as possible that are not natural. When we go into nature, be respectful and quiet. Think about how long those trees have been growing……………
Leave space……….we do not need to fill our children’s lives. Being bored is a good thing – “out of boredom comes creativity!”