Groundhog Day: Outside Nature Time for Kids

While nature may not dictate our activities as completely as for the ground hog, we can follow his example and include some outside nature time for kids.outside time in natureDuring the cooler months of the year, we often don’t encourage kids to be outside. With warm clothes and either snow or rain gear, kids can still enjoy being outdoors. There’s so much to see and do. Need some ideas?

  1. Check out the sky. Any sun? Clouds can be different in the winter. In some areas, the entire sky seem to be lower.
  2. Look on the ground. The ground may be all white for some people. Or, it could be just brown, with or without puddles. Where it’s hot and dry, the winter months may be the only time the grass is green because summer sun turns it brown.
  3. Any action down there? There might not be a great deal of action, but that’s something to notice too. What’s happened to the worms and bugs? Animals may have left some prints in the snow.
  4. Did you know trees can talk? Well, not in words, but they are still telling us their news. The news might be a few buds on the branches if we can get close enough to see. The message could also be “Stay tuned and check back again soon.”
  5. Close eyes and turn face up to the sky. If you are lucky, some sun will kiss your cheek. Feel any wind today? If it’s cold, you might want to bring your nose back down pretty quick.
  6. Take in a deep breath. What does the air feel like today?

We can help kids build a connection to nature in small gestures like these. Oh, and since it’s Groundhog Day, we’d better add another:

  1. Turn around slowly and see if you have a shadow. If the groundhog sees its shadow, it’s back to sleep for 6 more weeks of winter.

groundhog day for kidsWhile it’s close to nature, the groundhog is not a very accurate predictor of weather. Being close to nature is a gift that lasts for a lifetime, giving us joy and healing when needed. To celebrate the day, include some outside nature time for kids. Isn’t this a gift you’d like to share with your child?

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