Discover resources to support nature-based activities for families, childcare providers, and early childhood professionals. Nature is a powerful tool for engagement, sparking a child's natural curiosity while building foundational habits for a healthy life.
Whether planting seeds, observing garden insects, or creating art with natural elements, children exercise both their minds and bodies through outdoor play.
Cloud Viewing
Cloud viewing is an easy way for children of any age to use their imagination to see shapes in the clouds or wonder what it might feel like to be a cloud floating by on a breezy day. YOu can use the cloud viewers below to help yound childrne focus their attention to a particular point in the sky, a "window" for viewing the clouds. Make sure children know not to look toward the sun.
- University Corporation for Atmospheric Research Center for Science Education Cloud Viewer
- Seacoast Science Center's Window to the Clouds
Vermicomposting
Vermicomposting is an excellent way to bring children into reducing waste and can be scaled to any size space with a small, simple worm bin.
- Create a vermicomposting bin with Simple Worm Bin
- Vermicomposting and Warm Farming Guide
Concentration and Motor Skills
Stone stacking, plant propagation and pounding eggshells are simple and easy activities that engage young minds while practicing essential concentration, self-control, and motor skills.
Recycling Activities
It is never to early to learn to reduce, reuse and recycle. This includes all forms of composting. Here are some other ideas to get you started with other forms of waste reduction.
Emotional Regulation Activities
Checking in with our minds and bodies is a way to center oureselves and groups we work with. The emotional activity sheets provide a guide for daily centering time. The black and white sheet can be used with crayons and color pencils to allow the children to color their own feelings and the color sheet can be laminated and used repeatedly with dry erase markers.
