Naturally Wild

Nature's Concoctions

When I was a kid, one of my favorite activities with my friends was to make potions or perfumes. This was a mesmerizing activity that unleashed magical powers to create anything we wanted. We used leaves, flowers, berries, and any other tantalizing scents. Putting these ingredients in a bowl we mashed them up, releasing their aromas. Naturally, we had to share their smells with everyone and gave our parents and sisters the pleasure of smelling like our perfume for the day. On other days we would trick the invisible troll that lived down by the creek into letting us pass as we offered him a drink of our potion.

Using nature to unlock this activity offered us hours of fun in the outdoors. It also got us familiar with the natural flora. Mom would be so impressed with our perfumes that she would show us the flowers that gave off the most fragrant smells, like the roses and wild honeysuckle. While Dad, knowing that we were good fairies that didn't want to truly poison the troll but only make him fall asleep, showed us which berries might truly be poisonous and taught us to stay away from them. 

Encourage your little ones to explore the nature around your house and express their creativity by gathering the things they like. Together you can learn about the nature that excites them. Check out the National Wildlife Federation's Kids page for some fun ideas, and even learn how to make a Fall Perfume with your little ones.