Playing with Nature
Playing in nature is one of my favorite memories to look back
on. The time spent creating worlds in the backyard woods are a particular
highlight. While my sister and I were growing up we had a neighbor down the
street with an extra lot by her house. These woods were where magical towns
were built and the common exchange was precious stones and healing herbs. We
“ate” sun flower stew and stick kabobs. We were in the safety and freedom of
our imaginations. These formative years, developed a yearning to work with
animals and to make a career out of exploring the outdoors. Growing up with a love for nature has also made
me keenly aware of the human impact on the environment. This appreciation for
nature was key in my early progression towards becoming an empathetic citizen.
Playing in nature is an important part of anyone’s childhood that should not be
forgotten. As adults we are here to help guide our children to get curious and
find the “magic”.
I recently made several sensory fall sensory jars to help
spearhead kids’ curiosity.
These sensory jars are super easy to create at home!
All you need is several jars, water and anything you find
interesting from outside. However, remember that we do not want to disturb
nature and add to the environmental impact that humans often unknowingly cause.
So if you are searching in your backyard look for things that have fallen from
the trees. If you are in a park make sure you ask a ranger if it is ok to take your
treasures home.
I created mine with themes. One jar has acorn, the other has
berries and then I created some with different sized leaves. Adding glitter or
food coloring makes the jars even more magical. While having fun you could even
give your kids a quick lesson about how the water and glass works together as a
magnifier!
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