5 Ways to Raise Nature-loving Kids during the Quarantine
Going fishing with Dad and Mom, family getaway in the beach and nature tripping with siblings are now just memories in the minds of children. As much as parents want to take their kids back into the great outdoors, safeguarding the health of everyone during the pandemic is enough reason to keep our little ones inside the house for an indefinite period.
However, you surely don’t want your child to be a heartless robot by the end of the quarantine. Certainly, kids need to spend time in nature to refresh themselves and be reminded that there is life outside the house. They need to be constantly reminded that they are caretakers of nature, even as they stay indoors nowadays.
So how exactly do you teach your child to appreciate, love and care for nature during the quarantine? Here are some activities for kids during quarantine that will help them become nature lovers.
Plant with kids
Planting with kids is a great bonding time. Since adults on quarantine are now into planting, why not involve the children cultivating your home garden? Whether you have a huge outdoor garden or a little plant area inside your home, planting can be an exciting activity for the whole family. Let them help water the plants or grow some seeds. This is a good start to make them fall in love with nature.
Teach them about “reuse, reduce and recycle”
Do arts and crafts activities out of old materials. Instead of throwing away plastic bottles or cartons, show your child that it can still be reused and recycled. Also, teach them to use reusable water bottles. Teach them to limit the number of paper sheets they will use during art activities. These simple home lessons can teach the kids a lot about the value of recycling.
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Set up a home garden
Buying groceries is not as easy as it used to be. If you have an available space in your backyard where you can set up a home garden, take advantage of it. Involve your kids in planting foods that they like to eat, or the fruits and vegetables you want them to try. This is a fun way to teach them about the importance of growing your own food.
Use their screen time to develop love for nature
With regulated use, screen time can help educate your child. Choose the digital contents and activities that are informative. Let your child watch an online documentary about animals and plants. Let your child join a virtual Safari tour. Let them play educational apps that teach about nature like Mash&Co. Designed for preschoolers from 3 to 6 years-old, Mash&Co features a young mushroom named Mash and a wacky snail named Periwinkle whose mission is to save the forest from drought. It offers a unique adventure that teaches children about eco-awareness and other positive values.
Let the kids get dirty
While there are a lot of parents who are overprotective of their children, it is also good to just let them get dirt sometimes. Kids are curious in nature, and it is good to give them the freedom to explore and experiment with the environment. Let your child play in your backyard, run through the grass, or just lie down under the shade of a tree.
These are just some of the fun activities to educate your kids about nature during quarantine. The more they are involved with the environment, the more they will be dedicated in helping to preserve the world.