ADVENTURES WITH LITTLE EXPLORERS

Ah, pond life. The simple life. But what looks like a quiet, still— even stagnant— place on the surface is actually a busy ecosystem brimming with life and so much nature to take in.

Ponds are sensory discovery zones. A child can wade in the waters of a pond, explore the mud between their fingers, listen to the calls of frogs, see dragonflies exhibit a multitude of behaviors and feel the sunshine on their face. 

Ponds are great for teaching children about wildlife and the different stages of the life-cycle of small creatures such as frogs as they unfold in natural surroundings. True reality entertainment.

Let's start with what defines a pond. Ponds are quiet bodies of water so shallow that rooted plants grow completely across it. A pond's bottom is usually covered with mud and its water temperature is fairly uniform from top to bottom and there is very little wave action. Sounds like a good place to explore!

Just remember that not all ponds are created equal. Some ponds are created by streams— mountain-stream ponds. Others are created intentionally such as farm ponds There are also mountain ponds, formed by glaciers, cypress ponds and bog ponds. You can learn a ton about your local pond together with your child. 

First, make sure you head out prepared.Bring a bucket for sampling, a water scope, a net for catching swimming or flying critters. Whether your child prefers to head in with their bare feet for a truly sensory experience or wear water shoes, warn them that ponds can be slippery places! Rocks, mud, algae, and grass combine to create quite the slippery formula. And a child can drown in just a few inches of water so be vigilant. Always keep an eye on your child when exploring ponds. Be sure to check the wading area for slippery or sharp rocks and drop-offs. 

When you first get to the pond, walk around it and take it in together. Once you’ve done a walkaround, ask your child to find their own observation spot and have them spend a few minutes just watching. It can be anywhere they choose. Make sure they are within your eyesight.  Don’t give them species to focus on or behaviors to look for. Just have them take in the big picture. Ask them to practice silent observation by keeping their movements small and their voices quiet. 

After a few minutes of big picture observation, start zooming in on activity or critter that caught their eye. Ask your child to focus on one thing they noticed and tune into it. What is it? How is it using the pond? Who is it interacting with? What does it do in the pond? What does it eat or where does it shelter?
It’s amazing that the world right outside your home is full of opportunities for your baby to learn. All throughout the year, nature—even in a busy city—offers new colors, textures, scents, and shapes for your baby to experience. Take a stroll around the neighborhood or explore at a local pond with your baby, enjoy the fresh air, and collect some natural souvenirs for an outdoor treasure box.

Here are simple tips for your nature walk:

• Allow your baby to get close to the ground and examine natural details—different types of grass, bark, moss, leaves, stones, pinecones, and soil may catch their attention. Collect one of each item into a container or basket.
  Hunt around for some bugs! Talk about which insects crawl and which one’s fly.

• Look up at the sky and tell your baby about the weather and how it makes you feel (physically and emotionally).

• Trees are full of lessons—help your baby feel the texture of the trunk by placing your hand over theirs and run them along the bark and count the other trees around you together.

• Practice sniffing scents of flowers, grass, fruits, or berries in a garden if you have one.

If your child likes you to take photographs or create art outside, this is a great time to have them capture some of their observations for their Adventure Journal of the critters or other pond features such as plant life or the ripples on the water’s surface.

If you have an adventurous child, encourage them to engage more of their senses by experiencing the water, mud or get closer to the sounds of the pond. Ask them what they would like to touch: the fuzziness of a cattail, the gooeyness of mud, the sliminess of an algae-covered rock. Be sure to help them understand how to touch the parts of the pond they are interested in without disturbing the environment or hurting any creatures. 

If your child really wants a full-on sensory experience, let them wade into the pond. This is a great way for them to experience how the water temperature, while fairly consistent, does range from bottom to top with the colder, denser water settling at the bottom while the warmer water is at the top. Ask them if they can feel this on their own?  

Another fun experience is to feel the bottom of the pond on their feet. As most ponds have a muddy bottom, this should feel good. But there are likely to be plants, some rocks and even some critters like snails and sponges down there. If they are intrepid, have them reach in and pick up some mud from the bottom. 

Bear in mind that some ponds can have jagged rocks on their bottom and some might have leeches in them. Leeches are found in shallow protected waters and are most active on hot summer days and at night. This nuisance critters are drawn to disturbances in the water near docks and swim beaches. To avoid leeches, swim in deeper waters off docks and floats. Leeches are mostly found in organic sediments or debris, so try to avoid these areas if leeches are known to be in the pond.

Pond water is a world onto itself! Have your child use their bucket to take a sample of the pond water and peer inside to see what they caught. It could be small fish, plants tadpoles, insects, or a whole lot of murky water. A butterfly or fishing net is also a great way to catch critters in the water or the air around a pond.  Butterflies, dragonflies, and water insects love to refresh, eat, and drink on the water of a pond. Chasing these critters on the shore of the pond is a fun challenge for kids and one that not enough kids get to experience. Be sure they learn to be gentle when catching their critter. Once they take a gentle look, noticing the parts of the insect as well as its colors and patterns up close, help your child release the critter safely.

Let your and your child's imagination run wild as you explore this fascinating ecosystem together. Here are some more ideas for having fun exploring nature at a pond! Exploring ponds with kids isn’t limited to the water. A butterfly net can help you capture amazing creatures such as dragonflies, butterflies, and other flying insects, as well as water insects. Chasing a flying insect is a great hand-eye coordination activity—plus, it’s just fun! And when my children do manage to catch a butterfly or damselfly, they love to examine their vibrant colors and fragile wings. Every creature is so unique and beautiful.

Fun Things to do or with your baby

 Find as many pond critters as you can with a Pond Scavenger Hunt.
Our free downloadable printable is here to help!

Observe dragonflies. Dragonflies are also called Mosquito Hawks or Devil’s Darning Needles. If you think there is just one species of dragonfly, think again! There are around 400 species of dragonflies in North America alone.

Scouting turtles. Turtles are pond lovers. They bask on rocks and logs to fill their body with warming energy. They scavenge dead animal and plant material and remove diseased or weakened fish, contributing to improved water quality and fish population health. In the spring, baby turtles (just tiny, mini versions of the big guys) are an absolute delight to find. Some aquatic turtles can absorb oxygen through the skin on their neck allowing them to remain submerged underwater for extended periods of time and enabling them to hibernate underwater. Look for turtle heads popping out the surface of the pond’s water. The soft-shelled turtle uses its long tip nose and nostrils like a snorkel to breathe underwater.

Look for and listen to frogs.

 Explore Water Lilies. Why do they float? What lies beneath the surface? How do animals use them?  Learn more at home. Then, go Monet & create a masterpiece of your own.

 Go fishing. Aim for an early morning or evening casting time, when the fish are most active. You also need to make sure you're courting them with what they want. Pond fish are attracted to sink worms, jigs, and shallow crankbaits. If you know your pond is full of catfish remember to add catfish-specific bait to your tackle box! When pond fishing with beginners or kids, it's best to bring along live baits. Night crawlers, minnows, crickets, and waxworms will attract several fish species in a pond. These live baits can be rigged on hooks in sizes from 8 to 4 depending on the size of the fish species you are targeting.

Hope was taught to fish almost as soon as she could hold the fishing pole. By age three she was baiting her own hooks and pulling in her own fish. She loved it. The photo above is her reeling in her first trout in Colorado Springs. 

My family lives in the Finger Lake area so my grandfather taught all his grandchildren and great grandchildren how to hunt and fish. Those lessons included some of his own wonderful and wild fish tales. LOL They were fascinating.

😊 More information on Pond fishing

 Bring along a water scope, or underwater viewer. Ponds are home to many animals, plants and organisms, such as frogs, different types of fish, algae and amoeba. In fact, most plants and animals can’t survive without freshwater biomes. Water scopes allow us to have the opportunity to discover the world below the surface of ponds. We bought the Educational Insights one. probably when Hope was two. She still has the smaller piece at age 24. You can buy one or make one using these instructions here.Make one of these handy tools by sealing a piece of glass in a bottomless bucket or water-proofed box. 

Feed fish.Pond fish eat algae and other beneficial bacteria off the rocks and gravel in your pond. Wild koi (also known as the common carp, the domesticated koi carp’s ancestor) will readily eat aquatic insects, flies, algae, smaller fish, plants like water lily and water lettuce, snails, and frogs. Other pond fish are opportunistic feeders and will happily eat all sorts of plants and animals if they’re small enough to swallow!Although it’s not necessary, it can be fun to give your fish a summer snack from time to time. Pond fish will enjoy a little watermelon, orange slices, peas, and even Honey Nut Cheerios. 

Make a magic wand out of cattails. 

Feed waterbirds. The age-old debate is whether it’s safe to give birds a snack to birds or not. In fact, bread is not the best food to give waterfowl as it fills them up without giving them the nutrients they need. 

Bird experts recommend small amounts of grain such as wheat, corn or bird seed, plus fresh chopped greens like cabbage or spinach, as these will supplement the birds’ natural diet and help provide the birds with the necessary nutrients to keep them healthy.

Watch the clouds or the shadow of the sunlight in the trees. Let toddlers chase their own shadow and compare their shadow with yours.

Being Fascinated with Lakes

My kids are fascinated with nature because I am fascinated with nature. Even things that may seem mundane to me at this point in my life might be new and exciting for kids. That is why I practice child-centered exploration and make sure to get excited about whatever they discover. When I get really into the activity, it acts as the match to spark curiosity and adventure in my kids. So, get pumped! Yes, even if you don’t feel it. If you want your kids to have this connection to nature you must demonstrate it yourself.

That being said, I need to give parents a tip. Playing in the lake, kids will get wet and most likely dirty. Be prepared with towels and either wear waterproof clothes or bring a change. Water shoes are also recommended if you don’t know the lake. 

Taking Baby to the Lake Tips

There are few things better than going to the lake on a nice sunny day. In most cases, you don’t have to deal with the traffic at the beach and there’s usually a lot more shade provided by trees planted in the grass. The lake is a great place to make memories that will last a lifetime and you don’t have to wait until your baby is older. As long as you take the necessary precautions, taking baby to the lake is something you can do throughout the year. However, depending on where you live in the world, you’ll probably want to wait until the summer months. The lake is a lot more enjoyable when the sun is shining.

Whether you have found a lake while on vacation or there’s one in your city, you might as well take time to enjoy the beauty of nature. Below are tips for taking baby to the lake that will make the experience fun and safe.

1. Avoid Peak Sun Exposure

Going to the lake is obviously something that you’ll want to do during daylight hours. As with many other outdoor activities, it’s best to engage in them when the sun is shining and the birds are singing. When taking your baby to the lake, you’ll want to avoid peak sun exposure, which is during the timeframe of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. This is when the UV rays of the sun is at it’s peak. If you don’t want to go before 10 a.m., you can certainly have a great time after 4 p.m., especially during daylight savings time when the sun sets later in the day. It also happens to be a great time of day to take family pictures.

2. Find a Location with Shade

When taking baby to the lake, one of the first things you’ll want to do when you arrive is to find a location where there is plenty of shade. Since it’s a lake, there are likely to be a number of trees in the area. The shade of a tree is a great way to combat exposure to UV rays. While you can certainly take other precautions, this is an added bonus. Shade can also keep everyone a lot cooler. There’s no doubt about the fact that sometimes it’s just too hot outside to feel comfortable. When you find shade, your outdoor experience will be a lot more enjoyable.

3. Be Sure to Cover Up

A priority when taking baby to the lake is being sure to cover up. A baby’s skin must be protected from the sun and one of the best ways to do this is by choosing articles of clothing that are lightweight, yet still protect the skin. While there are some days when it’s too hot to wear a lot of clothing, it’s still a good idea to wear lightweight clothes for sun protection. The good news is that there are a lot of fashion choices for babies that can help with covering up. In addition to lightweight clothes, you can use little bonnets and hats to protect your babies face. You’ll be able to take adorable pictures because babies look so cute in hats.

4. Bring Baby Sunglasses

Studies have shown that a baby’s eyes do not have the ability to block UV rays to the degree that adult eyes can. Fortunately, there are baby sunglasses on the market that you can buy for your trip to the lake. Most people use baby sunglasses because they look so cute. While they are likely to be a topic of conversation, baby sunglasses are also functional and a great form of protection when taking baby to the lake.

5. Provide Plenty of Water

If you’re like most people, you probably drink plenty of water throughout the day. If so, it’s not just a habit, it’s a necessity. The same applies when taking baby to the lake. Just like you need to drink water to ensure you’re hydrated, your baby needs water too. When you’re at the lake, it’s a good idea to ensure everyone there drinks water to stay hydrated. If you’re still breastfeeding, that can help to keep your baby hydrated, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t still a need for water. To make it easy to stay hydrated, try drinking water every hour. In addition to preventing dehydration, you’ll feel better, especially if you bring cold water and keep it in the cooler during your trip to the lake.

6. Choose a Lightweight Baby Carrier

There are all kinds of baby carriers on the market. Some are bulky and sturdy, while others are more lightweight, but still effective. When taking baby to the lake, you’ll need a lightweight carrier that’s breathable and circulates air effectively. This is for the comfort of you and the baby, especially during the summer months. If you decide to take your baby to the lake during the spring or when it’s not as hot outdoors, you can use a standard carrier. Don’t forget to choose one that’s also ergonomic.

7. Don’t Forget the Sunscreen

Without a doubt, one of the most important things you’ll need to remember when taking baby to the lake is the sunscreen. Sometimes it’s easy to think that only adults need sunscreen, but that is definitely not the case. It’s generally recommended that you choose an SPF that’s a minimum of 30 to protect your baby’s skin. Adults often spend time in the sun because they want to get a good suntan. Your baby obviously doesn’t need a suntan, so you’ll want to take every precaution to keep your baby’s skin protected.

8. Be Flexible

When planning time for taking baby to the lake, you’ll want to schedule the trip, but maintain flexibility. This is because anything can happen with the weather, even during warm months. While it might seem like a good day, bad weather can make a trip to the lake a disaster. You might as well avoid as many difficulties as possible by monitoring the weather to ensure it’s the best time to go. If there’s a chance of rain, you should plan your trip for another day. You’ll also need to be flexible about the activities at the lake because you don’t want to do anything that could put your baby in harm’s way. Time at the lake should be an enjoyable and relaxing experience with your baby and other family members.

9. Pack a Blanket

While taking baby to the lake can be a lot of fun, you have to be prepared to make your time there comfortable. By packing a blanket, you can create a comfortable space where you can lay your baby down for a few minutes or let your baby crawl around without getting on the grass. While there’s nothing wrong with your baby spending time on the grass, the blanket is better because you won’t’ have to worry about as many pests, like ants. A blanket is also great because you can have a picnic on it. Just don’t forget to fill the picnic basket with all of your favorite summer fruit.

10. Prepare For An Emergency

An emergency can occur when taking baby to the lake, so make sure you’re prepared. Just like anywhere else you decide to go, it’s a good idea to pack supplies for emergencies. This might include ice, bandages, disinfectant wipes, and anything else that you would typically find in a first aid kit for children. You might also want to include medication if you plan to be away for a long period of time. It’s possible to spend hours at the lake if you take plenty of food with you.

11. Bring a Few Toys

Since your time at the lake is probably for the purpose of having a good time, one thing you’ll want to bring is a few toys. Most babies will enjoy playing with a toy regardless of the location. You can choose to bring the toys that you know your baby will enjoy. In fact, you can also bring books so that you can spend time reading to your baby at the lake.

12. Choose Swim Diapers

Although taking baby to the lake might not involve going into the water, there’s a chance that you might decide to do so. If that happens, you should make sure your baby is wearing swim diapers. The last thing you’ll want to do is use regular diapers because your baby can end up being uncomfortable. If you know for sure that you can’t go into the lake water due to issues with possible contamination, there’s another option. You can bring a baby pool instead. A baby pool can be great because it doesn’t require a lot of water and your baby can enjoy time outdoors in water on a beautiful day. You can fill up the pool at the lake or bring water since a true baby pool is very small.

These are all ways that you can maximize the enjoyment of your time at the lake with your baby.

Lakes are a fascinating place, an ecosystem in their own right. They sustain entire life cycles of plants and animals in their own space. In the summer they hum with life, providing a vibrant atmosphere to explore. From the birds and insects filling the air with song to the fish flashing by in the water and the bullfrogs calling just out of reach, they are a child’s paradise of discoveries.

Exploring lakes or any freshwater with kids is also timelessly interesting, entertaining, and relaxing. Most children can find an endless number of interesting occupations at a lake. I can never believe how long my kids will spend just tossing rocks or sticks into the water. And I’m amazed at how beneficial that simple activity is: building strength and developing motor skills, making them aware of cause and effect, and introducing them to basic physics (gravity and displacement, for instance). Today, we will look at just a few ways you can experience a lake with your children, weaving education and development together with delightful play.

How To Have A Safe Lake Trip With Your Baby

• Safeguard against dehydration 

• Purchase an infant PFD (personal floatation device)

• Avoid Peak Sun Exposure 

• Find a location with shade

• Protect their skin when in the sun 

• Protect their eyes

A popular lake day activity is boating. While babies are able to board, they too must follow the state laws. Most states require that everyone on board have a PFD. The Stingray Infant PFD is a great choice because it is US coast guard approved and uses bright colors so your baby is easily visible. In addition to these necessary features, this life jacket is made from a durable and quick-drying Nylon fabric with quick-release buckles.

Even if you don’t have plans to boat, it’s best for a baby to wear a PFD anytime they are in the water.

Lifejackets- Babies under 35 pounds are not big enough for a baby lifejacket. They can die from suffocation when they slip inside the lifepreserver without you knowing.

Safeguard against dehydration 

During a hot day, it’s easy for adults to dehydrate quickly. This is even more true with infants. Come prepared with extra bottles or plan to nurse more frequently if currently breastfeeding. If your baby has reached the age where they can start eating solids, consider bringing a couple of servings of food that are travel-friendly. A great example of this is fruit/veggie pouches. 

Read more- How To Successfully Vacation In Ft. Lauderdale, Florida With A Baby

Avoid Peak Sun Exposure 

A lake day might look a little different with an infant because of the fact that you’ll want to avoid peak sun exposure. These hours generally fall between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Getting an early or late start to the day might also be a great way to beat the crowds! If you can’t avoid these harsh, daylight hours, read below for some additional tips.

Find a location with shade (or take shade tents)

One of the first things you’ll want to do when getting to the lake is finding a great spot with plenty of shade. No sunbathing for the baby! In addition to finding natural shade given by trees, feel free to bring a sun canopy or umbrella that has UPF protection. Trust us, keeping cool not only protects their delicate skin, but it will help with their mood! 

Protect their skin when in the sun 

You probably don’t want to hide out in the shade all day at the lake. This is when you need to be especially careful about sun exposure. The US FDA recommends avoiding sunscreen for infants that are under the age of 6 months. Choose UPF clothing that covers them as much as possible. In addition, always keep a sun hat on your baby that protects not only the tops of their heads but the back of the neck and ears. 

Read more- Baby Travel Essentials For 0-12 Month-Old Babies That Will Save Your Vacation

Protect their eyes

While baby sunglasses don’t seem to be the most practical item to bring to the lake, they can be very helpful! Recent reports have suggested that babies’ eyes lack the ability to block UV rays to the same degree that grown adults can. These may be foreign for a baby to wear so practice several days before getting your baby used to feeling them on. 

earance, components and value

PLAYING DOWN AT THE CREEK

Some of my fondest memories as a child are of playing in creeks with my sisters and brother and other neighbors. We could spend hours playing, exploring, learning, and cooling down on a hot day. We were late for dinner all the time – sorry mom. Our creek was a treat to play in and take a picnic lunch for a longer visit. It was down at the bottom of a treacherous hill on a dirt road. So we were much older when we were allowed to go by ourselves.

There’s something special about the water, moss, rocks, small creatures, and plant life that you find in and near creeks. Something magical that is different from any other shore. There is so much to find, explore and do that the hours will fly by like minutes.

Find places to snuggle or just connect with your kids outside. Every inch that we explore with babies is all new to them.  Warm like a blanket, your hugs envelope your baby in the safety and security of your arms where they feel the love you can't tell them yet, but they can feel brimming from your heart. This is the beginning of them knowing they can rely on you, to trust that you will be there for them. An added bonus is when you spot a hummingbird, a butterfly, or a cute rabbit while you’re there.

Make special hideouts for your littles. For some little ones being in a great big space may feel overwhelming.  Creating little hide outs, forts, or playhouses is a great way to keep baby feeling snug and secure in the natural environment.When my oldest was young, she and her cousin had “the digging yard,” which was a patch of dirt under the branches of an ancient forsythia bush where they took digging trucks and basically just dug things. Endless hours of fun! Building special places for your kids

Get Outside & Connect Activity
– Play in a Creek.

I always loved it when my kids asked to play in a creek. If you don’t know of a creek near you call you local parks and recreation department. They will be able to point you in the right direction.

There is so much to explore and do around creeks. From learning about the plants and creatures that live there, to engaging in pretend play you can always find something to do.

We watched some boys play pirate ship, another family building a dam, some other kids having a water soaker war, and another group chasing after fish and tadpoles. My daughter has an endless fascination with rocks. As you can see below, she was in heaven at this particular creek.

Playing in a creek is a perfect activity on a hot day. On the day these pictures were taken the temperature was 108 outside, but you would never know it down by the creek.  As I walked around with my feet in the water in the direct sunlight it felt like it was only about 80 degrees – and I was still completely dry except for my feet!

I was so comfortable in the coolness of the creek I forgot how hot it actually was. Below you can see me happily chasing after one of the little peg doll boats I made with my daughter.

My daughter was not as happy about them floating away. I think she missed the point – haha! She was so attached to our creations she had to put them all away.

But that was okay because we quickly found something else to do. There were huge tadpoles everywhere. They were so big they were about to be frogs. Can you find it in the photo below?

There were also lots of shells to collect, and a fallen tree that created a tunnel cave that my daughter stood at the mouth of for quite a while. I could tell she wanted to go in… but she didn’t dare.

It wasn’t long before we were completely immersed enjoying the water on this very hot day. There was one point where I actually started to feel cold. I had goosebumps and I wasn’t even in the water anymore. Did I tell you it was 108 out?

It was a wonderful afternoon that passed too fast. My daughter wailed when we had to leave, but what kid wouldn’t? I never made it home in time for dinner either remember?

Get outside and play in a creek this week. I promise you will love every minute of it. Be prepared to go eat on the way home or have a crock pot going like we did or you won’t be home in time for dinner either. 😉

Our Family Creek Expeditions:

To start off exploring the area with kids, simply walk around the area. Talk before you start about how everyone needs to use their “nature skills” to explore the area. These skills include walking quietly, speaking quietly, and trying not to disturb the wildlife around you. We always have to work on sharing our discoveries quietly—the first child to yell they saw a goose will probably scare off the whole flock! This is also a good time to teach children how to study nature without disturbing it, to observe but not take, and to show respect for the natural environment surrounding them by being careful where they step and what they touch.

 I realized recently how fortunate we were to have live close to Kittridge Park in Colorado. It’s just as pretty as any state park–but without the entrance fee!  Hiking, playground, and swimming are especially great there during the summer when the water is warmer.  But it slows down in the summer making it fun for little ones. They have a great play area in the front as well. The girls and I frequently decided to take advantage of the fact that the creek was pretty warm in the afternoons so our little expedition down to the water would last longer. What I loved about this park was that there were different sections that were used by different age groups, so the little ones had their own section to explore.

We found it was just easier to check a park out for that very feature prior to taking a toddler there. Plus, then you will also know what gear and equipment you will need to add some pizazz to our adventure.  

My favorite park creek is in a suburb of Denver called Englewood.“There's a beautiful wadding stream that runs through, lots of shade to pull up a small tent and relax.”I always enjoyed the splish splashing of the creek and the giggles of my 2 favorite girls and my sense of time temporarily deserted me every time that we went there. There is nothing quite like it, on this side of heaven…It is definitely my happy place. However, parts of Englewood’s Belleview Park’s creek can get crowded with older kids, but we found many quiet, shallow areas towards the back of the park just right for littles to do their splashing and exploring.
The petting zoo or playground in the park were a good distraction if we decided to wait until older crowds cleared out. 

Obviously, we learned that the best times to take babies or toddlers to city parks are school hours, rather than weekends.

There are very few things my kids loved more in life than playing in the water. They get super excited about rainstorms because they know they can jump in the puddles. That’s why going “creeking” with the kids is one of our favorite family activities – it combines the kids’ love of water with our love of exploring the outdoors.

There are so many incredible benefits to taking kids creeking. Not only do they get plenty of fresh air and sunshine while creeking, but they get to wade through the cool water, catch minnows, tadpoles and crawdads, hunt for fossils, climb over/around obstacles, skip rocks, build dams, observe wildlife, and connect with nature in a very personal way. When kids go creeking, they become a part of nature – they’re surrounded by it, immersed in it, touching it, and exploring it in ways that they can’t by standing on the sidelines.

Benefits of creeking

I don’t have any hard scientific data to back me up here (although I’m sure I could find it if I looked), but I’ve seen amazing things happen when kids that have never experienced creeks get to play in one for the first time. We love taking our friends and their kids to creeks in our area (we’re familiar with a lot because we love them so much). I’ve noticed that getting kids in the water in a little creek does something for them that’s hard to explain – it gives them a sense of adventure and independence and freedom. When parents give their kids permission to get wet, dirty and explore on their own, it promotes self-confidence and encourages curiosity and exploration. Shy kids become bolder. Clingy kids become more independent. Kids that don’t like bugs or worms suddenly become more interested in them.

Creeking also helps kids in a multitude of other areas – walking through a creek helps with balancing and stability (rocky creeks are unstable terrain), encourages problem-solving (how to get from one side to the other), teaches about life stages of nature (from tadpole eggs to live bugs to dead fish) and prompts kids to ask questions about nature and the environment that they might not otherwise think of. My 4 year-old asks some of the most amazing questions while we’re creeking, like: Is this a dinosaur tooth? Is this the same kind of water that’s in the river? Do fish eat rocks? Why is the water cold? What kind of fossil is this? Where do frogs go at night? Why does that tree look like that? Is that a crocodile? Where can we find a snake? If so, can we take it home with us?

 Necessary gear

Exploring creeks with kids is a wonderful activity to do in the summer when everything’s lush and green and thriving. Wading through cold creek water is the perfect way for kids to cool off without having to spend the day at a packed public swimming pool or running up your water bill and flooding your lawn with the sprinkler. Creeking seems to be a thing of the past and not a lot of people are out there exploring them with kids – you’re likely to have an entire stretch of any given creek to yourself. It’s also completely free and can be done with very minimal gear.

Other than sunscreen bug spray and swimsuits, I recommend nets and water shoes for the kids – something to give them some stability and grip but keep the rocks and sand out (post coming soon on great summer shoes for kids). Polarized sunglasses are helpful for letting kids see underwater, although not necessary. If you want to keep something you find, bring a bucket or a small fish tank. And make sure to bring a change of clothes for the ride home – that way it’s totally ok for the kids to get as wet and dirty as they want.

Locating a creek

Creeking is a great activity for kids of nearly any age (my kids started before they were 2) and can be done almost anywhere in the country…so long as you know where to look. Knowing the location of a good creek is probably the hardest part about creeking and is possibly what prevents most parents from taking their kids. Once you have checked out a park yourself, you will know what nooks and crannies that will delight your little one. Remember to shop for or make proper sized exploring gear for them if they are older.

Learning About Waterfalls and Rivers

How to Take Your Baby on a River Trip

Taking a tiny human floating seems intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be

High Five

Every March, when we’re sick of winter but too impatient to wait for spring, my husband and I drive to the desert to go paddling. The rivers of the Colorado Plateau run muddy with snowmelt, and the sun feels like heaven. Weather on these trips is variable—we’ve been snowed, rained, and hailed on—but the quiet canyons and starry nights are worth the gamble.

This year, though, there was an even bigger variable: our daughter Josephine, who was 11 months old and had never been in a boat of any kind. How would she react to spending hours each day in a canoe or raft? Would she sleep when nighttime temperatures dropped into the thirties? And was it foolhardy to take her so deep into the wilderness that you couldn’t easily hike out?

Still, as the snow continued to fly at our home in Colorado, I couldn’t stop daydreaming of a 45-mile stretch of calm water that flows through Utah’s Labyrinth Canyon. I’d been reading Alan Kesselheim’s book Let Them Paddle, about canoeing with his children, and the fact that he’d taken an eight-month-old on a month-long expedition down the Yellowstone River made my idea seem tame. For additional inspiration, I reread a few chapters from Mardy Murie’s classic memoir Two in the Far North, in which she takes her six-month-old on a four-month Arctic river trip in the 1920s, long before GoreTex and disposable diapers. Clearly, I rationalized, humans have been taking babies down rivers for millennia.

Despite those two books, there’s relatively little information about how to pull off a multi-day river trip with a little one. Apart from a few tips I gleaned from Murie and Kesselheim, we were mostly winging it. As I made lists and packed meals and stuffed clothes into drybags, I was slightly terrified that the minute we were stuck in the bottom of a canyon with a wailing baby, we’d regret leaving the house.

There were indeed a few times when we were stuck in the bottom of a canyon with a wailing baby. But I never once regretted it. Here’s how we pulled it off.

Buy a Good PFD

One of the smartest things I did when pregnant was to use my baby shower to convince friends and family to buy me fancy outdoor baby gear, including this bomber PFD from Level Six. This one is comfortable, doesn’t ride up, and will fit for several years. I also made my daughter wear it around the house for a couple weeks so that she was used to it before we got on the water.

Choose Your Destination and Boat Wisely 

First, your destination: You want water with easyrapids (Class I) or none at all, in an environment where you’re already comfortable with backcountry travel. Then, choose your craft. Kayaks are not practical with a baby. Rafts can haul lots of gear and people but are slow, heavy, and often have standing water on the floor, which means no dry place for an infant to hang out other than in your arms. Canoes, on the other hand, are practically made for babies. The gunwales are the perfect height for a standing baby to hold onto, the hull stays mostly dry and offers a solid surface for playing or napping on, and they’re easy enough for one person to paddle if the other needs to hold or feed the kiddo.

Learn A Paddle Sport

Any sport that requires two people to operate a single machine—like tandem bicycling or canoeing—is a fight waiting to happen if you don’t know what you’re doing. Before you push off with a baby on board, get on a local lake or river and practice paddling with your partner. Master the J-stroke, reverse stroke, and pry and draw, or consider taking an introductory course from an organization like the American Canoe Association. Once you get into the backcountry, there will be plenty of things to stress over; your J-stroke doesn’t have to be one of them.

Kayaking with a Baby: Tips for Safe and Joyful Water Bonding

Aug 17, 2023 — The rulebook doesn't set an age limit. But, here's the deal: bringing a newborn or infant (0-12 months) on a kayak ride isn't advised.

Canoeing with Babies – The Basics

May 2, 2018 — Keeping snacks, treats, and water readily at hand is vital for the success of any canoe trip with toddlers along. I love my Stohlquist life ...

Give Stand up Paddleboard a Try

PRO TIP: Introducing your baby to SUP - Pau Hana Surf Supply

More Shore Ideas 

What’s in Our Day Pack For Hikes With Babies and Toddlers?

We are often asked the question of, “What do you pack in your day pack when out hiking with your son?” This is a complex question since, as your child ages and develops the contents change. So, here’s a break down of what lies within our daypacks when out on wilderness excursions with our kiddos along from birth to toddlerhood! Download our printable day hike checklist Our 12 Essentials for Hiking Regardless of Age Water – Hydration Bladders or water bottles, just be sure to have plenty for everybody regardless of age. If you’re on a trail which has access to…

Continue Reading ›

Our Top Ten Favorite Adventure Books for Babies and Toddlers

When we became parents we realized that we had many things to teach and instill in the tiny human beings that we had created together. A love for the outdoors and adventuring was clearly one thing we wanted to encourage in them from the start. Another, was a love for reading. We knew that these two passions could be combined together, and work together, to help our children grow up with senses of adventure, curiosity, and a desire to explore and learn. It has become a family tradition to get a book at every National Park/Monument/Forest that we visit as…

Continue Reading ›

Give Yourself Extra Time

We spent five days covering just 45 miles (it's a two- or three-night trip for adults). That allowed for a layover day if the weather turned and gave us shorter days on the water, spread out over more time. It was tempting to try to do the trip in as few nights as possible to simplify the logistics, but I’m glad we didn’t. It took a few days to get into the groove of loading the boat each morning, paddling all day with the baby, and setting up camp in the evening, and we wouldn’t have wanted to be getting off the river just as we were hitting our stride.

Pack a Day Bag

When you push off from shore, most of your gear will be hard to access, crammed into drybags and tied to the boat. Make sure you have the essentials in one easy-to-access spot. For us, this meant a 30-liter SealLine Baja drybag that I stashed under my seat, packed with a warm hat and jacket, sunscreen, snacks, diapers, wipes, and a blanket.

Ditch the Cotton Onesies

Sometimes when I dress my infant in her synthetic Patagonia base layers I feel ultra snooty, even though I got them used from the company’s Worn Wear site. On this trip, though, they proved ten thousand times better than cotton onesies: breathable but warm, quick drying, and so durable that Josephine wore them every day on sand and mud and abrasive rocks with no discernible effect.

Take a Rescue Beacon

Emergency beacons—like a SPOT Satellite Messenger or Garmin InReach—let you to call for help from remote areas with no cell  coverage. They’re also not cheap. The Garmin costs $400, and the SPOT is $150 plus an annual or monthly subscriptions. But if I was ever in a sticky backcountry situation with an infant, I’d kick myself if I hadn’t invested in technology to activate a rescue with the push of a button.

Bring an Old Sleeping Pad or Car Seat

I had no faith whatsoever that Jo would nap in the canoe; she’s a fussy sleeper who struggles to drift off. But something about the quiet and the rocking motion lulled her right to sleep. I laid her on an old half-inflated Thermarest in the bow, draped a lightweight blanket over the gunwales for sun protection, and paddled in total bliss while she dozed.

For younger babies, we heard of parents who brought a car seat, put an umbrella over it, and let the baby snooze or hang out there while the parents paddled. If you go this route, make sure not to strap your child into the car seat. That way, if you accidentally flip the boat, your baby isn’t buckled to a heavy object that will sink.

Rock the Boat

The best advice we got was to bring a plastic bucket and fill it with rocks every morning. Apparently every baby on earth gets a kick out of throwing stones into the water from a canoe, keeping them distracted so you can paddle. On shore, too, they made the best play things. I brought a couple toys just in case, but Jo was way more interested in the local geology.

Without hesitation, I can say that our springtime journey through Labyrinth Canyon was the best river trip of my life. Not because of the water or the scenery, which were both plenty nice, but because I got to watch Jo discover the joy of traveling by canoe, tossing rocks overboard and watching the world go by.

When observing a rivers waterfall, help young children to notice its height, the volume of water flowing, the shape of the fall (cascading, plunging, or tiered), the surrounding rock formations, the mist created, any rainbows formed by the spray, the sound of the water, the vegetation growing nearby, and the plunge pool at the base; all of these elements contribute to the unique character and beauty of a waterfall. 

Key aspects to consider:

• Water flow: Is the water flow forceful and powerful, or gentle and cascading? 

• Rock formations: What type of rock is the waterfall falling over, and how does its shape influence the water's movement? 

• Plunge pool: Observe the size and shape of the pool at the base of the waterfall 

• Mist and spray: Notice how the falling water creates a mist, and if it forms rainbows in the sunlight 

• Sound: Listen to the roar or gentle rumble of the waterfall 

• Vegetation: What plants are growing around the waterfall, including any unique adaptations to the wet environment 

• Tiered falls: If the waterfall has multiple drops, observe how the water flows between each tier 

New York Waterfall Location Map

Over 2,000 waterfalls in over 600 locations across New York State, the map plots public, private, and unknown properties to help you find the falls you want to learn more about.

Another fantastic activity that we did this week was the making of waterfalls and river. There are so many waterfalls among the creeks, rivers near my home in the Finger Lakes. They have carved beautiful canyons or gorges that have been made into New York State Parks.

Outdoor Waterfall Painting

Another fantastic activity that we did this week was the making of waterfalls and river. There are so many waterfalls among the creeks, rivers near my home in the Finger Lakes. They have carved beautiful canyons or gorges that have been made into New York State Parks.

So easy to prepare! Some pipettes, watercolor (mix of tempera and water), and a tray!  I was just starting to prepare the materials and the boys couldn’t settle because they’re so excited of the activity.  The site of watercolor and pipettes excites them 

  By the way, for the watercolor, I prepared three colors for some effect: green, blue and purple.  The mixture turned out so beautiful!

So there, they squirt liquid into the paper.  A little advice, if you’re doing this indoor, try to cover your wall for some accidental splatters.

A few minutes of squirting water,  river was forming!  The water was flowing down from the board and forming into this river  form in the tray, the kids were fascinated!

We could have done this in our backyard, but it’s been raining for days. Irish summer is terrible, or should I say there’s no such thing as summer in Ireland. I doubt we’ll be having sunlight in the coming days.  The forecast says it’s going to be cloudy and rainy till mid July!

The kids highly enjoyed this activity.  Just make sure to protect your walls and use a large tray when doing this indoors.

Related Posts

Camping- Bonfire, Wilderness skills, & Evening fun

How I Got My Kids Out Flatwater Kayaking As Babies

River Exploration and Frog Catching 

August is now in full force and many families have had children head back to school but for us we are grasping onto the last few weeks of Summer! This month’s theme for theNature Book Club is Ponds, Rivers, and Streams! We choose books about rivers and ponds to read and are particularly fond ofBy Pond and Riverby Arabella Buckley. You can listen to the audiobook via Librivox for free! The first chapter is all about frogs and then it goes onto share about other creatures who live in or near the pond or river. We have shared a tons of free pond resourcesand ways to learn about frog lifecycle in previous posts but today I am sharing an actual trip to the river!

We love exploring our county park locations since there’s over 20 places that we can walk, hike, explore and play. One of our family’s favorite is a paved bike path that goes along the river just a 5 minute drive from our house. We park in the parking lot and walk a very short distance to access the trail that leads down to the river.

Sometimes we bring the dog’s and other times we bring our nature toolbox, nets, and water boots so we can explore at the river’s edge. I tend to look at the ground to see if the mud is soft enough for animal tracks. I usually do not find much besides a deer or raccoon print. One time there was leaves, boot prints and a spider.

We check the water level of the river to see if it is safe enough to explore past the edge and possibly make it out to the island in the middle. My kids love going to the island to explore and feel all independent. Princess took Bayley over to the island and they both loved exploring. Bayley sniffed all around and Princess got to exercise her dog.

Big Red and Lil’ Red enjoy seeing what is in the water. Sometimes they explore using nets and other times they use simple water droppers and magnifying boxes.

One time we realized the “pebbles” on the ground were moving! We took a closer look and found tiny frogs were hopping all around. Of course the kids just had to catch them! Princess took one of our netsand off she set to catch one.

She got one of those little cuties and brought it over to show us! These little guys are just about full grown for their species.

Since we are long overdue to get back to the river we will prepare by listening to the audiobook in the morning and heading to the river after lunch!

Be sure to check out the other Co-hosts as they share some Pond, River, and Stream crafts and projects!

Sensory Bin and Observation Notebooking Page from Jenny at Faith & Good Works
Pond Life Printable Pack from Emily at Table Life Blog
Aquatic Science Studies: 10 Activities for Teens from Eva at Eva Varga
Above and Below a Pond Unit Study and Lapbookfrom Tina at Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool Plus
Online Book Study about Water Cycle from Dachelle at Hide the Chocolate
STEAM Challenge – Does Water Ever Flow Up?from Erika at The Playful Scholar
Who Was?® What Was?® Where Is?® Book Series: Where is the Mississippi River?from Sharla at Minnesota Country Girl

Forest Activities for Babies

& why they’re so beneficial

Join us as we explore how forest activities for babies can ignite their natural curiosity and foster essential early development…

Babies are sensory-motor learners. When newly born, they have a well-developed sense of touch overall, but limited finger pad sensitivity.

Due to nature’s programmed survival instinct the majority of their senses are concentrated around certain areas on their bodies, for example, their lips.

To aid babies’ development, we need to provide a sensory-rich environment with many textures, temperatures, colors, smells and sounds. Consequently, the great outdoors is an ideal learning environment for even tiny infants because it engages all of their senses.

They advance their physical development to new levels in response to the many different sources of stimuli. For example. varied environmental effects motivate them to move their bodies in many different ways, encouraging them to:

• pull themselves up

• reach

• grasp

• sit

• crawl

• walk

Being outside and taking part in forest school activities also supports babies to begin to use their hands.  Natural physical support (e.g. sitting between logs) helps them to concentrate on other activities, rather than the sitting itself.

The outdoor environment has a great impact on the development of vision, hearing and touchof babies, too.

In the open air, their brains, motivated by the abundance of stimuli, build new neural pathways – the ‘wiring’ of the brain – in order to cope with the vast amount of new information they are processing.

This increased brain activity supports all areas of development. While receiving and learning to decode the new information, the developing brain also has to store, use and link it. It concentrates its activity not only on survival, but learning.

Sensory-motor learning

In order to take advantage of the body’s ability to improve through sensory-motor learning, we need to give the brain ample opportunity to recognise and understand productive and counterproductive information, based on basic movements.

Neurophysiologists have observed that conventional exercises, with their focus on muscular effort, force and speed, inhibit the brain’s ability to function properly on the body’s behalf. It becomes impossible for the brain to make the clear sensory distinctions needed to improve the body’s organization.

However, when movements are slow and easy, they activate the brain’s movement centers and generate a flow of valuable information between the brain cells.

During forest school activities we can give time and space to allow babies to make slow and concentrated movements. This leaves the brain free to make important sensory distinctions.

Stimulating the senses

Unlike all the activities you usually need to carefully plan and organize indoors in order to offer a rich, nurturing and appropriately challenging environment for very young children, the magic of forest school activities for babies is that they occur mostly naturally.

Here are some of the ways in which the natural environment can engage infants’ senses:

Hearing

Sound moves in a different way outside due to the lack of physical limits and the effects of natural forces. For example, it may change naturally with the wind or variations in air pressure.

In the very early stages of their development, up until the age of six months, babies are able to differentiate sounds much more effectively than adults.

Therefore, they’re significantly more receptive to air movement and animal sounds. Young babies are also naturally programmed to be curious and alert, and as a result they love being outdoors.

Forest school environments, as opposed to conventional early years outdoor settings, offer a large variety of unusual sounds.

Vision

Light is more varied in natural environments. It sometimes changes very rapidly with the weather – even over the course of 15 minutes.

It is filtered by trees and bushes and appears differently in different parts of a site. Natural puddles of light act as a great source of fascination for young babies.

The changes in illumination stimulate their eyes to adapt, which in turn stimulates their brains.

Smell

Young children’s sense of smell is greatly stimulated outdoors, particularly in the diverse surroundings common to forest school.

Scents (like grass, earth, flowers, rain, mud, tree bark, etc.) that babies are unlikely to encounter in a conventional outdoor setting encourage them to pull themselves up to standing and investigate the source of the smell.

These sources occur naturally at different levels, so babies need to work out how to access them, for example, how to smell the grass without falling forwards.

Touch

At birth, babies move rapidly from the warm, soft, protective environment of the womb to a different world with many different sensations.

All of a sudden they are able to feel the air, surfaces and clothes on their skin. These feelings take time to get used to and babies are learning about life with each touch. Touch is the key sense when it comes to them exploring the world.

Outdoors, they can lie on or sit in the grass; they can feel textural differences tickling their skin.

Babies’ mouths and tongues are their most touch-sensitive areas, and once they are able to intentionally grasp objects – usually by three months of age – they will begin to mouth them.

Whilst mouthing objects can cause particular health and safety issues during forest school activities, careful supervision of babies can open up an environment that offers a sensory wonderland like no other.

Spatial awareness

Children appreciate liveliness and colors but not necessarily the stereotypical choices. Warmer, natural tones are more nurturing in general, whereas harsher colors can be emotionally frigid for a growing infant.

Softer tones, rather than brash, bold colors, can help babies develop a sense of refined appreciation, and they may be able to spot splashes of brighter tones in nature.

Children are very sensitive to energy flow and the communication of external objects, which helps the growing brain to understand placement and integration in a larger sense. This is something forest school activities for babies can naturally provide.

Children like natural places as they are creative, active, reflective, emotional and social.

Planning forest school activities for babies

The main principle of the forest school ethos does not change for babies. The learning that takes place should be based on play and exploration, and built upon week-on-week.

However, as babies perceive the world around them differently we need to adapt forest school activities to suit their needs.

While a typical forest school session will run for one-and-a-half hours, for babies a mere 20 minutes can be very valuable, although you can extend this.

Start your sessions with the same routine: getting ready to go outside – dressing in appropriate clothing, wellies (or shoe covers) and waterproofs.

Next, gather at a seating circle of logs to catch up with what happened at the last session. Show babies objects and draw their attention by pointing and talking to them. You can also discuss the weather.

You can offer a wide range of forest school activities for babies, including bug hunting, mud painting, collecting and touching.

Make sure to follow any child-initiated activities. Introduce the basics of building and tool use via the use of natural objects as building blocks and handling sticks. At the end of the session, repeat the gathering.

Health & safety

One of the main worries that comes when planning forest school activities for babies is the issue of mouthing small objects.

However, with appropriate ratios and adult attention you can minimize this risk. You will of course need to do a risk assessment and carefully assess the weather (especially sun, wind and frost) prior to and during sessions. Don’t forget to offer drinks regularly too.

Going for a walk is easy, but what else can you do to help your baby safely explore the outdoors, even amidst Take a look at these seven ideas.

Observe the natural world. 
Wherever you happen to be — your yard, a park, or another outdoor location — you’re sure to be surrounded by many different plants, animals, insects, and more. As you walk around (or sit and observe), hold your baby or place him or her in a carrier in a way that makes it easy to look around. Go out in different types of weather, too (dressed appropriately, of course). This will help your baby experience changes in the environment — sometimes it’s sunny and warm, other times it’s cloudy and cool.

Talk about what you see. 
Point out everything you see, and call things by name. When you see a flower, point to it and say, “flower!” Your baby probably isn’t old enough to say the words you’re saying, but he or she will begin to associate objects with their names. Spark their interest using three of the senses as you draw their attention towards the world about them.

Explore different textures. 
When you’re outside, there are so many different things to touch, from smooth rocks and flower petals to coarse gravel and rough sand. Help your baby (safely) explore these textures to get a feel for the properties of different objects.

Change the scenery on your walks. 
If you go on a daily — or weekly — walk, consider stepping out of your comfort zone. If you normally walk around your own neighborhood, branch out to a local park, garden, or zoo. Your baby will have a whole new set of things to look at — a variety of plants, interesting animals, and more. Just make sure to bring your own mask along, and maintain a safe distance from other people at all times.

Discover your own backyard. 

Take a blanket outside and lie in the grass with your baby, or set your baby up to watch you plant a garden. If you already have a garden, walk around with your baby, smell the flowers, look at the different plants, and observe the insects that might be around them (take care, though, to stay away from bees, wasps, and the like).

Have an outdoor picnic. 
You can do this in your own backyard, too, or you can venture out to a park, the beach, or anywhere else you can comfortably lay a blanket down outside while also keeping your distance from other people. Sit together and look around at everything around you as you eat.

Our Mountain Vacation

With a Infant

How to Have a Fun Trip to the Mountains with Baby

How to Have a Fun Trip
to the Mountains with Baby

So, you are going to the mountains with your baby and are wondering how it will be possible to have a fun family vacation with such a young child especially if you are exclusively breastfeeding.  

Well, I am here to tell you that it is possible and remember, just because you are a parent, does not mean you are not allowed to be adventurous and have fun in the mountains with your family.  

My boyfriend and I just came back from our first family vacation to the Eastern Sierras with our 4-month-old daughter and I am here to give you some encouragement and tips from our experience.

Hiking with your Baby

First, let us talk about hiking in the mountains with your baby; yes, I did it and so can you.  

All you need is a diaper bag, baby carrier, baby sunglasses, baby hat, your baby in a long-sleeved onesie to protect their skin, and confidence. 

In your diaper bag, be sure to bring all your baby essentials: changing pad, diapers, wipes, Aquaphor, muslin swaddle, burp cloths, and extra clothes for you and baby just in case of spit-up or a blowout.  

You will need more items if you are bottle-feeding your baby. 

There are many baby carriers out there that make hiking both possible and fun with your baby, but at our daughter’s young age and small size, we found the Boba Wrap to be the best carrier for her to feel comfortable in as well as be protected from the sun. 

We were able to complete a 2-mile hike to the waterfalls at Twin Lakes and our daughter was even able to take multiple naps in the Boba Wrap on the way up and down from the falls!

Fishing, Picnic, Eye Spy, Stargazing, & Board Games with your Baby

Other then hiking, there are plenty of other fun experiences to share with your baby in the mountains even if they are too little to participate in them with you just yet.  

Bring your baby along when you go fishing and show them what fish you catch. 

Have a picnic and enjoy some tummy time on the side of the lake or stream together while you both enjoy the beautiful scenery around you. 

Talk to your baby and let them know what you are doing and point out any animals you see in the forest. 

I was able to interact with some deer and ducks with my daughter and she seemed to enjoy it. 

Take your baby outside with you to stargaze at night together. 

Do not forget a trip to the mountains in a cabin is not a trip without playing some good old-fashioned family games. 

Talk to your baby while you play your favorite board game with your loved ones, so they feel included.

Water Sports with Your Baby

Do not forget about all the water sports you can do while in the mountains. 

No, your baby will not be able to go on that paddleboard, kayak, or boat with you just yet, but that does not mean you cannot still enjoy these activities yourself. 

According to the U.S. Coast Guard’s Office of Boating Safety, babies should weigh at least 18 lbs. and be able to comfortably wear a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) to be on a boat. 

I would recommend having your partner, parents, and/or siblings come along with you to help take care of baby, that way you can switch off and take turns doing these activities. 

When I went paddleboarding at the lake, I changed my baby girl’s diaper, made sure she was comfortable weather wise (see if she needed pants or a jacket when it was colder), and breastfed her. 

That way, once I was done feeding her, I would have at least a good hour to be out on the water knowing that she was a comfortable happy baby while my boyfriend and sister watched over her.  

#1 Travel Must-Have for Baby

One item that made our experience even more enjoyable was bringing our KidCo GoPod. 

This is such a neat portable activity seat for your baby to use while traveling. It sets up and folds up just as quickly and easily as a camping chair. 

 You can attach a variety of toys to the loops on the seat for your baby’s entertainment and learning development. 

 We love that our daughter can sit up in it making it easier for us to interact and play with her at a different level without having to worry about her falling over. 

Our baby girl is on the smaller size and at 4 months old she is unable to reach the floor so we put a pillow or baby blanket underneath her so she can practice using her legs and push from her feet. 

We loved being able to use this to help entertain our daughter while in the BIG OUTDOORS because it gave her a different perspective and experience. 

Just make sure not to keep your baby in the KidCo GoPod for longer than 15-minute intervals because it can be harmful to their hips and joints if overused over time.

Conclusion

As you can see, you can still enjoy many adventurous activities in the mountains even when traveling with your baby. 

For more baby travel gear recommendations, see my posts on best travel stroller and best baby carrier for travel.

If you would like to read more tips on traveling with Baby, make sure to check out my post “How to Survive a Road Trip with your Baby” and “Ultimate Baby Packing List for a Family Vacation to the Mountains.” 

There are so many wonderful opportunities to be outside and explore nature with children of all ages. Nature walks and explorations are an ideal way to spend fun quality time together as a family and to help your children develop an appreciation for the earth, birds, mini-beasts, plants and everything else in the natural world.

DO YOU HAVE A ZOO
IN YOUR BACKYARD?

Babies and Toddlers are naturally interested in animals. Many times your family pet ends up being one of your babies first words. Then they begin to discover animal toys, our toy animals currently get lined up one by one when she’s playing with them and carried all around the room.

Her next thing she loves is the animal books. My little one loves talking to the kittens and touching the fur in it. Although these are all important to her development, it’s just not the real thing.  It is my hope that your baby starts to discover the animals that live all around us first and gets excited to go outside.  

We’re working on the sign “Outside” at our house, here’s how you sign for “Outside” from Signing Time using sign language.

EXPLORING YOUR BACKYARD ZOO WITH YOUR BABY OR TODDLERS

Take your children outside on adventures.  We spend our mornings in the yard and discovered we live at the zoo!  Well, not really , but to my daughter it feels like it.  

We were searching and discovering animals on a daily basis.  I love how she carefully watches and observes everything that surround her in this environment.  She is starting to get very excited with her little dancing feet when she sees something new moving. 

Did you know at this age you can teach your baby and toddlers about SCIENCE?

What animals can you discover with your baby in your yard?

MAMMALS

• My baby discovered that many squirrels live in our yard.

• They like to run  and climb up trees and dig in the ground

• They also eat those brown acorns on the ground that she loves to pick up at try to eat herself.

• She also discovered that the cat has a tail just like a squirrel.

BIRDS

• My baby discovered that the birds fly back and forth from the trees and talk to each other.

• She discovered that they even come to the bird feeder to eat.

• She  discovered that they can be different colors and different sizes.

• They also come to the birdbath for water (still waiting for her to see how they take baths)

• Here are some Bird Activities for your baby & toddler

AMPHIBIANS

• My baby discovered that a frog likes to live on our chair on the back porch.

• She discovered that it likes to jump when you try to touch it.  (can’t wait for tadpoles to arrive)

• Here is Rainy Day Mum family’s experience with Frog Hunting & Frog Books

FISH

• My baby discovered that fish swim very fast when you approach.

• She also discovered they come back when you throw food into the water.

• We are very lucky that we have our own little pond in our yard, but you could always have a goldfish bowl or aquarium in your house.

REPTILES

• My baby discovered that a lizard climbs up on pot on the front porch.

(Thank goodness we did not discover a snake yet, although pretend ones keep us busy)

INSECTS (bugs)

• My baby discovered a grasshopper sitting on our peas can jump as she tried to touch it!

• She also discovered a ladybug that flew away when she tried to touch it.

• She found out that the bright yellow butterflies fly away very quickly.

WHAT IS MY BABY LEARNING OUTDOORS?

My baby is learning all about the world around here. 

• She learned that there are all types of animals. 

• She learned that animals can move in different ways. 

• She also learned that they can make different noises. 

All skills of observation and knowledge in science. Learning starts from the very beginning!

The skills she is learning outside with me are far better than any skills she’ll learn watching a TV.  Although I know it most certainly takes more effort, it’s our jobs as a child’s first teacher to give them these opportunities every day throughout the day to engage in nature and to explore their surroundings inside and outside.

HOW DO WE CONNECT WITH ANIMALS AT PLAYTIME?

Outdoor time is so important! It’s also important to let your child find ways to explore those concepts in play. Connecting the outdoors is very easy.  Just find a few toys that represent what you’re finding outdoors. Connecting through books & toys is just what they need to begin to develop their imagination. 

We have found fish, squirrels, birds, frogs, ladybugs, and so those are the toys we are exploring and playing with right now. Don’t feel like you have to own all of these things… sometimes playgroups are a great way to exchange a concept.  I’m waiting for a friend’s zoo animals to arrive at my house any day! Can’t wait!

Nature Crafts That Help Nurture Their Interest

From a very young age, every child must get the right message about nature. If this is done correctly, then your kids will learn to love the nature. Nowadays, it is very important to love our environment and nature. So let them explore the things that they are intrigued with, at their pace. There are many ways by which you can teach your kids about nature, but one of the best ways is to teach your kid with some natural crafts which also help to sharpen their brain.

I often get asked when we can start process art with nature's treasures. I always respond that if they can feed themselves with a fork and spoon, they can start creating art. Process art includes making collages and painting. However, the ability to draw does not come in until later.  Collages can be done on clear contact paper, so glue isn’t required. Shaped sponges, stamps and stencils can be used in paintings to give them form, texture and shape.

Young kids are very watchful in nature, and they will want to know about a lot of new things at once. Make sure you set the pace, so they do not get overstimulated. Especially if you are in the process of looking for certain art and craft supplies. Just about any young child will follow your lead and will also find it very interesting. So first, you will have to teach about how we find these items. So, this is the time where you can teach them how our forest grows and supplies these treasures, as well as the fact that we are to only take what is on the forest floor. We do not take anything from the forest that it needs to survive. Then finally, you will have to teach your children about the craft ideas. So children will be more attached and protective of art made from natural items that they found and chose from nature.

Encourage them to go outside to explore with you as well as gathering the supplies you need. You will get to see firsthand how excited they get about doing it. You will quickly determine that kids naturally love to be outdoors and that they will be eager to learn what they will need to do for that particular nature craft project. 

They will really enjoy getting to explore the world around them. They can learn about various new things on the go. This is the process of teaching the kids about crafting with nature. It will also help them to learn about different kinds of things that grow and intensify their love for nature, art and crafts.

We would just head out on a walk on a whim, and talk about or just enjoy whatever we see. But sometimes we have a special theme to our nature walks, to focus on a particular aspect of what we might find. Even the roadsides are constantly changing in the Rocky Mountains. And they weren't always the same as our wildflower garden. It was truly just whatever the wind blew all over our neighborhood.

One thing I did that Hope really enjoyed was to carry a ribbon toy with us on our walks and bike rides. I made a small version of the second one on a key ring and attached it to her carrier and her zipper on jackets. Then she could watch the wind. I will give you links to make a few of her favorite ribbon toys. Just click on the pictures for a link. The wind always startled her. She couldn’t see it and it took her breath away. So the ribbons and wind chimes let her know when the wind was whirling about her. HINT-Oh-another very simple way to demonstrate wind is to blow bubbles and let the wind take them away.

Hope was very determined that her artwork was to be hers from a very young age. She was very into her freedom in creative expression; even when using nature in her artwork. It was lucky that I was versed in open-ended process art. When working with babies and toddlers artistically, the adult needs to be careful to let them create joyfully in their way. 

BTW She was not given markers or crayons until she could hold a fork and feed herself. 

On to creating art that uses whatever you collect
from nature walks… 

Most Hope’s first painting supplies came from our kitchen or outside. Anything liquid or creamy became paint, small utensils became tools to apply the paint with and the floor, her highchair table and Bumbo chair with tray became surfaces to paint on. Anything doughy became playdough and my margarine became her snack. (UGH) None of my friends had babies so they loved that she could create a party of her own in the kitchen. Lower cabinets and drawers were sorted, so they were baby safe. She knocked on what doors she needed opened. She lived and breathed art…. oh, and daddy.

So, when she started doing art outside, everything in her environment becoming an art supply or tool came natural to her. HER CREATIVITY WENT WILD. 

Preserved leaf wreath from Craftulate

Painting Leaves

Whether you collect some Autumn leaves from the ground or pick some fresh Spring leaves from a tree painting on them can be a fun experience. Why not turn your painted leaves into monsters or creatures. You can use brushes to paint the leaves but using your fingers is far more fun! Read more...

Butterflies and spring also go together. Check out this beautiful springflower butterfly craft from Fun and Fantastic Learning.

Mosaic Lizard

Nature prints clay craft

Make colored sand creations like Play at Home Mom

DIY Nature Press

This nature press is easy to make and is perfect to take along on nature walks! Use this flower press to press your favorite nature finds and use them to make a few of these crafts.  

Ok we took more than one. We had about six in a baggie in our fanny pack for our outside adventures. It’s funny when I find things, I thought up for my kiddos online. I always get all puffy and wonder...who hacked my computer when Hope was little. LOL

Here’s some projects that use those pressed treasures from your walks
A Beautiful Nature Frame

How to Make a Flower Hiking Stick

20+ Beautiful Pressed Flower Crafts

Learn easy ways to press flowers and see over 20 crafts to try with these beautiful pieces of …
[READ MORE...]

Best types of flowers to press flat

Over the years, I’ve learned some flowers were born to be pressed, and some weren’t. I might have scorched a flower or two in my ambitious attempts to press them. Whoops!

The best flowers for pressing include ones with a single layer of petals and flat faces. I’ve used everything from flowering shrubs like plumbago to roses, vincas, pansies, Esperanza, zinnias, and delphinium.

For larger bulbs or spherical flowers like peonies or ranunculus, you may have better luck preserving the whole flower. You can do this through various drying methods or by separating the individual petals from the stems. For thicker flowers (like roses), you can also split the flower in half before pressing.

Note: Avoid using flowers with fleshy, water-rich petals (e.g., begonias, portulaca).
They may be prone to mold or scorch when pressed.

How to press flowers in a book

Pressing flowers in a book is one of the oldest, tried-and-true methods. I’m quite fond of the technique if you have the time and patience to wait. (If you don’t, I’ve got a solution for you below.)

Supplies:

1. Sturdy book (e.g., phone book)

2. Paper to absorb moisture (parchment, thin cardboard, newspaper, coffee filters or blotting paper)

3. Heavy weight

Note: For best results, avoid using paper towels. Any paper with texture or embossing may leave an imprint on the flowers.

Step 1: Prepare flowers

Before you begin, separate any petals if needed. Then, arrange your flowers on one sheet of paper with at least 3/4-inch of space in between. Try to press flowers of similar varieties or thickness together.

Step 2: Cover flowers and close the book

Place the second piece of parchment paper on top of the arranged flowers. Take care to flatten the flower face in the shape you’d like to achieve when pressed. I find it easiest to fold my sheet of parchment paper in half. Then, I can sandwich my flowers inside like a book rather than cutting two sheets of paper.

Next, close the book and set a weight on top. You can also pile on more heavy books or a brick, but you’ll want something heavy enough to create even pressure.

Step 3: Wait 2-4 weeks for flowers to dry

Pressed flowers in a book after 2.5 weeks

The drying time will depend on the thickness of the petals. I waited only 2.5 weeks for my flowers to dry in the photo above. They came out paper-thin and had great color retention! For thicker flowers, you may choose to wait closer to four weeks.

Some people suggest replacing the absorbent paper every three days or so. However, I didn’t find that necessary with parchment paper.

Once you’re done, I recommend using these nylon tweezers to handle your dried flowers. Book-pressed flowers can have very delicate structures, and you don’t want to tear your pretty specimen!

Using a homemade wooden press

Much like the book-press method, a homemade or store-bought wooden press can give you fabulous results. (Plus, you can decorate a wooden press or customize it to match your style-BONUS!)

Supplies:

1. Two 12 x 12-inch pieces of plywood or MDF

2. Cardboard

3. Two pieces of paper (blotting or parchment paper)

4. Four bolts and wingnuts

Step 1: Drill holes in boards

Drill a hole in each corner of the boards, about 1 inch from the edge. Make sure you match the size of your bolts and line up the holes on both boards.

Step 2: Arrange flowers in between cardboard and paper

Cut the cardboard to fit inside the plywood or MDF, working around the four holes where you will insert the bolts. Lay a piece of blotting paper on top of the cardboard and arrange the flowers on top as desired.

Again, you will place the flower between two pieces of blotting paper. Then place a piece of cardboard on either side, followed by the wood or MDF.

Step 3: Screw in the bolts, and wait 2-4 weeks for flowers to dry

Insert the bolts and tighten the wingnuts until secure. Drying times will again depend on the thickness of the flowers used.

Compared to book pressing, the pressure is more evenly distributed with a wooden press. Plus, you don’t risk damaging any books.

Pressing flowers with a microwave

Perhaps my favorite method of pressing flowers for framing is using a microwave. When you’re short on time, this is the ideal option for you!

I wrote extensively about how to use one of these in my post on DIY pressed flower art. Go visit that post to receive a special 10% off promotion to purchase a Microfleur flower press.

Arranging flowers in Microwave flower press

Supplies:

1. Microwave flower press

2. Tweezers (optional)

Step 1: Place flowers on inner lining

You’ll want to arrange your flowers on the fabric liner in the shape you want to achieve in the end. Always try to group similar flowers together.

Step 2: Microwave flowers for an initial burst

With most microwave presses, you’ll want to heat the flowers for one long initial “burst.” I typically start with 25 seconds.

Plumbago flowers after pressing in microwave

Step 3: Continue microwaving in short bursts

Continue to microwave your specimen in 10-second bursts until the flowers feel paper-thin. Always air out the plates in between bursts to prevent browning or scorching. If scorching occurs, you can always reorder refill packs. (Ask me how I know.)

Note: Using succulents or flowers with fleshy petals may cause scorching when microwaving.

Take care when you remove flowers, since petals may stick to the inner liner. It helps to stretch the fabric liner in opposite directions or use nylon tweezers to help release the flower.

You can also use a book in the microwave instead of a press. Just please make sure there are no metal accents on the cover that might create a fireworks show!

Pressing flowers with an iron

You can also apply heat to dry flowers using a household iron. I must admit, this is my least preferred method because I just don’t think the quality compares to the other methods. However, it’s a good one to have if you need pressed flowers ASAP and don’t have another microwave option.

Supplies:

1. Iron

2. Parchment paper or other absorbent paper

Step 1: Arrange flowers between paper

I used parchment paper to sandwich the flowers and position them into place before ironing. A good hard surface with a thin towel underneath also helps.

Tip: For a fun kid’s craft, you can use wax paper to create a “suncatcher” with the flowers preserved in between. The wax paper will seal itself around the flowers, and you can
staple thick cardstock as a frame for display.

Step 2: Iron on low heat

Turn off any steam settings, and iron the flowers for about 15-30 seconds at a time on low heat. Let the flowers cool briefly before attempting to press again.

Once the petals have partially dried out, you can choose to finish drying using the book or wooden press method above.

Results of pressing flowers with an iron

As you can see, the results of ironing don’t measure up to the other methods, in my opinion. The parchment paper tends to wrinkle, which causes ripples in the petals of the flowers as well.

Plumeria blossom before and after pressing with iron

What is the best way to press flowers?

I decided to create a little chart for an easy comparison across the methods (nerd alert!).

The best technique to press flowers and keep the color and texture was the book method. The microwave flower press is a close second and definitely wins in terms of convenience. I would not suggest ironing unless you’re in a pinch or need some quick flowers for a kid’s craft.

Nature Collages

Even the smallest child can make something of great beauty with this collage technique. Cut a picture frame out of cardboard ahead of time, sizing it so your child can comfortably carry it.

Turn it plain side down and measure out enough clear contact paper to stick all around the frame. (Some people call it shelf paper instead -- you can find it in the housewares section of a big store.)

Peel off the backing, stick down the contact paper, turn it over, and voila! You have a sticky canvas for your child to decorate.

You could use this technique for any sort of collage, of course -- it needn't have a nature theme. But I love the experience of accompanying my kids as they take their little picture frames along on meadow walks or strolls in the woods. I find it helps them slow down and really look at the natural world around them.

Nature Squishy Bags

Fall is such a beautiful season. Whenever I think of it, I imagine color change, cooler temperatures and the smell of sweet potato pie. Recently, I asked my nieces what their favorite part of the season was, and they both immediately answered: “Playing with leaves!” With this enthusiastic response, I decided to make a Fall-themed sensory activity.

Recently, my nieces and their friends have been extremely interested in anything remotely “squishy.” They search toy aisles for kid-friendly stress-balls, get excited to make slime, etc. They just love the feeling of being able to squeeze their hands into something oozy. I put together my oh-so-easy Fall Squishy Bags to offer them something new to play with. Today, I’ll show you how to make them for your very own!

HOW TO MAKE A FALL-THEMED SQUISHY BAG

The wonderful thing about squishy bags is that you can get extremely creative with its inner contents. For my Fall-themed one, I decided to focus on leaves since my nieces expressed such a liking to them.

Items Needed:

• Artificial or natural leaves, preferably in autumn shades

• Scissors

• Large freezer bag

• A bottle of hair gel or Aloe vera gel

• Medium-sized bowl (optional)

• Colorful duct tape (optional)

• Colored Glitter or confetti...if desired.
  
  

Directions:

1. If necessary, cut artificial leaves off from their stem. For one large freezer bag, you’ll need about 4 to 6 leaves.

2. If you don’t have anyone helping you to keep the freezer bag open, I suggest opening it up and placing it in a bowl. This will keep it standing upwards and will allow you to fill it up with easy. First, add your leaves then, add your entire bottle of aloe or hair gel.

3. Squeeze out the air from the bag and zip shut. I always like to seal the top of my squishy bags with decorative duct tape for extra protection.
If you have a biter, tape around the edges too.

4. Squish away and have fun!

My nieces had a great time playing with their squishy bags. I was happy to provide them with an activity that they found so satisfying to squish their hands into. We’re just getting into the fall season in my area, so this sensory play was just what we needed to welcome the beautiful season!

 Easy Nature Wall Hanging

Using a full sheet of semi transparent waxed sandwich paper, gluing leaves and color tissue paper folding in the middle and adding a stick and ribbon or string for hanging

Painted PineCone Flowers from Emma Owl –
This cheerful “bouquet” won’t wilt after a week, and I’m sure the children will have such fun creating it. HINT: we used sticks from the forest floor instead of dowels.

Dip Pinecones in Paint

Place a small amount of paint on the paper plate and dip pinecone to add color to the petal's edges. Rotate pinecone as you dip it so each tip is covered with paint. Repeat will all pinecones and set aside to allow the paint to dry completely. My idea of fun was the single color. Hope’s was several dabs of bright colored paint on the plate. In fact she ditched the plate and put paint in her hands then wrapped her little hands around the pinecones. Then I grabbed glitter glue. Or you can use good ole Mod-podge to roll them in then sprinkle glitter on them.
Need more Pinecone crafts for you while they are napping?
CLICK HERE

Need more easy craft ideas?! Check out these beautiful ideas:

How to Preserve Flowers for Kids Activities
A Beautiful Nature Frame
Icy Flower Sensory Play-

Air Drying Wildflowers & Herbs

Drying is even better than pressing for preserving wild flowers. It keeps their shape as well as their color, and in some cases dried flowers are hard to tell from fresh ones.

Members of the daisy family, like daisies, thistles, and dandelions all dry well. Thistles, Field Scabious, and roses are good too. Always pick the flowers just before they are in full bloom.

Don't pick any flowers that are beginning to fade or wither, unless of course you wait until they go to seed. Poppies, Teasel, and many other seed heads look very attractive dried. So do grasses.

Continue to see how to air dry your own flowers!

Air-Drying Wildflowers

The easiest way to dry flowers is simply to tie them up in a bunch, hang them upside-down, and dry them for a few weeks.

What you will need to get started

1. Rubber bands

2. Dry airy place to hang the flowers

Steps

• Tie the flowers into a bunch with a rubber band. Don't put more than 8-10 stems into each bunch.

• Hang them upside-down in a dry, airy place for a few weeks. A linen cupboard is ideal because you can hang them easily. An attic, spare room, or garage is also fine, but you will need to fix up a pole or line to hang them from.

Continue to learn another way dry more delicate flowers.

Drying More Delicate Flowers

Some flowers lose some of their shape and color if they are just air-dried. It's better to dry roses, lilies, and anemones using a mixture of cornmeal and borax, which you can buy from a supermarket or grocery store. This way preserves leaves better too.

What you will need to get started

• Shoe box

• Borax

• Cornmeal

• Flowers

• Paintbrush

Step 1

• Find a box, like a shoe box, which is large enough to hold the flowers easily.

Step 2

1. Mix equal parts of borax and cornmeal together, enough to half fill the box.

2. Pour some of the mixture into the box to make a layer 1 inch deep.

Step 3

• Cut the flower stems so they fit into the box, and carefully arrange the flowers on top of the mixture without overlapping each other.

• Gently sprinkle some more of the mixture over the flowers until they are covered by a layer about 1-inch deep.

Step 4

• After a week, gently take the flowers from the box and dust off the drying mixture with an artist's paintbrush.

How to Make Homemade Potpourri

When your sweet bouquet of flowers isn't as fresh as it used to be, instead of relinquishing to the trash, give those flowers new life as pretty potpourri. Making this DIY is easier than you think and can be personalized with any scents that you love. Toss in herbs or sliced citrus for filler, and the potpourri can be refreshed repeatedly with a spritz of your favorite scent.

Exploring the flower beds or herb gardens with babies and children to it is an activity in itself!!! So much fun. 

Read on for the easy directions.

What You'll Need:

• Flowers

• Citrus fruits (optional)

• Fresh herbs (optional)

• Whole spices (optional)

• Sheet pan

• Parchment paper

• Scissors

• Scent-Essential oils in a spray bottle or bath salts

Directions:

• Gather your flowers, herbs and fruit to use for making the potpourri. Any kind of flower will work, especially ones that already have strong scents, such as roses. Flowers with small, individual petals work great, or whole heads can be used too. Preheat your oven to 200˚F.

• Cover a sheet tray with parchment paper. Cut the flowers from the stems right below the heads and place them on the tray or remove individual petals and place in a single layer on the parchment paper.

• To add scent to your potpourri, cut and add thin slices of citrus fruits, or tuck in springs of rosemary, lavender, or thyme to the mix. You can also add whole spices, such as cinnamon sticks, cloves, or allspice, which are both pretty and wonderfully scented.

• Add 10 to 15 drops of your favorite essential oil to one tablespoon of water in a small spray bottle and spritz the potpourri ingredients. Then pop the potpourri into your oven.

Dry in the oven for at least two hours, or until the flowers are brittle but not burnt. When the potpourri is ready, remove from oven and give another spritz of essential oil.

Drying Fruit slices

• Slice fruit crosswise into thin slices about 1/4" or 1/8" thick (approx. 5 mm)

• Press slices between paper towels or kitchen towels to blot away excess juice

• Place slices on racks in oven and dry for 3 hours at 140°C (280°F), or 120°C (250°F) if fan forced. Check on them regularly to make sure they don't burn!

• Also, you can place the orange slices on top of your radiators for a few hours after baking to get the last drops of moisture out with no fear of burning the slices.

Once it's room temperature, gently mix the potpourri and place it in a bowl or small satchel. To refresh the scent, simply spritz with the oil mixture. ( I used bath salts mixed in for fragrance)

NATURE PAINTING TEXTURE COLLAGE FOR KIDS

The kids always collect nature treasures when we step outside the house so we decided to use their finds and some natural craft supplies to paint some nature collages. Little Tiger came up with this art activity after I presented her with the supplies. She loved exploring textures, colors, and brushstrokes during this Painting Activity.

 Supplies:

Craft paint
Craft paper
Paint brush (optional)
Nature treasures (leaves, sand, dirt, flowers…)
Glue

Directions:
Mix some glue into the paint, spread paint on the paper using paint brush or fingers, and then sprinkle, drag, or smash nature treasure into the paint. You can also dip the nature treasures in the paint and throw, swirl, or drop them on the paper. 

FUN WITH PINECONES

We’ve been practicing a lot more aware of nature and all the fun we can have in the forest.

This week H and I took a stroll through the woods and collected sticks, acorns and pinecones. I really wanted conkers, but someone had beaten us to it and they were all broken on the floor.

S decided the acorns were her friends and wouldn’t make anything with them, which left us with pinecones.

I gave the girls some crafty bits and left them to it.

What do you think?

 Our collecting of bits from the forest, has led the kids to ask lots of questions about trees, which I don’t have the knowledge to answer, I will have to take this forest guide out with me next time.

More Pinecone crafts

Pinecone Aliens

 Bird Feeders

Checkout these easy bird feeders to make with kids by Run Wild My Child. These are perfect for toddlers to help make and great for attracting birds to your backyard (which can provide many benefits for you, the birds, and the ecosystem as a whole). 

This versatile craft can be created using many items found in your home, including apples, orange peels, or a bundt pan. These DIY bird feeders help inspire creativity and make a great hands-on way for toddlers to learn about the different species of birds, what birds eat, and how they eat. 

Photo provided by Simple Moments Stick

You could even attract birds with something as simple as a toilet paper roll bird feeder. I know I’m always looking for ways to repurpose those never-ending toilet paper rolls. 

My toddler had a blast making this feeder by Simple Moments Stick. Such a perfect little craft for little animal lovers. 

Painting Seashells

Photo provided by Love Peace Beauty

This painting seashells craft is a great one to add to your bucket list if you live near the beach. It’s also a great way to add in some art while you’re on vacation with the little ones. 

I’m so glad I found this simple craft over at Love Peace Beauty,because I confess, I’ve got quite the collection of seashells just lying around in storage getting dusty. This will be such a fun nature craft that my toddler can do independently. And I won’t feel so bad about my seashell hoarding! 

Spring Flower Keyring
Photo provided by Thimble & Twig

Your toddler will have a blast making these little nature trinkets by Thimble & Twig.These spring flower keyrings turn out gorgeous and are super simple to make. 

Your toddler will get to get outside, pick some pretty flowers (be sure to leave the protected plants be), and make their very own keyring that they can proudly display on their backpack.

Tree Placemat Photo provided by Penlights to Pacifiers

This tree placemat craft by Penlights to Pacifiers is a great way to display falling leaves in autumn or blooming, colorful tress in the spring. Bonus points, it doesn’t involve any glue and hardly any mess. It’s even easy prep for non-crafty moms. 

This nature craft makes an excellent opportunity to teach your toddler about the changing seasons and different parts of the tree. It even makes mealtime more enticing!

 Nature Suncatcher

This stunning nature craft is another one inspired by The Artful Parent. Nature suncatchers are such a perfect way to explore nature and create some art out of it. 

We love making these suncatchers out of findings from our nature hikes or scavenger hunts in our backyard. My toddlers spend a good amount of time decorating their plates and fine-tuning their nature arrangements. 

These make such a beautiful display in the window. 

Flower Printing

Photo provided by The Artful Parent

These flower prints by The Artful Parent are so beautiful. Plus, they’re easy enough for even a 1 year old to do.

This craft uses liquid watercolors, stamp pads, sturdy paper, and of course, flowers. Leaves are also great to print with, as their veins make awesome detail. 

Your toddler will have a blast collecting their flowers and pressing them onto the paper to create their new piece of art. 
Nature walks with Hope have always been one of our favorite activities together. She calls it “exploring.” It’s amazing how a little exercise and fresh air lifts both of our moods. Granted I don’t get much of a workout at the pace she keeps, but the memories are so much more important! We discuss creation, the science behind the leaves turning, how animals and bugs use camouflage, what makes rain, and anything else she thinks of to ask. I encourage her to use all five senses (except maybe taste…yuck) to experience nature. She creates characters for us to be and stories for us to play out.

Most of all we collect treasures. I never leave a walk without at least one thing in my pocket! Acorns and flowers are a favorite of Hope’s, I like to grab pretty or interesting leaves and rocks, and pine cones are beginning fall.
Here are some ideas for a nature craft to make with all those collected treasures.

Nature Treasure Collage and Suncatcher

Supplies:

Contact paper

Collected Nature Treasures (flat and light weight items work best)

 Cut two pieces of contact paper. Place one sticky side up on a flat surface. Allow child to arrange their nature treasures on the paper. Place the second piece sticky side down over the artwork. Hang your nature craft in a window or other sunny place!

Leaf Faces

Supplies:

Googly eyes

Glue

Sharpie

Collected Leaves

 This nature craft is so simple, glue eyes to the collected leaves and draw mouths and other facial features with the sharpie! Do not press too hard.

Leaf Impressions

Supplies

Collected Leaves

Acrylic Washable Paint

Paint Pad Paper or Canvas

Pour a small amount of paint into a paper plate or other container. Have the child dip the leaves into the paint and then press them onto the canvas. Encourage them to lift gently to reveal the leaf’s impression. 

Simple Flower Pressing

Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash

Supplies:

Collected Flowers

Tissue or White Paper Towel

Heavy Books

Place flower on the tissue or paper towel and either fold the paper around it or place a second tissue over the flower. Place the flower sandwich in the middle of a heavy book. Depending on the thickness of the flower, you may need to stack more heavy books on top of the first book. Leave for 2-4 weeks. The pressed flowers can be placed in a scrapbook to start a nature craft collection, or used in your nature treasure collage craft above!

Rock Painting

Supplies:

Collected Rocks (smooth and flat river rocks work best)

Acrylic Washable Paint and Paintbrushes

Mod podge

Glitter (optional)

Clean your collected rocks and make sure they are completely dry before beginning. Allow your child to paint the rocks. Sprinkle on glitter if desired while the paint is still wet. Once the paint is dry, coat the rock in modge podge to avoid chipping and flaking. You can paint with them and create some Story Stones like we did!

Dipped Pine Cones

Supplies:

Collected Pine Cones

Acrylic Washable Paint

Glitter (optional)

Pour paint into a small bowl. Have the child dip one side of the pine cone into the paint. Sprinkle on glitter while the paint is still wet. Allow to dry and use this nature craft to decorate your festive bowls!

Pine Cone Decorating

Supplies:

Collected Pine Cones

Pom poms

String, Ribbon, Yarn

School Glue

Sequins and Glitter
This nature craft is suitable for toddlers and preschoolers. It is super easy and requires almost no help from the grownups except assembling the supplies and cleaning up afterwards. Just let them go to work on their creation! 

Autumn Suncatchers Using Leaves

Save the best leaves from your leaf collection to make a stunning Autumnal Suncatcher by The Gingerbread House. It's such a lovely way to preserve some of your child's finds from your nature walk. The leaves will change a little over time, but it will make a nice window decoration through the autumn season.

Leaf Suncatcher

Collect some gorgeous fall leaves to make a nature-inspired Autumn Leaf Suncatcher. This craft is easy enough for toddlers and preschoolers and will make an excellent addition to your autumn decor this season. The leaves look beautiful, hanging in the window with the light streaming through.

Monster Leaf Puppets

Speaking of leaf puppets, you'll also want to make these Monster Leaf Puppets as Halloween approaches. Go crazy with the eyes, paint, and feathers. Perhaps you can draw some teeth on them to make them look a little scarier. Experiment and have fun!

8 Simple Ways to Create with Natural Materials from Buggy and Buddy

Crafting a Walking Stick from Crafting Connections

Flower Petal Sensory Play from Fantastic Fun and Learning

Building Towers with Natural Materials from Nurture Store

Nature’s Stampers with Play dough from Dayna Banya

Fun Things to Make with Natural Materials from Twodaloo

Playing and Learning with Natural Materials  from Fun-A-Day

Beaded Sticks

Work on fine motor skills, color recognition, and so much more with this fun outdoor pattern activity! (Use large beads for babies and watch them carefully) The set up…
READ MORE

Fall Leaf Suncatcher

Be inspired by Crayon Freckles to

make your own gorgeous leaf suncatcher

Simple Nature Walk Suncatcher

We just went around the yard finding pretty colors of flowers and interesting leaves. We tried to keep everything small in size but didn’t limit to just that. It can’t get much simpler and beautiful as this. Cut two identical shapes of clear contact paper--peel one & arrange nature-- peel and stick the other one on top of your creation. Press under a heavy book for 24 hours. 

Natural Play Dough with Flower Confetti

This natural play dough recipe will provide hours of fun and entertainment for kids! Just add some eco-friendly flower confetti… (It’s fun to use really fragrant flowers and just let the play with the dough. You don’t have to be able use tools.)
READ MORE

Oobleck and Stones

Try making oobleck today! This super simple oobleck recipe only requires two inexpensive ingredients and is very easy to make….

READ MORE

5 Things to do with Acorns and kids from Making Boys Men

 Fall Leaf Printing from Mommyhood from the Heart

Conker Rolling Art from Playful Learners

Fall Nature Table from Buggy and Buddy
9 Things to do with Sticks and Leaves from Mummy, Mummy, Mum

7 Acorn Activities from Hey Mommy, Chocolate Milk
Outside Play: Leaves and Pumpkins from Home Learning Journey

Infants and toddlers benefit from being outside as much as older children or even adults. Babies and young children learn all the time. They don’t have words to describe what they encounter but they learn about their world by touching, tasting, smelling, seeing, and hearing. Babies are aware and mesmerized by sounds and movement and there’s a plethora of unique sounds, colors, lights, sensations and textures to take in and experience outdoors - the crunch of dry leaves underfoot, the rustle made by grass or leaves blowing in the breeze, the sensation of wind or grass on skin, the interest provided by flowers that can be smelled and picked, the texture and smell of the garden after a rain……

When these experiences are shared with a loving adult who can share a baby’s sense of newness, wonder and awe, the entire experience is enjoyable and memorable. It is also critical to babies’ brain function, overall development and to the early experiences of achieving a positive sense of self.

EXPLORE, CREATE & PLAY OUTDOORS

When the weather is nice, we like to spend as much time as possible outside. There’s just something about being outside in the sun that really wears a kid out and makes them nap extra good, which this mama is a fan of. Haha! Of course, we do the typical activities like going for a walk, going to the park, and swimming at the pool, but it’s also fun to get creative, explore, and learn with our activities. 

How to make the perfect backyard art space
My little artist loves going outside to paint her nature treasures among the birds!

Portable Easel   DIY Portable Tabletop Easel   Creative Station

If you know that your little one is not going to cut or draw, put those ideas away until they can.

They need to get those fingers moving and develop their fine motor skills. But let them develop them with playdough or Create-a-Scene with felt boards and pieces, blocks, and magnetics.