Tag: nature

Despite the COVID-19 restrictions, there are ways to get kids excited about nature and the outdoor world—even if you don’t have a backyard.

The snow is gone, the birds are singing, and my kids are full of energy. Thankfully, spring offers many opportunities for children to get moving outdoors.

Here’s a round-up of our top games and activities that will be a hit with everyone in the family—both grown-ups and kiddos.

In contrast to typical metal or plastic play structures, natural playgrounds are designed to take advantage of landscaping and organic materials.

These spaces offer valuable opportunities for the development of physical literacy and for experimentation.

The Vivo Play Project gives kids the opportunity to let loose, play freely, and get dirty.

StoryWalk combines storytelling and physical activity by placing laminated pages from picture books in public places.

Physical education doesn’t just happen in a gymnasium. I’m a big proponent of active free play outside during physical education (PE) class. In my PE classes, I plan for quite a lot of it when the weather allows. There are so many benefits of free play outside that cannot be replicated in the gymnasium. In most … Continued

November 20 marks the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

A growing number of teachers are now starting to look for ways to encourage kids to move more during class time, including taking their classes outdoors.

Earlier this year, my wife and I wanted to plan an outdoor birthday party for our four-year-old. We decided to organize it at our local beach, Petrie Island, in Ottawa. We contacted Friends of Petrie Island, an organization responsible for educating the public about the importance of nature, preservation, and ecology. It also helps organize … Continued

If your child has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or struggles with focus, you’ll be happy to hear that a simple walk in your local park might be beneficial. CBC News recently reported that a review of hundreds of studies found time spent outdoors can result in improved attention span, self-discipline, and stress reduction. “Researchers also … Continued

Related read: 7 kid-friendly games to play on trail walks and nature hikes   Outdoor programming in our pre-kindergarten classrooms At Edmonton Catholic Schools, physical literacy and outdoor programming are a priority for our 100 Voices children. Physical literacy encompasses physical, cognitive, social, and emotional wellness. At our Genesis School, this is fostered in a … Continued

On a summer afternoon, you might find four-year-olds digging in the mud with sticks while six-year-olds toss stones into a creek and eight-year-olds climb trees or build a fort. Welcome to the Into the Wild nature camp at WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, Alta., where unstructured, child-led, risky play is the name of the … Continued

We live in a world overflowing with technology. Cars talk to us, phones entertain us, houses are “smart,” and wristwatches monitor our vitals. Are we living in Brave New World or 1984? Whichever we imagine, one thing is certain: our attachment to technology strains our connection with nature. Staying connected to the natural world is … Continued

A toolkit developed by the Children and Nature Network helps you create a nature club for families.

Help them grow physical skills and develop independence

Hiking provides opportunities to share great experiences with your kids

Safe exploration builds physical literacy, confidence and curiosity

Developing physical literacy skills from a young age is vital to animals’ survival

Opportunities for kids’ physical literacy and education abound out in the natural world

3. What is different about nature? The outdoors is generally an unpredictable movement and sensory environment, especially if you’re moving around trees in the forest, or where the terrain is less even and predictable. When children are allowed to move around in these environments and explore, it enhances a lot of the skills required to … Continued