Take a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life! March 30 is "Take a Walk in the Park Day," so enjoy some fresh air and appreciate the beauty of the outdoors.
Parks are the perfect place to relax, socialize, and connect with nature. Walking through a park can provide an opportunity for kids to observe wildlife, learn about different plants and trees, and engage in physical activity.
In addition to the educational and physical benefits, spending time in nature has been shown to have positive effects on mental health, which can be particularly important for children. It can help reduce stress, improve mood, and promote overall well-being.
Visit your favorite local park or try a new one. Go for a kid-friendly hike and have a picnic. There's really no wrong way to celebrate! Here are five creative ideas to help you and your kiddos take a walk in the park in a whole new way.
1. Make it a Rainbow Walk.
Find something in nature of every color of the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. Bonus points if you actually know the difference between blue, indigo, and violet. Double bonus points if you tell me so I'll know too!
Bring your camera so you can take pictures of what you find. Afterward, create a photo album keepsake of your Rainbow Nature Walk.
2. Play Nature Bingo.
Create different Bingo cards with items you might find during a day spent outside, such as butterflies, spiders, pine cones, ladybugs, grasshoppers, dandelions, clouds, trees, the sun, squirrels, and grass.
You can use words if your kiddos are already reading, or make your own with pictures from your computer's Clip Art section.
3. Create Paper Doll Fashion from Nature.
Design inspiration can come from everywhere, and this fun project shows just how easy it is to explore creativity in nature.
After your walk, you can continue the fun in your home. My kids giggled their way through creating fashion from sponges, toilet paper, and even their socks, but our favorite textile inspiration came from the family pet.
Check out our step-by-step tutorial for creating your own nature-inspired paper doll fashion to get started.
4. Explore Your Senses.
One of the ways to reduce my brain clutter is to connect with my surroundings through my senses. In the middle of your walk, stop and observe your surroundings.
Try to name 5 things you can see, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell, and 1 thing you can taste. You can bring a treat on your walk to ensure you have a good answer for the last one!
5. Look A Little Closer.
Give your child a magnifying glass and take a closer look at tree bark, flower petals, and even dirt. Lift up logs and look under rocks. A whole other world exists at our feet!
