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Parents & KidsJul 17, 2023
5 Ways to Teach Kids to Respect Nature
In our digital-focused world, it’s more important than ever to help kids connect to nature. If you love and care for the environment, there’s a good chance you had positive experiences in nature as a child. Teaching kids to respect plants, animals, insects and the Earth at large can set them up for a lifelong passion.
Get our tips for teaching kids to respect nature (and have a lot of family fun in the process).
Get Outside Together
There’s an old proverb that says, “It’s better to see something once than hear about it a thousand times.” Reading stories, watching movies and talking to your kids about environmentalism is helpful, but nothing compares to getting outside. The memories you make together can last a lifetime, and shape the way they look at the planet.
You can keep things simple and go for a nature walk together or sit in the backyard and make Dandelion flower crowns. If you’re really in the mood to explore, make it a goal to visit all the parks in your area and take note of the wildlife you see there (like birds, bees and butterflies!).
Give Them Something to Grow
A large part of respecting nature is learning to take responsibility for your actions. When kids have a plant that they’re responsible for growing, the pressure is on! The process is even more rewarding if the plant is something they can harvest and eat. Planting the seeds, watering, and watching their plant grow is empowering. If your child is little, something fast-growing is usually best – like Radishes or Chives.
If your children are a little older, you can go beyond the plants and raise silkworms, tadpoles or Monarch butterfliesa. In addition to learning about accountability and watching the full lifecycle of a living being, you’ll get some mindful family time together away from the phones, tablets and video games.
Lead By Example
Kids will also follow your lead. If you share photos of your past outdoor adventures or spend time enjoying your garden, they’ll want to get out there with you. The same goes for any environmentally friendly habits that are prioritized in your household. Children often observe adults' actions and imitate them, so encourage them to get involved. Let them add vegetable scraps from the kitchen to the compost pile, release ladybugs in the yard or carry the reusable grocery bags into the store. With regular exposure to these things, they’ll begin to develop a passion for protecting the Earth.
Nurture Their Imagination
It’s perfectly fine for kids to have unstructured playtime outside, too. Group activities are great, but when you remove the play structure, sports equipment and crafts, you’d be amazed what they come up with. Kids are innately curious and being immersed in nature lets their minds run wild. Moss-covered rocks become fairy gardens, tree bark becomes a riverboat and tiny flowers in water become a magical potion. It might seem simple, but these experiences help kids develop a personal connection to their natural surroundings.
Engage Their Five Senses
The next time you’re playing outside together, encourage them to take notice of their surroundings. Pay attention to what you see, hear and smell. Liquid herbal extracts are also a great way for kids to taste herbal flavors and incorporate a connection to nature into their daily routine. If you grow a little pot of Lemon Balm, it’s fun to follow that up with some sips of our Kids Lemon Balm Calm™ in a glass of water. Prompt them to notice the lemony, slightly sour taste and the way it helps them feel calm and soothed.*