1. Make Some Art
Nature-themed art will not only allow children to express themselves creatively, but it will keep them looking to the wild for future inspiration. Here is my Pinterest collection of nart (nature art) ideas to get you going!2. Eat a Local, Pastured Turkey
It's a sad reality that the birds gracing most tables next week will have lived miserable lives. Today's turkeys are force fed in over crowded confined feeding lots and filled with additives, antibiotics and GMO grains. The good news is, it doesn't have to be this way! Bring the kids to the farm to pick out their turkey (it's a great opportunity to talk about where their food comes from). Most local, sustainable farms are serving up free range, pastured heritage turkeys and love visitors. Yummy.
To find happy turkeys you can use Eat Well Guide's search function. Or you can search Local Harvest for farms in your area.
3. Feed the Birds
Winter is a tough time for a lot of birds. Yes they can handle it, but it's nice to give them a helping hand. At 1 year old my daughter was glued to the window watching Chickadee flutter up to the feeder - it's pure magic. Here is a great guide to feeding birds from Audubon.4. Adopt a Spot
Choose some green space that matters to your family and help keep it clean! Don't worry about it being an epic river or connected to an official program. Just choose an accessible outdoor area you care about and keep it simple.5. Plan the Garden
flickr / Samuel Mann
If your kids have never planted a garden, don't be afraid! A small garden that they can learn and participate in is not as hard as it sounds. Here is a great guide to starting an organic bed with kids. Also, order a few seed catalogs from Seed Savers or Baker's Seeds this Winter to get going.
6. Go Outside!
Compared to the 1970s, children now spend 50% less time in unstructured outdoor activities. The more our children interact and experience nature, the deeper connection and motivation they will feel for caring for their environment. So get out there and feel the love!7. Make a Thankful Tree
I've wanted to do this for a couple years, and we're finally getting around to doing it. We include a wide-range of things we're thankful for, but I definitely try to encourage my Wild Child to think of things we're thankful for in nature. Here is a great post from Rhythms of Play on The Top Ten Thankful Trees.
8. Learn & Share
Introduce your kids to some incredible facts or animals in nature and encourage them to share their knowledge with others. Kids teaching each other about nature is pretty much as cool as it gets. Here's one to get you started, it's a video of the amazing Lyrebird - it can mimic just about any sound it hears! Watch here.9. Start a Compost Pile
We take so much from nature that it feels wonderful to return something to her. Composting can seem scary, but really it is so doable! Here is a quick, clear guide to composting to help your family get started. Also, the Peppa Pig fans out there, here is their take on composting.10. Kiss a Frog
By volunteering at a local animal shelter, rescue, preserve or sustainable farm (we can always use your help), children can develop a sense of responsibility and
So that's our list, what are some ways you are going to thank Mother Nature this year? Let me know so we can try them out!
Your Woman Gone Wild,
ps. I'd also like to THANK YOU for supporting and tuning into Wilder Child - it is wonderful to have you here!
5 comments
Lovely post :) I can’t wait to start a little garden with Little F this summer!
#outdoorplayparty
Great post! I totally agree about the turkeys, I’m a vegetarian so we won’t be getting any at all, but getting one that’s been pasture raised at a local farm is much better than buying it from the store. We’ve been making bird feeders too, our first ever! If I were to add anything it would be to take the kids on a walk to pick up trash. I try to do that every now and then and it’s really made them aware of the problem of littering.