Nature Play that Rocks
Superscript

Enjoy Watching your Baby enjoy nature

A BUCKET LIST FOR BABY’S FIRST SUMMER 

 
It is your first summer with a sweet little bundle of love. And, it is your baby’s first summer – ever. Make the most of it with memorable moments and photo-worthy fun in the sun. I want you to feel like you don't have to give up your outdoorsy lifestyle because you have a baby. With alittle ingenuity you can create little nature lovers by taking them with you.

Babies don’t need planned activities or outdoor toys. Let them experience nature for what it is. Take them for walks outdoors. Let them touch the leaves as you walk by. Point out birds and animals. Encourage them to touch the flowers and feel sand, water, rocks, and grass on their feet.

Throw down a blanket if you like or let them sit on the bare ground. Let them pick up the leaves and lay in the grass. Sure, you need to keep choking hazards out of their hands and away from their mouths and you’ll probably want to make sure the puppy hasn’t left a present in the lawn. But, other than that, a little dirt and germs are totally fine (and in fact are beneficial ) to growing healthy immune systems.

How to encourage nature interaction between you, your babies and nature?

Because babies are still taking in the world, don’t overwhelm them with too much all at once. Let them explore slowly. They might want to crawl around or be happy sitting in one spot. And since they are just little babies they won’t be too bothered if you bring them to the same old park bench or backyard spot time and time again!

When you’re down on the ground with your baby pick up things and hand it to them to explore, like leaves, larger rocks, and pine cones. You can point out birds or describe how the breeze feels on their skin. Direct them to look at the dancing leaves or the bright flowers. You are simply a guide for them… connecting words and feelings to what their senses are discovering.

However, if you find visiting the same places boring, try sightseeing in new parts of town, check out farmer’s markets, take a walk at the botanical gardens or zoo, visit outdoor festivals, and start exploring your local nature trails if you haven’t already.

You can also include nature at home too. When you’re reading books to your babies, find books with plants and animals in them. Describe how they look. Make the sounds. Talk about whether you see these things outside or not. These are little ways to start bringing nature into the home and into your interactions with baby so when you head outside you will be more likely to also take note of these things.

The short of it:

When your children are just babies getting outside should be easy. Don’t overstress and plan. Remember, simply sitting in the grass and feeling the breeze ruffle their hair is exciting enough for them. Instead, use this time to get yourself comfortable with bringing them outside.
Figure out how to go for walks and do it regularly.

Creating a routine helps set the standard for your child as they grow into the more adventuresome toddler years and you’ll be more likely to continue heading out with your littles if you’ve gotten comfortable with the process already.

You don’t need any fancy gear and you don’t need to organize nature activities. Instead, let your baby’s eyes, ears, hands, and feet do all the work.

Exploring nature with babies can be a simple as you make it. A walk around the block, a blanket on the grass, a visit to the neighbor’s garden. The important thing is to just get outside and start.

Here are some things to add to your summertime bucket list

Photo: Ryan Polei via Flickr 

Beach Baby Walking

Taking your baby to the beach is at the top of any list of summertime fun. While you’re there, dip his toes in the water. Take advantage of the picture-perfect surroundings: draw your little one’s name in the sand and snap a shot of your wee babe with the massive ocean behind him.

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Get Messy

Do not be afraid to get messy with your little explorer. She’s never squished sand between her hands before, she’s never made a mud pie and she’s never splashed to her heart’s content at a water table. Each one creates its own mess, but we promise that will be topped by the amount of delight it creates as well.

Photo: Raelene Gutierrez via Flickr

Footprint Time

Summer is the perfect time to take photos of sweet baby toes and hands before they get big. If you’re at the beach, snap a picture of your kiddo’s footprints in the sand. If you’re landlocked, dip your kiddo’s hands and feet in water, then help him make a print on warm pavement, then grab a snap a photo before it dries.

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Blowing Bubbles

Spend an afternoon daydreaming and watching bubbles float on the breezes. This is a super-cheap way to mesmerize your little one, and bring on adorable, amazed expressions that make for perfect photos. It’s so easy to just keep small jars of bubbles on hand and lay out a blanket and watch them drift of. It makes an ordinary day a little special.

Photo: Margaret River via Flickr

Shop Together

Visit your local farmers market to pick out the freshest goodies you can find and set up a summertime feast for your new nibbler. Or, if you’re near a farm, bring the baby to a pick-your-own berries spot, where he can lounge in the shade while you grab a few bright red fruits for him to test. This site will help you find the farm nearest you.


See the source image

Photo: brandon v via Flickr

“Smell the Roses”

Head outside to take advantage of the chance for brain-boosting sensory fun in the sun: tickle your little one’s toes with a soft dandelion and let her feel a pinecone’s bumps. Listen to the buzz of a bumblebee. Taste a fresh smoothie. Walk and talk in a garden or two, describing the plants including every sense that you can.

Enjoy a lovely, lazy summer day. (Hope and Donavan were watering and “tending” their babysitters garden at a really young age. They did not have good aim but loved to hold the hose. Hope did not like water in her eyes, so we used sunglasses.) 

Photo: Kate Hopper via Flickr

Dig It

Pick up a shovel and a bucket and let your kiddo work on his eye-hand coordination. He can dig in the sand at the beach, scoop up some water, or shovel at the playground. Afterward, stroll by a local construction site for a little free baby-friendly entertainment show put on by diggers and cranes.

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Photo By: House of Burke

Artsy Adventures

Give your baby some finger-paint (like the non-toxic kind) and let her make her first piece of artwork. When the weather is warm, simply strip your little one down to his diaper, spread old towels outside, and put out paper and a little paint. You can whip up your own easy-peasy edible finger paint with plain yogurt and a few drops of food coloring, or follow our simple flour recipe. Hope's first art was so simple. She loved to slap the table or tray on her highchair. So I put dabs of finger paint on a sheet of paper, index card, or paper plate and she slapped it, making spat art. She loved it.
(Using baby safe homemade paint allows you to start art so much earlier. I usually tell people. “If they can feed themselves, I can get all sorts of art out of them.” But sometimes the untamed motions they make with their hands lend themselves to making art even before that.) Alternatively, try ice painting with this how-to from Domestic Mommyhood for another fun sensory play experience. Bonus: the mess stays outside plus you’ll have the baby's first masterpiece.

Outdoor Activities for Babies
You Can Play Your Own Way


Photo: Jade Alexandra Allen via Flickr

Water Baby

Pool, ocean, or bathtub: anyplace you can let your little one relax and splash, do it. Summer is the perfect time for Baby’s first swim and to sign up for a mommy-and-me swim class.

Photo: Shannon McGee via Flickr

Chill Out

When the mercury soars past 95, keep cool with indoor fun. Visit the local library to peruse their extensive selection of board books, or check out museums with stroller- and crawler-friendly programs.

Photo: Cody via Flickr

Feast Outside

Whether she’s feasting al fresco on breast milk or solid food, take that food outside for your baby’s first picnic. Afterward, spread out on your blanket for tummy time under blue skies and watch the clouds drift by before nap time.

Photo: Quinn Dombrowski via Flickr

First Road Trip

Show your baby the sights by taking your first vacation together, even if it is just to the next town over. Visit a new park, stroll down unfamiliar streets and take pictures of your kiddo as you explore new surroundings together. If you’re taking a long road trip, check out this list of tips to make it a little easier on your little one – and you.

Photo: AllieKF via Flickr

Meet-and-Greet with Animals

Visit some wildlife: at a big zoo, a local petting zoo or even the neighborhood dog park. You just might meet your baby’s new best friend. (Okay wildlife came to us in our yard. But our zoo was fabulous in Denver)

Photo: Jereme Wong via Flickr

How Does Your Garden Grow

Gardens are in bloom in the summer, and a stroll through your local botanic gardens will give you a little fresh air and show your baby all-new sights and smells. They’re blooming with sensory experiences for your baby to explore while riding high in a wrap or baby carrier.

There are so many “buzzwords” when it comes to play and learning in early childhood. However, I don’t think there is just one correct way to play. You can play your own way.

Sensory Bins for Siblings

One of my favorite ways to get siblings playing together is using sensory bins. Read on for my favorite sensory bases and how to make sensory bins work for siblings!

BABY GYMS: A GREAT MULTITASKER

Your baby gym is an important tool for baby’s development! While it looks simple, it can be quite the multitasker. Read on to learn how to set up a baby gym to help your little one grow and meet important milestones! Plus they can be used inside and outside.

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Tips and ideas for outdoor play with your baby

Outdoor Sensory play simply means to involve your senses (think touch, taste, smell, etc).

The park, the beach (or sandbox), and your back yard are all packed full of possibilities for sensory play. We live in an apartment but that doesn’t stop us from using the small patch of grass that’s next to our parking lot. Babies don’t require a large space.

Here are simple tips for a nature walk or stroll:

Baby sitting on the grass putting leaves in a basket

  1. 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.

  2. Hunt around for some bugs! Talk about which insects crawl and which one’s fly.

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

  4. 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.

  5. 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 critter or other pond features such as plant life or the ripples on the water’s surface.

Keep it simple, allow for child led play, allow for them to find what they want to be enthralled in. Everything is new and their curiosity is boundless.

Your job is simple: to encourage their interests and keep them safe.

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Wear them in a carrier when you want your hands to be free

It’s not just the baby that feels all cozy and comfy…The Lili Baby All Seasons carrier provides a 3D mesh material that keeps you from sweating as much when holding your baby close to you. Keeping your baby in a carrier gives you the freedom to roam about how you please without lugging a stroller everywhere.

Carriers are also beneficial to baby while they are facing outwards. You can entertain guest Now they can see, reach, grab, and hear so much going on around them. They’ll love taking in new sights while strapped right to mom or dad. Keep your baby facing you when when you are going out and want to keep strangers from touching and spreading illnesses to your baby.


Always keep a blanket or sheet with you
Bring your baby outside safely in the warm weather. Plan your trips to the park, beach, and backyard following these tips for fun-filled days.

If you can’t bring a portable play yard with you, always remember to have a blanket on hand. Keep it in your car for anytime you end up making a quick stop at a park or friend’s house.

This way, if you’re sitting outside, you can put the baby down anywhere and not have to worry about dirt or heat. You can read them a book or have them play with other toys. A large sheet should be a great size for a baby who is crawling around.

Bring your baby outside safely in the warm weather. Plan your trips to the park, beach, and backyard following these tips for fun-filled days.

Flowers, plants, and animals offer sensory rich learning opportunities
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Baby Babies Nature outdoor Infant Outside Activities

Babies in Nature

From the first hour of life, when a baby stares into the eyes of his new parents, he is learning all about this brave new world. Babies try to make sense of what they see, touch, taste, grab, hear, hold, and squeeze. Think of a baby clutching a hunk of ripe banana, slowly squeezing it, and watching in wonder as the yellow, creamy fruit slithers between his fingers.

Babies are born primed to learn how the world of people and objects works. That is why they love exploring their outdoor surroundings. Every bug, animal, or bird that your baby sees is a brand-new experience — especially because babies spend so much time indoors. When at the park or in your yard, don't be surprised if your baby wants to touch a nice earthworm as she inspects the grass at the edge of her blanket. Many babies love to feel a caterpillar crawling on their arms.

Natural experiences should come in doses that are understandable for your baby and in ways that keep your baby safe, of course. Babies are forever exploring, whether trying to poke a finger into an electrical socket or attempting to tip over a stand so that they can pull at and maybe taste the shiny green leaves of a plant. Babies are often unaware of dangers, and toddlers can climb with agility and fearlessness into hazardous situations.

Opportunities to experience nature up close stimulate infant senses, provide a sense of loveliness for him to appreciate, and encourage you to label objects — flowers, plants, and animals — and to explain their characteristics using as many of the senses as you can.

So Let Your Baby Have time to Explore


When you take baby to the lake or a river, you have to let them explore everything in nature. While the water should be the central focal point and goal of the adventure, there are many opportunities to familiarize your baby with nature before you get there.

Letting baby feel pinecones, acorns, tree bark, leaves, and smooth river rocks are all part of the experience. Since babies are not cognizant about what they are feeling and unable to articulate it into words or ideas, they function at a more sensory level.

The fragrant smell of cedar firewood, the hickory of a barbeque, and the fragrance of flowers can all be a treat to your baby’s senses. And they will also enjoy the sounds of the rushing waters, the birds chirping, and other critters.

So, if the lake you are visiting is wading accessible, wear some water-appropriate clothes and footwear. Bring some buckets, a net, a magnifying glass, and explore a lake with kids up close if they have older babies!

Enjoying your baby outdoors

Meeting the Animals in your community

Nature play includes spying on the animals around you. I was so excited to be a mom and to teach my kids about the natural world and all the animals in it...yes the good,the bad and the ugly.

Start with the animals in your yard, your community and the ones in the park that you visit most. I think children need animal themed toys, books, television shows, web cams etc. But stick to those that are relevent to their lives. Use general terms first like a bird, a dog, a frog, etc.

My sisters favorite animal was a seal, which
meant she had to go to a zoo to encounter one. However they were in an enclosure so they were always close by. She would fixate on them and loose track of time.

Mine has always been the deer. My grandmothers house had a stream in the back yard. I had to wait for them to be thirsty. And of course if I spooked it, it would quickly run in the opposite
direction. My grandfather loved wild animals. He would take me around the yard when he got
home and eventually he taught me about their
foot prints.

There is no rymne or reason to it. Our lives were virtually the same and we were barely a year apart. So take note in their interest level as they meet animals in the wild. Nurture it and plan to mix alittle spying on their favorite animals when you plan a outing.

If you know anything about me, you know that I am crazy about using some sensory rich open ended play and art everyday. I trained tons of YMCA staff across the nation in them in the 80's.

However, I also love using themes with a bit of inquiry or sensory science appeal. And babies are no different. In fact, they learn better that that way. Surround them with books, art, songs, new words or language activities etc. At the end of a few weeks or month plan a family outing related to the theme.

Forest Friends

SEPTEMBER 11, 2018

Well, I think I get interested in spotting most forest animals, except mice and snakes. Learning about animals is so easy and fun! I should have thought to do forest animals sooner; my little man’s nursery is moose themed!

Mathematic/Cognitive Skills:

Have you ever read the book, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt? It is the perfect book for this theme! No need to worry if you don’t own it, you can find the reading of it right here. Even though we do own the book, little man prefers to watch it instead. The book is just a little too long to keep his attention! Whether you read it or watch it, during the words “over” and “under,” use your little one’s hands to show the movements.

After the story, use whatever item(s) you choose to demonstrate over and under. I chose a basket and a few different forest animals. I hid the animals one at a time under the basket, and then flew it around over the basket. Of course little man doesn’t yet understand these concepts, but it is also great for teaching object permanence.

I tried to get a picture of little man looking under the basket, but he decided it was more fun to crawl into it, so…

Language/Literacy:

Little Man’s Recommendations:

Owl Babies by Martin Waddell

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen

Brown Bear Brown Bear by Bill Martin Jr. & Eric Carle

The Bear Books (series) by Karma Wilson & Jane Chapman

An Adventure with Morris Mouse by Maurice Pledger

Hoot by Little Tiger Kids

Little Moose by Chronicle Books & Image Books

Little Fox by Chronicle Books & Image Books

Baby Hedgehog by Chronicle Books & Image Books

Little Bunny by Chronicle Books & Image Books

Little Owl by Chronicle Books & Image Books

If You Give a Moose a Muffin by Laura Numeroff

Babies in the Forest by Ginger Swift

Night, Night Forest Friends by Annie Bach

Who: Peek-a-flap Board Book by Jaye Garnett

Woodland Babies by Amanda McDonough

Science/Sensory:

School Time Snippets had the idea for these awesome sensory bags based on We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, and Teacher Types made sensory bottles. I chose to make the sensory bottles for little man because they keep everything contained, haha!

However, you don’t need to make the bags or the bottles. Instead you could just let your little one explore the outdoors. In the past, I have grabbed a bin, went outside, and filled it with grass, leaves, twigs, stones, and pinecones. When I do an activity like this, I am sure to keep little man’s pacifier in his mouth! If I didn’t, everything would be eaten! If your baby doesn’t use a pacifier, or if you just don’t feel comfortable, take them outside for a walk instead! We have some great walking trails around here! Hubby and I take little man as often as we can! He loves to take in all the sights around him!

Motor:

This video is a variation of We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, and it is a lot of fun! While watching the video, act out the movements that are mentioned on screen. Little man loves acting everything out; although, I do change a couple of the movements to make it more fun for him! This is what we do:

Wheat field – I rub/clap his hands together

Bridge – I pat his hands, one at a time, on his legs (walking movement)

Tree – I help him “climb”

River – I sit facing him, grab his hands, and we row (I pull him toward me, and then let him go back the other way)

Cave – I put his hands up above his eyes like he’s trying to see what’s inside

After that, I just move his hands really fast like he’s running (definitely his favorite part)! If your little one is older, or if you’re more skilled than I am, haha, you could do the movements again in reverse order.

Hubby managed to capture little man and I as we acted out the story!

Art:

Depending on the age of your child, you could let them roll a pine cone in paint, and then on paper. I was actually going to let little man try it this way, but he currently likes to shake everything that is put in his hands, and I foresaw paint flying everywhere! Maybe I will try it outside when it’s not so cold and wet! Instead, I put a piece of paper in an old tupperware container, and covered a pine cone in paint. Then, I put the pine cone in the container, made sure the lid was on tight, and let little man shake it all around.


After little man finished his painting, I cut it into a leaf

🙂

Music:

Little Bunny Foo Foo

There was a Little Turtle

I had a Little Turtle

The Bear Went Over the Mountain

Gray Squirrel

Five Little Speckled Frogs

She’ll be Coming Around the Mountain (I realize that this one and the next one aren’t really forest related, but I had a hard time thinking of forest related songs! It’s close enough!)

Home on the Range

Since I couldn’t think of many forest-related songs, I’ve listed a few places below where you can find more!

http://www.preschooleducation.com/sforest.shtml

https://www.kidsparkz.com/preschool-sings-forest.html

https://www.kidssoup.com/craft-and-resource/forest-animals-books-rhymes-and-songs

Oh say, can you sea!

JULY 25, 2018

This week was probably little man’s favorite! It combined his two favorite things, water and baby shark! If you do not know who baby shark is, you will soon find out! I played the baby shark song for little man when he was about two months old, and it was an instant hit!

Mathematic/Cognitive Skills:

Little man absolutely loves the 10 little fishies song on the Super Simple Songs YouTube channel. Super simple’s website has some great resources, including these flashcards that are perfect to use when singing. Baby shark (little man’s favorite song), also has flashcards.

We also have two ocean themed puzzles that little man loves looking at, as well as trying to put the pieces in his mouth! The fishbowl puzzle is so easy for little hands to grab, and the deep sea dive puzzle is foam, which unfortunately seems to be great to chew on, haha!


Language/Literacy:

Little Man’s Recommendations:

Little Shark (and the following “little” books) by Chronicle Books & Image Books

Little Crab

Little Dolphin

Little Sea Turtle

Little Fish

Penguin on Vacation by Salina Yoon

Baby Beluga by Raffi & Wolff

Rainbow Fish book series by Marcus Pfister

Deep Sea Dive by Salina Yoon

The Ocean (Touch and Explore) by Nathalie Choux

Mister Seahorse by Eric Carle

Science/Sensory:

Little man loves turtles, so we made this sea turtle sensory bag! Just make sure to double bag it; you do not want hair gel everywhere!

Motor:

Water play is probably little man’s favorite activity! He loves the water! I found these adorable ocean bath toys, and we play with them every night at bath time! Now that little man can sit up, he loves trying to grab as many of them as he can! He also loves when we squirt water on him!

Art:

Since little man loves Super Simple’s, Baby Shark, we made our own baby shark! Read how to make your own, here. Not crafty? Purchase one instead! Little man loves his plush baby shark!


Music:

Baby Beluga

My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean

The Fish in the Sea

Down by the Bay

Five Little Fish

Baby Shark

10 Little Fishies

There’s a Hole in the Bottom of the Sea

A Sailor Went to Sea

*Like what you read about or saw? Find out where I get some of little man’s favorites!*






                              

*Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.*

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Enjoying Nature with your Baby

Helping Young Children Notice Nature

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If you are new to noticing nature with children or would like to encourage a child to spend more time noticing nature, the following simple tips may be just the help you need…

Just go outside.
This might be obvious but it can be a challenge for many of us. Busy schedules, unfavorable weather, and not knowing what to do or where do go can keep us inside. But you don’t need to go far. The nature right outside your door holds many natural wonders. Notice the sights, sounds & smells around you. Look high and low. Slow down and use ALL your senses to make some observations.

Be a role model.
When you are out in nature with your child, role model curiosity and enthusiasm for nature. Point out what you are noticing, from the smallest flower to the tallest tree. Wonder aloud. Ask your child what they hear, see, smell, feel and notice. Be intentional about doing it regularly. Soon it will become a habit for you and your child whenever you are outside.

“If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world we live in.”

– Rachel Carson

Start with the familiar.
It may be less intimidating to start right in your own backyard or a favorite outdoor spot. Stop and look at a familiar tree or outdoor planter. Keep visiting this spot and you may start to notice things that you didn’t the time before.

Follow your child’s interests.
It doesn’t matter if your child is more interested in rocks or birds, would rather feel things than listen to them. Be flexible and remember that if his/her attention is engaged, the experience will be more meaningful.



Start small.
You’ll be amazed what you can find by turning over a rock or log or carefully looking at one particular plant. One good activity is marking off a one-foot square patch of ground and taking the time to notice all the living things and their activities in that small area. It may be helpful to have a magnifying glass handy.

Respect all learning styles.
Not all children find it easy to sit and quietly observe. Is the child active and likes more physical activities? Let them roll in the grass, jump in a leaf pile, stack rocks, pretend to be an animal or bird that he/she saw. Is the child more of a quiet observer? Let her/him take photos or videos or draw what they see. Are tactile, fine motor activities his/her thing? Paint with pine needles, press small nature finds into clay, make a bark rubbing. Allow children to express through their preferred senses.

Take a closer look.
Once something has grabbed your child’s interest, go with them to explore it further. Allow him/her some quiet time to observe the details. Get out your magnifying glass. Observe up close and from different angles. Notice sights, sounds, smells, textures, patterns, colors. Take the opportunity to help your child focus his attention a little more each time you are outside. Nature provides unlimited opportunities for discovery. With time you will see his observational skills improve and his enthusiasm for nature grow.


Ask questions.
Be a “nature detective”. Ask questions to encourage deeper observations: What do you notice about…? How does it feel/sound/smell/etc? How does it compare to…? I notice that…why do you think that is? Look for clues. Think of other things it may remind you of.

Bring nature in.
Collecting the nature that excites your child is an affirmation of her/his interests. Displaying the items with some resources (field guides, books, magnifying glass, etc.) may lead to continued investigation and will keep the spark alive. note: please be sure to collect responsibly

Most of all, be patient and have fun.

I hope these tips will get you off to a good start.

For further inspiration, you may enjoy these resources:

A Beginner's Guide to Noticing Nature


Beginner’s Guide to Noticing Nature


The child sees everything in a state of newness… Nothing more resembles what we call inspiration than the delight with which a small child absorbs form and colour.

-Charles Baudelaire

I believe children hold a special gift – a gift for truly seeing the wonder in everything around them.

So how do children do it? And how can we reclaim our child-like attention and see the world anew? Here are ten gifts of childhood and how you can reconnect to them to help you notice nature more keenly…

Be curious too!

Everything is new for young children and they begin their days ready to explore and experiment. When you have an open heart and an open mind, everything is interesting and worth investigating. Trying to recapture a child-like curiosity is a matter of mindset. When you are in nature, view your surroundings as if everything is new to you, as if you are seeing it for the first time.

Begin to notice colors, light & shadows, shapes, textures, sounds, contrasts, etc. Move in for closer inspection and notice smaller details. The more you notice, the more you’ll want to continue noticing. As Walt Disney said, “…curiosity keeps leading us down new paths”.

Know that everything holds wonder.

Curiosity seems to go hand in hand with wonderment – that feeling of finding beauty or amazement in the unfamiliar, of sensing the magic of life. By ‘magic’ I mean an awareness of a force larger than ourselves that unites all life. We don’t need to understand it only simply feel it. Set logic aside and allow yourself to be amazed over the very existence of the variety of life around you.

Live in the moment.
Children are fully immersed in what they are doing in any given moment. They are not thinking about what they’ll do next or worrying about a to-do list. They are present and engaged with the subject at hand. While adults don’t have the luxury of not being concerned with schedules and to-dos, we can take full advantage of even the shortest moments in nature. Take some deep breaths and be mindful of sensations and your movements & emotions.

Get excited about small things that excites them.
Children don’t need grand adventures or unusual finds to excite them. Their curiosity and wonder allows them to marvel over the commonplace and find joy in noticing things they haven’t before. Practice being curious, noticing nature, & wondering and one day you’ll find that you also get excited about the small things. If you follow my Instastories, you’ll know I totally nerded out recently over finding wild cranberries.


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Believe anything is possible.

  1. Children’s imaginations are limitless, aren’t they? Fairies may be watching as you stroll through the woods; you can build a castle of sand to live in; a butterfly may come down to rest on your shoulder and whisper secrets in your ear; you might swing so high you could jump off and land on a cloud. While adults may only allow such indulgence while engaged in play with a child, we can carry a similar spirit of playfulness and openness to magical experiences. Embrace serendipity. You never know where it may lead you.

  2. Engage your senses to observe closely.
    Children touch, smell, listen, taste, and use their whole bodies when exploring nature. They gather information in a personal and meaningful way. When was the last time you felt a leaf, both top and under sides? Or sniffed a broken twig? Or looked at nature through a magnifying glass? Don’t be self-conscious about investigating nature more closely (refer to #9). Get personal and you might be amazed at what you notice.

  3. Follow your interests.
    Watch a child at play and you may notice that they flow seamlessly from one idea to another and that new materials are easily incorporated into the current activity. You may also notice that at times they completely drop one activity for another that has grabbed their attention. Follow their lead. Go out in nature from time to time with no agenda. When something has grabbed your attention, don’t think – go with it and allow yourself to be inspired.

  1. Hold no expectations.
    Young children do not explore nature with preconceived notions or judgment. Everything is interesting and worth investigating. They also explore without an agenda in mind. They are open to whatever experience may present itself. Try to let go of your learned attitudes and do not critique your experience. Just let the experience come and go with it.


  1. Be uninhibited.
    Children do not worry about what others may think of them and their actions. They are clear on what they want to do in the moment and do it. They feel free to express the full range of their emotions as they experience them. When you are in nature, allow yourself to explore whatever and however you’d like (with respect and reason, of course), abandon any pretenses you have and let your emotions wash over you. Invite others to join you and share in the uninhibited joy of noticing nature. Squish your toes in that mud! Roll across the grass! Climb a tree! I’m sure my neighbors think me a bit strange for always staring so closely at the trees in our yard but I don’t care because I discover things like these…


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Build on previous knowledge & experiences.

Children learn something new with each repetition, gain a comfort level to probe deeper, and eventually begin to make connections. They discover relationships and notice irregularities. While you are observing nature, make “this reminds me of…” statements. Try finding a connection between seemingly unrelated objects (my kids and I love to revisit this activity from time to time).

So, what do you think? Are you ready to reconnect with your inner child and let wonder lead the way? What are you waiting for… get outside and notice nature!

P.S. If you were hoping for some practical tips to help the children in your life notice nature, check out my Helping Young Children Notice Nature post.

SENSORY PLAY ACTIVITIES FOR BABIES

January 28, 2014 by Anna Ranson

Here’s a collection of simple sensory play activities for babies and toddlers, for a fun exploration into the world around them! All are little to no effort or cost and encourage engaging play and exploration, both independently and in shared one to one sessions between baby and a special adult. Enjoy!

A great collection of sensory play activities for babies and toddlers!

Little ones don’t need extravagant play times set up for them. Absolutely everything is something to explore and wonder at when experiencing it for the first time! From toes in the grass to splashing in water, babies find out about this brand new world around them using all of their senses, sometimes all at the same time! Here are some ideas for safe tastes, hands on exploring and tactile investigating. As always, never leave your baby unattended when playing with any of these ideas. Play together to increase the opportunities for sharing and communicating as they explore and make this a special bonding time! Remember, their attention spans are not long at this stage and that is fine. A few minutes of one of these ideas per day is plenty, and come back to revisit them often as repetition is what leads to familiarity and building on learning skills later.

Exploring the texture and “stickiness” of hair rollers

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Smelling, tasting and mark-making with jello finger-paints

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Watch bubbles float and pop

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Explore sounds and sights of DIY discovery bottles

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Splash and explore with coloured water

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Discover light and shadows on a DIY light box

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Watch the trees and feel the breeze outside!

Baby outdoor sensory play

Explore the contents of a Treasure Basket

Baby play

Discover the amazing feeling of frozen jelly!

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Listen to the sound of rain with mini rainsticks!

Baby Rainsticks

Discover textures and tastes with raspberry spaghetti

Smoosh, smear and paint with homemade edible finger-paints!

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For more ideas for baby and toddler play activities check out the archives here

Here is a baby play area for 0-6 months olds and for 6-18 month olds

Here is a list of some of our very favourite baby and toddler toys and play resources!

Stay at Home Mom Tips

Outdoor Activities with your Infant

Outdoor activities for infants

You can take an infant outdoors for a little play time. With a few simple activities and the right weather, you can get your little one exploring outside! I am always looking for outdoor activities for infants.

It can be a little stifling to be indoors all day long, and most children do much better during dinner prep time if they have burned off some energy outside.

Even infants need to be getting their own version of exercise-tummy time, practice sitting, grabbing and reaching.

Here are some ideas for outdoor activities for infants that I used when my children were little.

Ideas for outdoor activities for infants from 2 months old and up

First, gather one or two small waterproof toys, a blanket, and even a few books…and don’t forget a camera!

(To add water play, bring along a container and pitcher of water. This would be for infants 4 months and up.)

Also, dress your child appropriately for the weather in your area-if it is really rainy or windy, wait for a nicer day. (My babies always seemed to really dislike wind!)

Take baby outside for active play outdoors

Second, lay a blanket on the grass and then lay or sit your infant on the blanket near the edge so they can touch the grass. If you do not have a grassy area, use a couple of thicker blankets on a sidewalk. Be sure to sit with your child if they are not sitting independently on their own.

The textures of the grass, sidewalk and any leaves that you can gather can be really interesting to your child. Starting with a 4-6 month old, my child would just lay on the blanket (getting in a little tummy time) and touch the blades of grass.

If you treat your lawn with fertilizers, be cautious with the use of this activity.

Talk to your infant about what they hear:

  • cars and trucks

  • birds or bugs

  • the wind through the trees rustling the leaves

  • pets

Talk about what they can see:

  • a flower sprouting in a pot

  • a butterfly or bee hovering

  • the warmth of the sun or cool breeze

Talk about what they can feel:

  • the blades of grass

  • a crunchy or soft leaf

  • a smooth rock

  • the cool ground

Simple ideas for keeping baby engaged and exploring activities outside

To help extend this activity for infants who naturally have short attention spans, introduce a toy when your child begins to get a bit irritated.

Often the introduction of a toy can extend their desire to stay outside a little longer. Add a small book or two for baby to flip through as an additional activity.

Changing your infant’s position can help as well to change their focus and help them enjoy these activities a little longer.

Even a short time outside with your infant can help break up the day, get both of you out in the sun for some Vitamin D exposure, (read why that is important here), and exposes your infant to a whole world of sensory exploration.

Teaching our children to love the outdoors from an early age can help instill in them a value for time in nature and exercise.

(I have noticed even my twin infants sleep better when they have been outside for a bit and have been on their tummies a decent amount as well.)

It’s amazing how mesmerized young ones can get with these simple experiences.

What are your favorite outdoor activities for infants? 

More simple play and learning for infants:

25+ Activities for Infants:

Infant/Baby Play Activities

Sensory Play Ideas For Baby Development

Sensory play is a key factor in your child’s over all development. Sensory development begins before your baby is even born. In the womb your child is listening to your voice, sounds around you and playing with their fingers and toes. The five essential baby sensory development skills start with taste, touch, smell, sight and hearing. The best part is you do not have to “break the bank” buying expensive toys, most sensory play includes items you may already have at home!

Brooke has been an active baby since birth. She is always on the go and wants to learn about everything. I knew I needed to come up with ways to keep her occupied. While on Pinterest, I kept seeing several pins for sensory bags for sensory play and development. Being the crafty person I am, I decided to give it a try.

For fall-themed sensory activities, check out my post Sensory Fall Activities For Babies.

How To Make Sensory Bags For Sensory Play

Using the flowers, leaves and other pretty things they love from a walk

Currently the most popular bags have been hair gel with filler content. My first attempts were Cinderella party confetti and colorful plastic fish bags. Since the confetti bag content is flat, her second bag I wanted an item with more dimension. I chose the nature bits that we saved from our walk because they were a nice size for her to grasp and they had different textures.

sensory bag for sensory development

Confetti sensory bag

Items to make a gel sensory bag:

  • Hair Gel (clear preferably)

  • Bag contents (confetti, pom poms, beads, nature's little bits, etc.)

  • Sandwich bag

  • Tape- I like to use decorative duct tape

Fill your sandwich bag with a moderate amount of hair gel and pour in your bag contents. Adjust the amount of hair gel or contents for full coverage of the bag. Close bag and tape all four sides of bag.

If your child is wanting to put everything in their mouth, you can tape the bags to the floor for tummy time play. Both bags also make beautiful sun catchers. Tape to a window or glass door and enjoy! Brooke enjoys them as sun catchers during her walker time.

sensory bag for sensory development

Plastic fish sensory bag

Water Bead Sensory Bag

I first came across water beads while doing a baby shower a few years ago. I knew they would work great for sensory play. Since Scarlett is at the age of being destructive, I was surprised the beads have held up fairly well. I also wanted to add a few googly eyes in the bag to break up the bright colors and add high contrast colors.

sensory bag for sensory development

Under the sea

Items to make a water bead sensory bag:

Sensory bags used during tummy time for infants can included high contrast images. You can use rice, sand or even hair gel as a filler item. If you use hair gel, I advised to laminate your images first.

How To Make Sensory Bottles For Sensory Play

When Brooke was a few months old, I noticed she LOVED playing with empty drink bottles. She liked the texture and the noise the bottle made. After the success of the sensory bags, I knew she would like a bottle as well. Like the sensory bags, use your imagination! Anything that will make noise or has bright colors, will be a great fit.

Sensory Bottles and Crawling

Scarlett is in the process of learning how to crawl. I wanted a sensory development item that would help with this skill. Remembering that I had glass beads from my wedding that were not being used, I placed the beads in a small juice bottle with a little water and glitter. Put a small ring of hot glue around the top of the bottle and screw on cap. The bottle is heavy enough for her to use effort to make it roll and learn that the bottle will not come back on its own. She has been showing interest in following the bottle after she pushes it, but is still working on arm coordination. Poor girl gets that from me, I am not coordinated at all!

Home activities

DIY Sensory Bottles from Baby Bottles

DIY Sensory Bottles from Baby Bottles


I was first introduced to DIY sensory bottles when I worked in a daycare center. These sensory toys are very easy to make, are great for older kids to help make, and can be made in a variety of sizes.

If you do not drink bottled water, you can use baby bottles. I have both a “wet” version and a “dry” version of these sensory bottles to share with you. Here is how I made our DIY sensory bottles from old baby bottles.

DIY Sensory Bottles for Babies

 

Wet Version:

1) You need baby oil, water, food coloring, sequins, glitter, or small beads, duct tape, and a few baby bottles.

2) Fill each bottle with some oil.

I filled the one on the left 1/3 full of oil, the one in the middle was 1/2 full and the one on the right was 3/4 full of only oil.

I like how the bottle with 3/4 oil turned out the best.

3) Place sequins, little beads, nature's little bits, or glitter into the bottle(s) as you like.

 

4) Place water in a cup, place a few drops of food coloring in the water, and mix to combine.

 

I used 2 cups: one with blue water and one with yellow water.Blue water was poured into the bottle on the left (in the below picture).

Yellow water was poured into the bottle on the right.

I mixed the remaining water in the two cups together (to make green) and then poured the green water in to the bottle in the middle.

The amount of water you need will be determined by how much space you have left in the bottle after the oil and decorative items.

5) Place the lids on the bottles, and tape around the lid to create a seal and prevent any leaks (or skilled hands from opening the bottles and spilling the contents).

6) Shake! Observe how the elements mix and settle.

 

With the young ones you can talk about the colors that are seen. Older children can time or count how long it takes the contents to settle after the bottle has been shaken. This can be made into an ‘I Spy’ game if you place little toy items inside the bottle before sealing: Encourage your child to try to turn and roll the bottle.

Dry Version:

Using rice or beans-or both-pour some into an empty baby bottle. Screw on the top and tape if desired so that the contents do not spill.

You have a sensory bottle shaker!

This is easy to make with a variety of contents and is easy to change to maintain your infant’s interest. Since this can be a choking hazard if spilled, supervise when it is in use.

You can make all of these DIY sensory bottles and shakers and provide your infant with an interesting sensory play experience. I love quick, easy ideas!

Here are a few more DIY toys for babies:

DIY I Spy Tray Table

Sticky Ball for Fine Motor Skills

Infant Activity List

Items to make sensory bottles:

  • Plastic bottle (preferably a small juice or water bottle)

  • Filler contents (rice, beans, water for little object to float, glitter, beads, etc.)

  • Hot glue gun

  • Nature

Remember you are only limited by your imagination! Be creative and make sensory play fun and educational.

For more sensory play ideas, read my posts:

EDIBLE JELLO FINGER PAINTS RECIPE

SENSORY INVITATIONS TO PLAY CARDS

NATURAL DYES FOR PLAY DOUGH

MATCHA GREEN TEA PLAY DOUGH

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Smoosh, smear and paint with homemade edible finger-paints!


For more ideas for baby and toddler
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