There are so many ways to begin nurturing a connection with Nature…from the earliest days with a new baby.
All in mud play
Magic Mixtures
Whether it be a “magic potion”, “soup” or a pot of “tea”, children are so captivated by mixing things together. Here are some ideas to help you create a space where your child can play with magic mixtures.
Little Outdoor Explorers
Viewing your child as an "explorer" can allow space for joyous and captivating play. Here are some ideas to help you "explore" this approach.
Seed Bombs
Making these muddy seed balls is a great way to get ready for Spring
Celebratory Mud Cake
At First Steps in Nature we just love to create a Muddy Cake in celebration of a birthday…or just because the day is fun and the mud inspires us. But this activity is about a whole lot more than just fun, muddy play…
Rug up baby, Let’s go!
Getting yourself outside in the colder months, maybe a hot drink at the cafe, a park crawl or meeting friends.
Brick Factory
A game of endless fun, using fine and gross motor skills and heavy work, for a cycle of making, drying and smashing mud bricks.
Making Oobleck
Have you heard of oobleck? It’s a very cheap activity. Not quite a liquid, not quite a solid and a lot of fun to play with.
Getting out in the cold weather
It’s the first day of Winter where I am living. And it’s COLD outside. How do we get enough outdoor playtime when it’s cold, blustery and rainy??
The best shoes are NO shoes
Even better than taking your little one’s shoes off is never putting them on in the first place!
Back to Basics with Nature
After many years of working with children and families in Nature, it is often the most basic things that are the most memorable and fun.
Finding your way in challenging times
An offer of hope for a challenging time.
Making a mess
Whether it be indoors or outdoors, with food, mud or paint…creating space for you and your children to make a mess can be a fun, dynamic and satisfying way to spend time…lockdown or not.
Painting Rocks
A simple activity to play in your own backyard, with whatever you have on hand!
A nice cup of tea
Sometimes all you need is a nice cup of tea. Whether it’s a real cup, brewed with herbs picked fresh from your garden, or a muddy concoction from your child’s play, a cup of tea can help bring a moment of peace to a busy day.
Heavy work
Have you heard of “heavy work”? Let me tell what it is and how you can incorporate it into the daily life of your little ones.
Outdoor Muddy Play Essentials - PART TWO
Here are 3 more ideas for outdoor play equipment that can be cheap, useful, fun and can be played with over and over and over again.
Outdoor Muddy Play Essentials - PART ONE
Christmas presents don’t have to be expensive, nor end up in landfill on Boxing Day. Here are 3 NaturePlay essentials that can be cheap, fun, useful and last a very long time!
Little Scientists
Inside babies and children there is an overwhelming desire to play, to experience and to make sense of themselves and their world. They’re all little scientists!
Going Outside in Winter
Winter isn’t all gloom and dreariness. Here are 3 ideas to inspire you to get outside and have some fun in Winter, regardless of the rain or the cold.