Activity
Find an easily accessible place to sit outside or indoors near a window where you have a view of nature. Set out a chair, blanket or towel, lean against a tree, or sit directly on the ground—whatever feels comfortable! Visit this same place regularly (e.g., weekly) for 5-10 minutes, with no plans but to simply notice nature. With young children, start with a short amount of time—try two minutes of quiet to start—and gradually increase the length of the activity over time.
After quiet observation is over, reflect on the experience. What did you notice? What sounds did you hear? What feelings did you notice in your own body (e.g., happy, scared, hard to sit still)? Children can record their observations in a nature journal. Visiting the same place repeatedly allows children to connect with a specific place and the nature that lives there.
Materials
A soft blanket or towel may make this activity more comfortable, but you can also do this without any materials. For recording observations, a nature journal and writing or coloring utensils are helpful.
Skill Building
This activity builds skills in observation, self-regulation, attention, awareness of the natural world, and empathy for local wildlife.
