Today’s post is a short one to wrap up our “Nature Indoors” week.
Next week we’ll be back outside, this time at the beach with some fun ideas and as always a few things to watch out for, because safe outdoor time is happy outdoor time.
This blog is at its heart a resource blog for parents of preschoolers, so today I am listing quality references, ideas, and conversations about bringing the outdoors inside.
When learning about nature, it is practical, helpful and inspirational if children have their own notebooks to draw in – this ties right into my 7/17/07 blog post called “Bringing Nature Home”.
https://ivyartz.com/blog/blogpost.php?permalink=bringing-nature-home-
Having a sketchbook for young children is important. It helps children learn to observe the world around them. You can just use a regular plain sketchpad, but here is a link to a nature workbook if you want something with a bit more structure…
https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Connection-Workbook-Families-Classrooms/dp/1603425314
Next up, a little inspiration for making art to put outside. Often we make something practical like a bird feeder with young children, but outdoor art is fun and inspiring. It doesn’t have to be permanent, but it is fun to make something large!
http://www.schuylkillcenter.org/blog/category/environmental-art/
Well, we can’t leave out Pinterest. Here are their top 133 ideas for bringing the outdoors inside. Not all are appropriate for preschoolers, but they may spark some fun ideas for you and your child…
https://www.pinterest.com/azajko/bringing-nature-inside/
Here is some information from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) on the importance of connecting with nature.
https://www.naeyc.org/tyc/article/connecting-young-children-with-nature
For Small Hands is a great site to get eco education materials for children.
http://www.forsmallhands.com/eco-education
They also carry kid sized gardening tools!
Inside or outside, I hope you can find some new ideas here for enjoying your world with your preschooler. See you next week.
