Raising a nature-loving baby in a screen-dominated world is challenging. Here are ways to help encourage curiosity, exploration, and a deep connection with the natural world. By setting up your baby for a love of nature, you’re not only enriching their early years but also planting the seeds for a lifelong appreciation of the outdoors.
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Babywearing
Babywearing is not just convenient but also incredibly soothing for your little one. Mothers around the world have used wraps, slings, and carriers to keep their babies close while walking outdoors . The gentle motion of walking and the warmth of being held mimic the comforting sensations of the womb, helping babies feel secure and calm. Studies show that babies who are worn often cry less and sleep better, benefiting from the close bond with their caregiver.
When making a baby registry, this would be at the top of my wish list. It also really helps with elimination communication.
Read Outdoors With Babies
Taking your baby outside is one of the best things you can do for their development. As Scott D. Sampson writes in How to Raise a Wild Child, “The natural world is the ultimate sensory experience, filled with sights, sounds, textures, and smells that can spark a child’s curiosity and imagination.” Tummy time can be relaxing when there are birds chirping and a soft book nearby.
Have Picnics Often
Picnics are fun for babies. They combine fresh air, new sights, and tasty food all in one adventure. Being outside stimulates their senses with different sounds, smells, and textures. Sitting out on a blanket and eating finger foods makes mealtime more enjoyable. Picnics also give babies a chance to explore nature up close. They can feel the grass and watch birds fly by, making it an enriching experience.
Finger Paint With Babies
Finger painting outdoors with babies is a fun and messy way to spark their creativity while connecting them with nature. It helps develop their fine motor skills, encourages sensory exploration, and lets them express themselves freely. Plus, it’s a great opportunity for you and your baby to enjoy some fresh air and bond over a shared activity.
Blow Bubbles
Blowing bubbles can be a fun way to entertain a baby and siblings. Bubbles are magical to young children. Watching and catching bubbles improves their visual tracking and gross motor skills. It’s also an opportunity to use language about distance and size with babies.
Scoop, Pour, and Transfer
When babies scoop, pour, and transfer materials, they’re learning essential skills that support their development. These activities help improve their fine motor skills by strengthening their hand and finger muscles, which are important for tasks like writing later on. They also learn about concepts like volume, weight, and cause and effect as they see how materials move and change. Water is a great material to start with. If options are limited, you could have a bin of food items like lentils, oats, and dried flowers.
Enjoy Nature in Winter
Bringing your baby outside, even in cold weather, is a wonderful way to connect them with nature year-round. With proper insulated gear, a cozy hat, and mittens, your baby can safely enjoy the crisp, fresh air. Cold weather adventures stimulate their senses and encourage a deep appreciation for the changing seasons.
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Talk to Babies About What We See and Feel
Spending time outdoors is incredibly beneficial for babies. As Richard Louv explains in his book Last Child in the Woods, “Nature inspires creativity in a child by demanding visualization and the full use of the senses.” Exposure to natural light and fresh air helps regulate a baby’s sleep patterns and can boost their mood and immune system. Walking outside gives us fresh opportunities to talk about what’s around us, helping them develop.
Incorporate Nature in Daily Routines
You don’t have to take your baby on a hike to connect them with nature. Simple routines like a morning snack on a patio or reading a nature-themed bedtime story can make a big difference. The key is consistency—make nature a regular part of your baby’s day-to-day life. Mine loved using my great-grandmother’s tea set for “tea parties” outside.
Grow Something Edible
Having a garden or growing herbs in a sunny window is a wonderful way to teach your baby or toddler about plants. Safe herbs like basil, parsley, and mint can be easily grown indoors and are gentle enough for little ones to taste. Letting your child see, smell, and even nibble on these fresh herbs helps them understand that plants are a source of food and flavor, nurturing an early connection to the natural world. Watching food grow shows them how nature provides for us, deepening their appreciation for the environment.
Find "Toys" Outside
Toddlers love using their imaginations to make toys. Mine would often make a mouse out of a pinecone body, leaf ears, and a stick tail. If your options are too restricted, you could offer food to play with and discuss how it grows. Dried mango could be a dragonfly body with freeze-dried strawberry wings.
Pretend Play Adventures
Fantasy and stories play a crucial role in a toddler’s development by sparking their imagination, enhancing language skills, and building emotional understanding. When you tell stories or engage in make-believe, your child learns to think creatively and explore new ideas. To bring this magic outside, you can turn a simple walk into an adventure. Pretend you’re on a quest together. By making up stories and playing make-believe outside, you help your toddler connect with nature while encouraging their creativity and sense of wonder. Get play ideas from books like Play the Nature School Way.
Older babies can enjoy nature podcasts during car rides. Fostering a love for nature from an early age can have lifelong benefits for your little one, including improved mental health, creativity, and physical well-being.
