Some kids seem like they’re born to be on Survivor.
“Mom, we built a bridge across the ditch! And look at the new spear I made! Did you know people can eat clover?”
And some are not.
“No, thank you. I’d rather stay in here.”
Some kids would stay outside 24/7 and some seem allergic to fresh air.
Maybe you’re familiar with the idea of a reluctant reader. I have one. Everyone says if I read to him enough, give him the right books, provide enough practice every child will become an avid reader. Well, we have yet to see that work.
Thankfully, encouraging a reluctant explorer into an outdoor adventurer is MUCH easier. The younger a child is, the stronger their own “call of the wild.” Once my babies got over the strange feel of grass tickling their skin they launched into nature every chance they got. Kids are just born that way.
Then they grow up. Our lives get busy. And some kids get interested in things that keep them inside.
And that’s okay. There’s nothing wrong with them or with you as their parent. We need those people. But just like I can’t say to my reluctant reader, “Okay, you don’t have to read any books,” we can’t let our reluctant explorers avoid experiencing nature.
But that also doesn’t mean we just dump them into the woods and say, “Have fun.” We start with baby steps.
Get Your Reluctant Explorer Outside
Window glass. It’s the only thing separating temperature-controlled comfort from nature.
You don’t have to go far to take the first step. Just get your reluctant explorer on the other side of that glass. Whether it’s playing basketball on the driveway or reading a book on the lawn at least they’re in the fresh air.
You have to start somewhere, right?
Maybe you can get them to “help” you plant or manage a little flower or veggie garden. They might think it’s just work at first but nature has a way of delighting us and when we start seeing some fruit of our labor it suddenly becomes exciting.
Go Beyond Your Yard
Once you’ve got them used to spending time outside, it’s time to start testing their interests.
What sparks their curiosity? Kids are so different. Even ones who love nature. I have one son who loves hunting and testing his strength and survival skills. I have another son who couldn’t care less and would rather spend every day by the swamp catching water bugs or searching the dirt driveway for agates. They’re both outdoor kids.
The thing is, my sons didn’t know that about themselves until they had the opportunity to discover their interests. That’s our job – to provide that opportunity.
Living out in the country is definitely the easiest way to provide that chance. Nature is literally right outside the door. I also realize that not everyone has that option.
So what can you do?
First, figure out what your options are. State parks are awesome for providing different types of exploring. Some city parks are great too if they have a little bit of wilderness. Lakes, rivers and creeks are great if there’s public land connected to it that you have access to.
Secondly, realize that it’s up to you to get them there. That means taking the time to pack up the family and go. It also may mean buying hiking shoes so you can lead the charge.
Okay, so it’s Saturday afternoon, you’ve dragged your kids to the closest state park. Now what?
Here are some ideas to get you started.
- Take a family hike on the trails.
- Go fishing (grab our free bobber fishing guide at the bottom of this page for some helpful tips)
- Hunt for rocks. (Since you’re typically supposed to leave everything where you find it, you could bring a library book on rock identification as a fun challenge.)
- Create a scavenger hunt for items like different kinds of leaves, animal tracks, fungi, rocks, plants, etc.
- Go geo-caching. Check the state park’s website before you go for info on geo-caching locations. Bring a GPS and try finding them.
Get Your Reluctant Explorer Involved in Nature
After trying out several types of activities which ones does your reluctant explorer seem drawn to most? Which ones is he or she not so reluctant about anymore?
Feed that interest.
When you’ve found what they like, support them in it.
For us that means keeping Tristin supplied with nets (no easy task, let me tell you) and washing a lot of swampy smelling clothes. It means taking Slade hunting with us and training him how to use a pocket knife safely.
And it means taking Mia (and the boys) fishing as often as we can – which they think should be at least twice a week. We actually finally dug a pond in our pasture and let the wildlife find it so they can fish whenever they want. Crazy enough, some critters actually survive our Minnesota winters in there! Not quite as good as a lake but it helps. It’s probably been the best investment of our lives. No joke.
Let Nature into the House – to a Point
Some interests, like geo-caching, stay outside. Some, like rock collecting, tend to invade your nice temperature-controlled environment we discussed earlier.
It’s up to you as the parents to decide how much nature to let in. It’s a balance between protecting your house and protecting and nurturing your child’s heart.
We’ve experienced it most with Tristin’s hobbies. He loves duplicating natural habitats for his water creatures so he can observe and enjoy them. That means a fish tank in the house. And smelly dirty things. Like water beetles. In my house.
Now, you can draw the line wherever you want to. I can push it a little since we currently live in an old mobile home that won’t be featured in Better Homes & Gardens anytime soon. Besides, what am I supposed to do when my son wants to keep the biggest water beetle in the state (over 1.5 inches long) in his tank over the winter to make sure it survives and give him something to enjoy when the outdoors becomes a frozen wasteland for five months?
I said yes.
Did you know water beetles can fly? Well, that one could. I guess when they make fish tank covers they don’t account for flying insects trying to escape.
The number of near-heart attacks I’ve had this winter directly corresponds to the number of times that bug has escaped.
Five.
Why was I always the one to discover it, you ask? I don’t know. I’m trying not to think of number of times it may have escaped without my discovering it…
They say the only thing greater than fear is love. It’s true. To make Tristin let it go during the winter was giving the “innocent” creature a death sentence. Tristin has such a tender heart that wasn’t even an option. So it went back into the tank again and again.
Non-living collections are much safer. Even then, encouraging your kids to enjoy nature means being okay with more messes. It’s a part of nature. Just be prepared.
It’s Worth the Effort
Spending time in nature is one of the best training grounds for developing reasoning skills, overcoming obstacles, and creativity.
Our kids have grown by leaps and bounds in their problem solving skills, not just with nature but also with each other. They bond over their adventures and learn how to encourage, help, and appreciate each others’ abilities and interests.
Remember, it’s all about baby steps.
- Get them outside
- Go beyond the yard
- Get involved in nature
We wouldn’t trade it for the world!
~Esther
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