As so many of us are experiencing cold and darkness this time of year, the motivation to spend ample time outside just might not be there some days. If big outdoor exploration or adventure is happening less than usual for your family some days (or weeks) this winter, we want to help you stay connected to nature nonetheless.
We’ve put together a bite-sized guide on how to stay connected to nature by learning about nature together, and we’ve laid out a few ideas to get you started. Short, sweet, and flexible, these mini-units can be used for families with any type of school and work setup.
These mini-units are great for cozy winter days or evenings, when you can spend time reading great children’s books centered around nature themes, and choose an activity or two to complete together in the theme. Maybe they’ll fill some dark after-dinner moments, or count as a mini weekend adventure.
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Learn About Nature Together
Start with a Stack of Books
One of my first steps in intentionally digging into a certain aspect of nature with my children is to bring home a big stack of good quality books on the subject from the library. This enriches our nature connection in a couple of ways.
Having well-focused nature-themed books on hand means that we can delve into nature connection at any time of day, in five minutes chunks of time, while we eat a meal, or at bedtime. This can also be a great place to start at times when it’s harder for your family to get outside, whether that’s because of a slump in energy, extra demands on your time, or challenges embracing winter weather.
It allows us to learn and connect with each other and nature in a very low pressure way, without the sometimes dreaded challenge of simply getting out the door. And while we at Tales of a Mountain Mama are here to help more families get outside, nature connection in any form is a strong and positive force that can often set a solid foundation for more time outside in the long-term.
It’s okay if this connection comes in various forms.
Keep Activities Simple
If you’re ready to get into more hands-on learning alongside your reading, a great place to start is with super simple activities.
There are times when fostering nature connection at home suits my family the best. Sometimes my children prefer to spend their time outside in nature mostly, or completely, exploring freely and playing. They learn about nature organically this way, and I don’t want to get in the way by limiting them to exploring things only within a certain theme. Sometimes a day outside in the winter is spent doing a winter sport and we aren’t moving as slowly and observing nature as intentionally. And, let’s be real here, sometimes we are in a slump for one reason or another and the goal is to just breathe fresh air, even if that only takes us as far as the front porch.
In these times, a big piece of our nature connection and learning is based on great books and very do-able activities within a nature theme.
And for most families craving nature connection, mine included, the time to take it outside and connect deeply always comes back around. When you do get bundled, snacked, sunscreened, and out the door, focusing on a certain aspect of nature that you’ve been learning about together can bring freshness and energy to your time outside.
Connecting what you have learned in your book explorations and simple activities to what you experience in your nature explorations may look like hours outside with friends digging into a certain topic, or it may be 10 minutes of noticing something outside that you learned about inside.
No matter the location that works best to keep your connection to nature strong in the winter, simplicity is your friend.
Know Your Local Resources
Knowing what resources for nature connection exist nearby will enrich your family learning and will likely lead to more hands-on learning and open up opportunities for digging deeper.
Once you have your topic in place and have gathered your big stack of books, start looking into local resources. You may already know some of the resources in your area, and can start with a basic search online. Keep an eye on information in local parenting and family magazines or websites, and ask a librarian at your local library if he or she can point you in the right direction for hands-on learning resources on the topic you are learning about.
A local resource for nature connection could be:
- Programs at the local library
- Special kits or tools available to check out from the local library
- Trails and programs at a local or nearby nature center
- Nature and science museums
- A local National Forest Service office
- Local trail systems
- Your own backyard
- Snowy neighborhood sidewalks
- A snowy park or golf course
- A nearby planetarium or observatory
- Presentations and talks on nature subjects
The Night Sky
With so many more hours of darkness, winter is a great time to learn about the night sky. Start exploring the books below, and any of your other night sky favorites, and choose activities that interest your family.
Some of the activities below note a related book from the list that follows. Reading the book aloud before or during the activity can help your children create great connections and cement what they are learning. Some of the books are not paired with an activity but are wonderful to have on hand throughout your night sky study.
Books
- Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me by Eric Carle
- When Moon Became the Moon by Rob Hodgson
- Faces of the Moon by Bob Crelin
- The Moon Book by Gail Gibbons
- The Moon Seems to Change by Dr. Franklyn M. Branley
- Stargazers by Gail Gibbons
- Star in the Jar by Sam Hay
- Our Stars by Anne Rockwell
Activities
Create Marshmallow and Toothpick Constellations
This is a great way for kids of any age to start conceptualizing constellations. There are a lot of options online of star constellation card mats to use as a guide. I like these for young children and these for older children.
Choose and print a set of constellation card mats, purchase small marshmallows and toothpicks, and you’re all set for a start to exploring constellations.
Book Pairing: Our Stars by Anne Rockwell and Stargazers by Gail Gibbons
Make an Oreo Moon Phase Model
As with the constellation activity, this one can help children start to understand the phases of the moon. You can find many free printables of the moon phases online, or purchase moon phase flash cards. Both of these options are easy to find in a simple search online.
Use your printed visual as a guide, and buy a box of Oreos.
To create a moon phase model out of Oreos take apart one cookie for each moon phase, so the cream filling is exposed. Kids can then scrape off cream to make their cookie match a phase of the moon.
Match these to your printed visual, and glue the cookies on to make a display. Use your display to observe the changing moon throughout the month.
Book Pairing: Faces of the Moon by Bob Crelin and The Moon Book by Gail Gibbons
Check Out a Telescope from the Library
Your local library may have the option to check out a telescope to use at home. Make sure to choose clear nights to use the telescope, and help kids manage their expectations for what the night sky might look like through a telescope.
Go Backyard Stargazing and Use a Star ID app
Make some hot drinks, bundle up, and set up your picnic blanket or camp chairs in the backyard for some stargazing. Again, make sure you choose a clear night.
You can use a guide to the night sky, or a star ID app, like Sky View, to get oriented with constellations,
Book Pairing: Stargazers by Gail Gibbons
Take a Full Moon Night Walk, Snowshoe, or Cross-Country Ski
Take advantage of the light of the full moon to get outside in the dark. Walk around the neighborhood, visit a local trail, or take a snowshoe walk or cross-country ski at a local snowy golf course or park.
Visit Your Local Planetarium, Observatory, or Museum Astronomy Exhibit
These indoor resources for nature connection can be a great way to get a comprehensive view of what’s going on in the night sky, have knowledgeable people available to answer questions, and possibly give your children a tactile learning experience.
Animals in Winter
Books
- Hiders Keepers Finders Seekers: How Animals Adapt in Winter by Jessica Kulekjian
- Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner
- Snack, Snooze, Skedaddle: How Animals Get Ready for Winter by Laura Purdie Salas
- Ten on the Sled by Kim Norman
- Big Tracks, Little Tracks: Following Animal Prints by Millicent Selsam
- Tracks in the Snow by Wong Herbert Lee
- Snow Birds by Kirsten Hall
- The Winter Bird by Kate Banks
Activities
Winter Animal Imaginative Play
After reading the books below, your family can play in a few ways to cement these concepts.
You can print pictures of the animals in the books and, one by one, act out what that animal does to prepare for winter. Add on to this by building forts and burrows for the hibernating animals, creating an imaginary migration route in your home as you act out the migrating animals, play hide and seek with food caches as you act out animals that adapt in this way for winter.
You can also play a game of charades using the animals in these books.
Book Pairing: Hiders, Keepers, Finders, Seekers: How Animals Adapt in Winter by Jessica Kulekjian and Snack, Snooze, Skedaddle: How Animals Get Ready for Winter by Laura Purdie Salas
Look for Tracks on a Nature Walk
This activity can be done throughout the winter and is a great way to explore fresh snow. You can dedicate a whole winter hike to looking for tracks or simply walk around your block after a fresh snow falls. You may not see anything more than dog, bird, and squirrel prints, but you are still observing and connecting to nature!
Book Pairings: Big Tracks, Little Tracks: Following Animal Prints by Millicent Selsam and Tracks in the Snow by Wong Herbert Lee
Make Tracks in Air Dry Clay or Play-Dough
You can find many basic animal track flashcards or ID charts online to guide this activity. You can also use the tracks in the book pairings below as a guide. Once you have one of these available, gather your air dry clay or play-dough, play-dough tools or basic kitchen tools like toothpicks, skewers, and silverware.
After rolling flat pieces of clay or play-dough, your family can pick prints and tools to recreate them.
Book Pairings: Big Tracks, Little Tracks: Following Animal Prints by Millicent Selsam and Tracks in the Snow by Wong Herbert Lee
Feed and Observe Winter Birds
If you have a tree or large bush easily visible from a window, this activity can be a nice way to stay cozy and also connected with the nature in your own yard. You can purchase a bird feeder and seed, or make your own.
Pine cone bird feeders and bird feeders made of halved oranges have been favorites for my own children.
Book Pairing: Snow Birds by Kirsten Hall and The Winter Bird by Kate Banks
People in Winter Around the World
Understanding how people around the world handle and enjoy winter can help us feel connected through a sense of common humanity. Winter can feel isolating, and it’s good for us to stay connected both locally and with humanity in general.
Learning about winter in other parts of the world can also spark interest and curiosity and even lead to new traditions or lines of thinking about winter.
Books
- A World Full of Winter Stories: 50 Folk Tales and Legends from Around the World by Angela McAllister
- Lights of Winter: Winter Celebrations Around the World by Heather Conrad
- The Winter Book by Rotraut Susanne Berner
- Winter Tales: Stories and Folktales from Around the World by Dawn Casey
Activities
Create a Mid-Winter Tradition
Creating mid-winter traditions can be a great way to break up a season that might feel long and dreary and to have a fresh way to connect with your family. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Get out or purchase special winter mugs and make your favorite hot drinks
- Go for full moon night walks or cross-country skis each full moon of winter
- Celebrate the Winter Solstice
Stay Connected to Friends and Neighbors
Winter can feel very isolating sometimes when we don’t see as many friends and neighbors out and about. Being intentional about staying connected to your community is really helpful for fending off the winter blues. Try adding a couple of these gatherings to your winter routine.
- Host a potluck once or twice a month
- Host a movie night
- Organize night time winter games, or daytime winter Olympics
- Be proactive about meetups for both the kids and adults in your family
- Start a book club with friends
Create Extra Coziness in Your Home
Creating an environment of warmth and soft lighting in your home can do wonders for enjoying darker days, keeping your spirit light and energized, and seeing the magic of winter. Here are a few ideas:
- Make dried orange and cranberry garlands
- Use soft lighting, candles, or battery-powered candles
- Find your favorite winter playlist
- Pull out extra blankets and pillows for the living room
- Stock book baskets and craft baskets around the house
- Have candlelit breakfast or dinner
Explore Winter-Themed Books for Any Age
Enjoying books together in your comforting winter space is a wonderful way to connect and embrace a slower pace during the winter season.
Explore Winter Traditions Around the World
This is the time to really cozy up and enjoy books from our list above. If there is a country or tradition that sparks your family’s interest, you can recreate part of their winter tradition in your home or community or find a recipe or craft from that country and make it together.
Step by Step Planning Recap
If you are ready to try out some new ideas for staying connected to nature with your family in the winter, here are the steps to remember as you plan:
- Choose a theme.
- Decide on a time frame. If you will be doing a lot of hands-on learning at home or in your area, focusing on one theme every 4 weeks can work well so your family can dig into a topic without feeling rushed or overwhelmed. If you would like to focus mostly on reading books on a theme, a shorter time frame works well. Add this to a planner or family calendar.
- Gather your big stack of books. This can be done at your local library or through the online catalog for receiving books from other libraries. It can take a couple of weeks for holds from other libraries to come in, so a bit of forethought on this step is ideal. If you’d like to purchase books instead check your local bookstore first, take a look at options on Amazon, Thriftbooks, or Biblio. You can also check YouTube, or Vooks through Amazon Prime, for read alouds that show the book pages.
- Find out which local resources you have for learning about the theme, and choose which of these you’ll use, and when. Mark dates for any field trips in your planner or on your family calendar.
- Plan simple activities on the theme to do together at home. Choose days to do these together, and write this down in your planner or family calendar.
Whether this type of nature connection becomes a staple in your home throughout the year, or simply keeps you connected to nature during times of being outside less, we hope you’ll enjoy the chance to slow down and connect with your family in a new way.
Related Articles
- Outdoor Parenting Books
- Best Winter Books for the Family
- Forest Club: A Year of Activities, Crafts, and Exploring Nature
Staying Connected to Nature in Winter
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