I always adore it when children are eager to play outside, and not just simply riding their bikes and blowing bubbles but really getting down to the earth and dirty. It seems like such a nostalgic site to see. As a child, I remember spending hours outside with my sibling making mud pies and exploring the woods. It’s not often that I see children doing this nowadays. This blog post is all about raising children who are fearless of nature.
What does it mean to be fearless?
First, I think it is important to define fearless and describe what it means to me. Fearless by definition means to lack fear.
Fear- an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain or a threat.
So here are some of the qualities a child that is fearless of nature exhibit: Confidence, bravery, courageousness, and determination
Introduce it early
As with most things that we want to stick with children for the long haul we need to introduce it to them early. The same things apply to nature. As long as the weather is not too hot or too cold feel free to take your newborn and infant out to get some fresh air. The best times are usually before noon or just before the sunset. Here are simple ways to introduce newborns and infants to nature:
-Go for a walk (stroller or in a wrap)
– Free play on a blanket in the grass
You might be interested in: Fostering Attachment During the First Year
Nature-based play
Even during the times that you can’t physically go outside and play there are small ways to increase your child’s exposure and interaction with nature. Here are some fun ways:
-Indoor sensory bin (on easy to clean floors) perfect for any season use snow, leaves, shredded paper, and even dirt.
Another great way to encourage nature play is to play and build with small logs and sticks.
Playing outside and limiting the number of toys that you bring out can create space for the child to use their curiosity and imagination to find items to play with. An outdoor activity that will always be a big hit is a sandbox.
Educate
Educate through books, there are many nature-inspired books. Children can learn about insects, flowers, and outdoor machinery.
Also, consider having a treasure box for younger children and a notebook for older children to write and collect things that they want to learn more about.
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Explore
A great way to learn about nature is to explore, start just in your backyard and then explore different areas of your community. Visit parks, outdoor amusements, and even museums.
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Hi I’m Emily
thechildsworldblog.com 
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