With spring fully upon us now the yards and green spaces around us are changing so quickly. Each day as we walk our neighborhood there are more flowers to see, more birds that are active and so much more color and green around us. If you blink you will miss the best part of the year!!
So, I thought I would share some of the activities that we do while we are on walks around our neighborhood or on hikes. Planning a simple activity to do while you go for a walk or hike can add so much more enjoyment and learning to the experience, plus it means that you will never get bored of the same few blocks around your home or the same trail at the local park.
Bug Safari - the bugs are just starting to come back out. So why not bring along a simple net and clear container to see what you can catch (and of course release!)!
A listening Walk - no equipment needed, just your ears!
Color Counting - use a simple chart and stickers to get your kids actively counting the colors that they find.
Phonics Scavenger Hunt - add words to your pictures for some letter recognition.
Ice Hunting - if you are still in winter or have chilly mornings you might still have a bit of ice on your streams and ponds. Let your kids explore the ice with sticks and rocks. What can they break? Where do they see the most ice?
Fall Leaf Walk - if you are in Fall and not spring these books might be a great addition to your leaf hunting!
What do you do on a walk with your preschooler or toddler? If you have a walk activity please share it with me so I can get even more great ideas!
I am director of a nature camp in New Hampshire.
The most favorite walk with my little ones is called "Holes"
I laminated cards so the children can see who made the holes because most often we don't get to see the animal or bird.
Our first walk was a great success.
we found woodchuck holes
chipmunk holes
woodpecker small and large
insect holes in old dead trees
Old Fox Den
Rabbit den (usually an abandoned fox den.
The signs we look for in finding out who may have lived in the den is to look for poop near the hole.
Back at camp we go over all the holes we found and draw our favorite hole and the animal that might live there.
You can find all these animals and their homes on line.
Laminate the home and the animal on a 3x5 card and let the children do the rest.
Posted by: Marilyn Gilmour | 03/12/2013 at 02:48 PM