Spending More Time in Nature with Your Kids
As a parent, one of the best gifts you can give your children is the opportunity to connect with nature. This year, make it a priority to get outside and enjoy the beautiful outdoor spaces the Triad area of North Carolina has to offer. Whether you’re exploring local parks, hiking trails, or nature reserves, time spent outdoors can benefit your family’s physical health, mental well-being, and overall happiness.
If you’re looking for ways to spend more time in nature with your kids this year, here are some practical goals and tips tailored for Triad-area families.
Explore the Best Outdoor Destinations in the Triad
The Triad is home to some of the most beautiful parks and outdoor spaces in North Carolina. As a family, create a list of places you want to explore together. Some must-see locations include:
- Greensboro’s Country Park: This 200-acre park offers scenic walking trails, playgrounds, and even a beautiful lake where you can enjoy a picnic or a leisurely boat ride.
- Pilot Mountain State Park: Just a short drive from Winston-Salem, this park offers family-friendly hiking trails with stunning views. The easy-to-moderate trails are perfect for children of all ages.
- Hanging Rock State Park: Another beautiful spot for family hikes and picnics, this park features waterfalls, rocky outcrops, and stunning views from the summit. It’s ideal for a weekend adventure.
- Tanger Family Bicentennial Garden (Greensboro): A peaceful spot for a stroll among colorful flowers, this garden is a great place to introduce younger kids to nature in a low-key environment.
Set a goal to visit at least one new park or natural area every month. You could even create a nature journal for your kids to document their adventures with drawings, photos, and thoughts on each visit.
Make Nature Walks and Hikes a Regular Family Activity
One of the simplest yet most rewarding ways to spend time outdoors is by going on nature walks. Hiking in the Triad area is perfect for families, as there are trails for every level of ability. Even if you only have an hour, you can find a nearby trail to explore. The website (and app), All Trails, is great for searching local hiking spots and specific information about each trail. TMoM also has a Hiking Trails directory with lots of local hiking locations.
Incorporate some learning along the way. Teach your kids about local wildlife, plants, and ecosystems. Use apps like iNaturalist to identify plants and animals during your hikes. This can be a fun and educational activity that deepens your child’s connection with the environment.
Set Aside Time for Nature-Based Play
Outdoor play is not only beneficial for physical health but also helps children develop critical motor skills, creativity, and social abilities. Try to incorporate nature into playtime as much as possible.
- Backyard Adventures: Don’t ever feel like this goal forces you to leave home every day! Your own backyard is perfect for time in nature, no matter its size. Eating lunch, reading, stargazing, playing catch, nature journaling are only a few examples of ways to enjoy time in nature. Are you having trouble enticing the kiddos to get outside instead of watching television? Create play spaces for them! Here is a blog that gives ideas on DIY: Outdoor Kid Play Spaces. There are even ideas for families that do not have a traditional backyard.
- Park Days with a Twist: When you visit local parks, incorporate nature games like scavenger hunts, frisbee, or nature crafts like leaf pressing or rock painting.
Try New Playgrounds
- At least, once a month try out a new playground. New, as in, your family has never been there before. If you have already visited all the playgrounds in your town, then try a surrounding town. Finding playgrounds in your area is an easy Google search. If you are on vacation, use that opportunity to find a playground in that town. Additionally, if you are driving to your vacation spot, look up playgrounds that are on the way. This is a great way for everyone to stretch their legs and have some physical fun. You can even eat your lunch there, instead of sitting more in a restaurant. By the end of the year, your family will have played at twelve new playgrounds!
Participate in Local Outdoor Events
The Triad region is rich with community events that focus on connecting families to the outdoors. Keep an eye out for family-friendly outdoor events such as:
- Outdoor Festivals: Many local festivals celebrate nature and outdoor activities. These might include nature hikes, camping skills workshops, and nature-themed crafts.
- Farmers Markets: Visiting local farmers markets is a great way to teach kids about local agriculture and the importance of sustainable farming.
- Volunteering for Cleanups or Tree Planting: In addition to enjoying the outdoors, you can make a positive impact on the local environment by volunteering for cleanup events or tree-planting initiatives. It’s a great way to teach kids about environmental responsibility.
Practice Mindfulness and Appreciation of Nature
In a world filled with distractions, taking the time to truly enjoy the beauty of nature can be a form of mindfulness. This year, set a goal to teach your kids how to slow down and appreciate the world around them. Try activities like:
- Nature Meditation: Find a quiet spot in a park or your backyard, and sit with your kids in silence for a few minutes. Encourage them to listen to the sounds of nature — birds chirping, leaves rustling, and water flowing.
- Stargazing: With minimal light pollution in many areas of the Triad, stargazing can be a magical experience for kids. Teach them about constellations, the phases of the moon, and the science behind the stars.
- Photography or Sketching: Give your children a camera or sketchpad to capture their favorite moments in nature. This helps them focus on the details and appreciate the beauty around them.
Support Local Conservation Efforts
Teaching your children about environmental stewardship is an important part of instilling a love for nature. In the Triad, there are many opportunities to get involved in conservation efforts.
- Support local wildlife organizations: Many organizations in North Carolina work to protect wildlife and their habitats. Consider adopting an animal or participating in fundraising events to support these causes.
- Sustainable Practices at Home: Encourage sustainability by using eco-friendly products, reducing waste, and conserving water and energy at home. Teach your kids about the importance of protecting nature every day, not just when you’re outside.
Commit to Unplugging
In the digital age, it’s easy to let screen time take over family life. One of the best ways to reconnect with nature is by committing to time without screens. Set aside designated times when the entire family spends time outdoors, whether it’s for a hike, a picnic, or just a walk around the block, free from phones and tablets. This will not only give your children the chance to engage with nature but will also promote better family bonding.
1000 Hours Outside
Ginny Yurich started an idea that has become a worldwide movement, 1000 Hours Outside. The goal is to spend 1000 hours outside in a year’s time. No matter if you miss the 1000-hour mark or go over it, you still come out a winner! There is no losing when you spend any amount of time in nature. The 1000 Hours Outside website has free tracker printables. You can use them to keep track of your time in nature. Often, it is motivating to have a physical reminder that you or the kids can color.
Don’t Let Weather Stop You
It is easy to see rain, hot or cold temperatures and think, “we can’t go outside”. That is actually rarely the case. Yes, there are times of extreme weather. For example, these would include thunderstorms, blizzards, and unsafe heat. All of which are infrequent and short lived. If it is a rainy warm spring or summer day, there is nothing wrong with getting outside. Kids LOVE jumping in puddles! Dance, play and just have fun. People and clothes dry. Read the book, There’s No Such Thing As Bad Weather, by Linda McGurk. This book will help show that there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing choices. It will inspire you to take time in nature when you normally wouldn’t have before.
Final Thoughts
The Triad area offers a wealth of natural beauty, and as parents, we can take full advantage of these resources to help our children build a lifelong love for the outdoors. Whether you’re hiking, playing at the park, or simply taking a walk in your neighborhood, nature offers endless opportunities for connection, fun, and growth. Make 2024 the year your family gets outside more and embraces the wonders of the natural world.
Spending more time outside ideas:
Nature Crafts
Outdoor Scavenger Hunt Ideas
Free National Park Pass for 4th Graders
Day Trip Idea: Geocaching
By TMoM Team Member Sandy Harper updated by Kodia Byers
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