Today is Earth Day! As we consider our role in protecting the 4-billion-year-old planet that we and Earth’s other living creatures call home, CCRI Early Head Start Family Support Specialist Doreena Marshall encourages families to spend time with nature. Not only does interacting with our environment help us understand how closely we rely on it for food and other natural resources, but spending time in nature also contributes to our sense of well-being. Try these ideas with your child – and reap the many benefits nature has to offer.
For the Birds (Ages 2+ with help)
You may know that watching birds can reduce your own stress, but did you know that birds also benefit from lower stress levels when bird feeders are nearby? Try using these simple ingredients to build a birdfeeder and boost the health of your backyard birds as well as your own family.
What you’ll need:
Half of an orange or other citrus fruit
A nut butter
A cup of birdseed
Toothpick (optional)
Yarn or twine (optional)
What to do:
Eat or scoop out the sections of the fruit.
If hanging the feeder, use a toothpick to puncture holes in the sides of the citrus skin. Thread the string and hang outside.
Spoon some peanut butter into the citrus skin; add the seeds on top.
Making Mud Pies (Ages 2+)
Remember how happy you felt playing in the dirt and making mud pies when you were young? You aren’t alone. Science strongly suggests that digging in the dirt increases your child's sense of well-being while also supporting sensory development and immune health. Share your own techniques for making mud pies with your children. Once children have your permission to get dirty, they’ll be content for hours.
What you’ll need:
Empty containers, all sizes
Water
Dirt
“Sprinkles”
What to do:
Fill the largest container with dirt.
Add enough water to transform the dirt into mud.
Test how different amounts of water change the consistency of the mud.
Pour the mud into the containers; decorate with “sprinkles”, i.e., leaves, grass, rocks, etc.
If mud pies aren’t your child’s taste, try making mud soup. Using “soupy” mud, stir in rocks, pinecones, and any other “vegetables” your child may find outside.
Pro Tip: For the builders, use ice cube trays as a mold for mini-bricks.