Over the last few years, children have been spending more time on their smartphones, tablets and iPads – playing games rather than connecting with nature. We now see the consequences children have suffered – more stress, anxiety, obesity and ADHD. Many parents have come to recognize that spending time in nature is a must, not just for health, but to improve their ability to learn and be more creative.
With little to no after school activities available, many parents have asked me for advice during lockdown: How can I bring nature back into my children’s lives, both outdoors and indoors?
Here’s what I have been telling them:
- If you have a garden, carve out a small space for them to call their own where they can plant flowers or vegetables and then decorate it with whatever they like. It is to be their own personal area. This helps them get accustomed to feeling the soil, learning about flowers and to have a deeper connection with how nature works.
- If you do not have a garden, use an indoor potted plant that they help create, starting with planting the seeds. They are responsible for watering and nourishing their plant, watching over it as it grows.
- This gives them the space to explore, touch, care, and nurture their own little piece of nature.
- If you’re able to spend time outside, take a walk to try and find and collect leaves or wildflowers to take home for your child to create a scrapbook with. This will allow them to research and learn more about some of the wonderful things found in nature. For example, did you know dandelions, which we love to pick and blow the thistles off of, are considered a herb by botanists, and their leaves, stems, flowers and roots can all be used for medicinal purposes?
- Another great activity to do with your child is to look through nature picture books to learn all about the different types of plants, trees, flowers, bugs, shells and rocks – and then go out exploring to see what you can find! Have your child draw or paint some of these items they found for their scrap book.
These are wonderful mindfulness activities for children that help them focus in the moment and to connect to everything around them, which in return reduces stress and anxiety, and promotes better sleep.
Check out my Mindfulness in Nature videos – they’re perfect for those who sometimes don’t have the time to get outside daily in nature.
How much time does your child spend outside, compared to how much they spend in front of screens? Nature feeds our wellbeing like no other. By our children exploring nature they find its magic and rhythm and this brings the state of balance and wellbeing into every part of their mind and body. Recharging a child’s energy in natures natural surroundings. Connecting with the rhythm of nature is who we truly are. Spending time in nature can boost our health and wellbeing in many ways. Recharging a child’s energy in natural surroundings. Connecting with the Rhythm of nature is who we truly are.
Here are some tips to share when you are outside in nature with your child.
- Close your eyes and take nice deep breaths. Then take a moment to smell the grass, the aromas in the air, the soft breeze upon your face. What noised can you hear?
- Feel the grass beneath your feet. Feel each blade of grass. How does the grass feel?
- Open your eyes and look at all the nature in front of you. Take in the trees, flowers, sun and the sky.
- Take home sticks, leaves, flowers and shells to make a nature mandala.
Making nature mandalas are calming and relaxing. Wonderful for creativity.
“Nature is a tool to allow children to express themselves. Allowing that moment to be what it is, magical in every way.”
Our children are born wonderful creations who arrived from divine source energy and already carry their own wisdom and knowledge. If they are left to unfold in their own way they will never go astray.
They would maintain their worthiness and wellbeing and thrive to bring forth their own unique gifts, unless taught otherwise.
Every child has unique character strengths and abilities that allows them to express their individuality in a social environment. It is what makes them special.
Here are some great books and tips to bring out their special unique qualities. Teaching children how the world works from a spiritual point of view, makes it easier for them to navigate through it with joy, love and happiness.
Using books that based around their own souls growth. Here are a few books that I have personally used with my son.
- Neale Donald Walsh, “The Little Soul & the Sun”. Explaining why you are here.
- Wayne Dyer, The Power of Intention. Teaches children how to create their own world along the way!
- Deepak Chopra, “On my way to a happy life”. Teaches children 7 simple lessons that would help them on their way to a happier and successful life.
- Award winning Mindfulness Books, My Magical Garden and My Magical Tree, helps children to understand their emotions better, get to choose what they want to place into their imaginations and opens ups great conversations between child and parent. (link to my books)
Mindfulness teaches children how to make good choices and manage their emotions. They have a lot to navigate and by teaching mindfulness they will have the right tools to understand how to manage their experiences, feelings, sensations and their emotions without judgment but rather kindness and curiosity. Children then get to choose their responses rather than react.
After many years of working with our unique Mindfulness books at schools and events, I came to learn what special magic it truly holds and how it touches the soul of each child and this is because each child that uses our books, gets themselves back into the rhythm of Nature and back into the rhythm of themselves. Mother Nature is in rhythm at all times. Nature is our senses, nature represents our spiritual body. We breathe nature, eat nature, we are 70% water, we are born from nature. So when the children connect with both Mindfulness Books My Magical Garden and My Magical Tree Books, they are connecting back in the true rhythm of life. One with everything, mind , body and spirit, which brings them in alignment with oneself.
There is nothing more powerful than being in sync with the rhythm of nature.
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