Nature should be taken care of by each of us, regardless of whether we are younger or older people. This care manifests itself in various ways, if only by not leaving garbage in the forests, saving energy or not destroying greenery.
While adults know what the rules are in this regard, children have to learn them. It is the role of parents, guardians and teachers to show young people how beautiful the world around us is, and to develop sensitivity and respect for it.
Fun, but also learning
Young children primarily learn through play. And this is one of the best ways for them to learn about the world around us. If adults can take part in such scouts, so much the better – they too could use a few moments spent outdoors. First of all, you can think about various kinds of physical entertainment in forests, parks or even gardens. In each of these places you can meet fascinating plants and animals, living in their natural habitat.
In the open air it is possible to stage all sorts of games with an ecological theme, or various performances and competitions with the participation of the child’s favorite toys, such as forestry machinery or agricultural machinery. Children learn much faster and more effectively in this way, staying focused for longer. And on such an occasion you can pass on to them a lot of practical principles, the instilling of which will pay off when they are adults.
Nature adventure
An excellent way to learn about nature are also various types of excursions, organized in the mountains or forests. Such a break from civilization will be a great opportunity to show toddlers the beauty of the surrounding world, and at the same time teach them the basic rules of conduct. After all, respect for the world around us manifests itself in our daily behavior. And this is what children should learn about them.
On such excursions, it is worth making toddlers aware that the forest or meadow is home to animals, which should not be frightened or disturbed. Likewise, flowers and plants should not be trampled, and should not go off the marked paths. Great attention should be paid to the problem of leaving garbage, which in some cases can even be a great danger.
If all these messages are woven into an outdoor trip it will instill in children a passion for learning about nature and a respect for it.
When teaching children responsible contact with nature, it is important to remember that talking will accomplish nothing if words are not confirmed by actions. This is because toddlers have an excellent ability to learn by observation and cognition, especially catching moments when theory does not coincide with how we act in reality.
Therefore, there is no choice but to follow all the rules handed down ourselves. And follow them on a daily basis. If only we are told not to litter, but we ourselves do not follow these guidelines, for example, leaving bottles and papers after a camping trip, then nothing will certainly be taught to children in this way. In practice, such a common, ecological approach to nature will come out to everyone’s health, both for us and for future generations.
