As seen in Vogue & Tatler!
As seen in Vogue & Tatler!
Getting outside and experiencing nature first hand is one of the simplest ways to bring learning to life. I’m a real believer that there are no lessons that can’t be taught through nature.
Modern day lives are busy, often over stimulating and saturated in technology. Over time we’ve sadly lost touch with the seasons and connection with nature. Taking our children outside (in all weathers) is a sure fire way to slow down, reconnect and fill up your cups.
As a huge advocate for nature play, I thought I’d share simple seasonal activities that are fun, educational and creative! These are all adaptable for the youngest explorers right up to school age!
Spring:
Cherry blossom water tray:
Water play is one of my most favourite and simplest sensory activities. Easily accessible and enjoyable for all ages. We used our Yellowdoor Rustic pourers to tip and pour, explore capacity and measure. Incorporating beautiful spring cherry blossom made this an extra sensory experience with the gentle scent of the blossom. A perfect way to spark awe and wonder, expand vocabulary and inspire imaginative play.
Summer:
By far the easiest season to get outside! The sun machine makes everything that much easier. cloud dough is a go to activity we revisit time and time again. Its simple ingredients are found in most cupboards.
To make the basic cloud dough mix 1 cup of plain flour with around 1/2 cup of vegetable oil. Add the oil slowly and mix as you go you may not need all of the oil. The desired consistency is a crumbly mix that resembles bread crumbs and can be moulded when squeezed together.
We added lavender essential oil and dried lavender petals for this calming sensory tray. Teamed with beautiful wooden resources from Tickit and our yellowdoor rollers. This calming and mindful activity Is a brilliant way to get little hands moving, the mouldable texture of the dough is super satisfying and can be easily squished together the create shapes and patterns using biscuit cutters or rollers.
Autumn:
Ok I might be bias but this is my favourite season! It was hard to collate just one or two activities. Nature seems to burst into life once more. The colours around us change and nights begin to draw in. Leaves, Conkers, acorns are all free loose parts that not only make perfect additions to your play but also the foraging is an activity in its self.
Harvest playdough is a wonderful way to welcome a new season, saying goodbye to summer and gathering the harvest ready for winter. I added spices,l and blackberries to a simple playdough recipe and lots of beautiful autumnal loose parts.
Our yellowdoor fruit and vegetable stones are so good for printing and also recognition and vocabulary. The kinfolk cutters are a fave in our house, they’re so detailed make the most incredible shapes. Playdough is a brilliant way to help strengthen hand muscles and bones, vital to being able to hold a pen ready for writing.
Winter:
The nights have lengthened and cosy season has commenced. I could easily have chosen a million Christmas activities but this beautiful snow play on our Tickit light panel had to be shared!
Using a light panel adds an extra magical dimension to play. Teamed with rainbow eco play sparkle sand, loose parts and et voila a brilliant fine motor activity!
I drew snowflake patterns under the tray using a whiteboard maker and provided white pebbles for my little one to follow the patterns of the snowflakes. This gives an opportunity to develop spatial awareness, pincer grip and hand eye coordination. The snowflakes were hidden under the sparkly snow adding an extra special sensory element.
Nature play doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. In fact nature provides all the inspiration and resources we need! Simple open ended reserves from Isaac’s Treaures are our most loved. Being used throughout the seasons in many ways.
I hope these few simple activities have inspired you to explore nature a little more deeply with your child 🤍
Come say hello over on my Instagram page @the_play_adventures_ I share many more nature inspired play activities, crafts and learning
