Teach your kids the ways of nature

In the long run, kids will probably teach us more about nature than we can teach them. But they still must be exposed to the outdoors. Teaching them will bring back some of that natural curiosity that we had long ago. Remember when you could focus all your attention on one solitary bug. We have grown up, got a job, got married, and had kids. Other things have filled our world.

The world of a child is still a mysterious place. When the mysterious world of a child and the mysterious world of nature come together, mysterious things happen. You can see it in their eyes, and see it in their face.

One thing they must learn is to keep the universe clean. A misplaced soda cup could one day end up on Mars. We know it won’t, but if they still believe in Santa Claus they might buy it. Keep the wild animals wild. Dogs and cats love to be cared for by humans. But human intervention should stop there. Whenever you make a wild animal dependent upon you, their survival is at risk.

The wild animals have the stars at night. Take the kids out at dusk and see who can pick out the first star. Find the Big Dipper and the north star. A full moon is beautiful, too bad we waste most of them.

Have you ever seen a child place all of their attention on a flower? Or an ant? Or a butterfly? They have no need for gold or silver. They would quickly glance from it if offered. They will always go for the bug. Take the kids to the door when there is lightning. It is a free show, with sound effects and all. On a clear, sunny day take the kids outside and put down a blanket. Let them lay there and watch the clouds roll by. You will like it too. The sky is full of wonder.

Plant a small garden. Watch it grow. Visit it often and let them wander through it. The vegetables we like to eat are the ones that the kids like to watch grow. Always be prepared for questions. If you don’t know all the answers you can fake it until later. At a young age kids are more visual than mental. Monkey see, monkey do. Make sure that you are their favorite monkey.