My children choose to read math books and study the pros and cons of the current presidential election candidates in their free time. Getting them to play outside – especially for an extended period – can be a challenge. This is especially true since our current outdoor space at home is a concrete patio. I have learned that, if I can get them outside thinking creatively, they are much more likely to stay there! This creative nature design challenge is one of my favorite ways to launch a day of outdoor exploration and pretend play!
Creative Nature Design Challenge for Children: What Can You Make with Nature?
Since we don’t have a proper yard, this challenge starts with collecting. The kids use their old Easter baskets to find things in our neighborhood that they want to create with. Once home, they spread out their materials. From there, the sky is the limit!
On the day I took these photos, ten-year-old Emma and 8-year-old Johnny worked together to transform our shoe rack into an elaborate store display. This nature shop was used for hours of pretend play!
Six-year-old Lily and three-year-old Anna worked together to create this bird sanctuary, inspired by the bird feeders they made last fall.
Sometimes my children simply sort the materials to make collections. My kids have even used plants to make costumes! They are experimenting more and more with using bits and pieces of nature to create artistic scenes.
What would you create with the items in this basket?
Are you looking for more wonderful creative activities for your children to enjoy? Check out this book:
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Ten-year-old Emma stole our copy of 101 Things for Kids To Do Outside the second our review copy arrived. As you can tell, she found a few activities that she wants to try! While the cover art is adorable, the photos inside are stunning! This book is full of creative, easy, and original ideas that your kids will adore. Here are a few of the activities Emma wants to try:
- Explore with an underwater viewer
- Make new plants
- Brew your own plant food
And many more fantastic ideas that you need to discover with your own children!
What is your favorite creative nature design challenge?
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MaryAnne is a craft loving educator, musician, photographer, and writer who lives in Silicon Valley with her husband Mike and their four children.
We’re heading out to the campground for the summer. Would love some new ideas of things to do with the kids.
We are going camping on our summer vacation and I am worried that I will hear complaints because we are not bringing electronics. So hopefully this book will have some ideas.
It’s going to be a long summer and I want to make every day count!
I need this book because I take care of my 4 year old Granddaughter during the week and I run out of ideas for getting us outside! This would help so much.
Books are very important and I think my child needs to get outside more! Thanks so much for the chances to win.
Looks like it has great idea!
This would be great for my grandkids!
I would like to win this book to help with ideas for outside exploration.
I’m always on the lookout for fun outdoor activities!
My sister has so many grandkids, this book would keep them busy when visiting.
My boys could use this book. Sometimes I have to peel them away from the PS4.
I’d like this to get more ideas for outdoor activities with our family.
I would like to get ideas on what to do outside with my girls.
For my nieces in Tennessee,,,they would love it!
I want to make sure my kids stay engaged with the natural world and an appreciation to the small things in life.
To keep my kids entertained during the summer months! To spark their creativity.
i would like to win this for my sister who is a new mom!!
I would love to win this for more ideas I could do with 2 active boys. Specially with summer coming up.
Id like to win it for my girls, just in time for Spring and Summer!
I would love to win this book for my three children! Not only am I a SAHM, but I homeschool them as well so we are home a lot! I am always looking for new outside activities, it’s definitely our favorite place to be! :)
I’d like to win because my grandchildren would really love this book!
I love it because i have 2 stircrazy little toddlers lol
My kids always say there is nothing to do outside
I love having books like this in my house.
We can always use new ideas of things to do outside, especially with the wonderful warmer weather coming!
Lovely collections!
Such a fun collection of materials to try it with. I need to try this with my kids.
The nature baskets are so lovely! What great ideas!
If Emma found that many things to do in the book, I want to check it out, too!
I LOVE having books like this in my library. That’s why I would love to win!
Your kids are awesome at creating and designing. I think they will be terrific problem solvers…
That’s the goal…