(Pagan) Parenting: Take a Walk Out in Nature

Photo by Achinthamb via Wikimedia Commons

You might have noticed that the word "Pagan" in the title of this post is in parenthesis. The reason I did this, is because even though this post is pagan centered, with a few changes, it can be used by parents of any faith, as longs as they have a love of nature and a wish to spend some time with their child.

I think sometimes, as Pagans, we forget about going outside.  I think sometimes we are, in a term, nature snobs. We forget that our tiny yard is "outside". Our neighborhood is "outside". We don't need to wait until we have time to run the kids over to the park, or to the woods, or to the beach to enjoy nature.

With a little conversation, you can show your kids the beauty of nature on a simple walk around the block.

A few things to do, look for and talk about outside:

• Get outside with a camera. Take pictures of trees, bushes, flowers, nests, wildlife or any animal tracks you might see. Grab a spiral notebook or sketch book to create a nature journal and add the photos.  Try to take pictures of the same or similar types of items during each season, so you can see how they change. Make sure to get the kids in at least one, so you can do the same with them! Share a story or two about a God and/or Goddess and the seasons, such as the story of Persephone and Demeter.
• Get outside with few crayons or colored pencils and a few sheets of white paper. Stop and have everyone make a sketch something that you find beautiful. Add them to your journal. Take rubbings of leaves or bark and add those, too. Try to identify what types of plants you took rubbings of.
• Get outside and take an empty bag. Use it to gather nature items to use for crafts: fallen sticks can become magical wands, pine cones can be used to roll in peanut butter and seeds for a bird feeder, acorns can be made into luck amulets, flowers can be dried and used for all sorts of crafts. Find things to use to create a fairy house. Teach your children about asking permission to take from a plant, and how to leave an offering after you do (a few miracle grow spikes will fit in your pocket for the occasion!).
• Take another empty bag to gather garbage from around your neighborhood. While you do so, talk about how important it is to take care of the earth.
• Get outside with your sense of hearing. Find a safe place where you can sit for a moment. Have everyone close their eyes, and listen. Then name all the things that you heard. List them in your journal.
• Get outside with a magnifying glass. Look at tiny bugs up close and personal. Explain why they might be important to the world. Are they pollinators? Do they eat aphids? If you aren't sure, look it up when you get home and see if you can find out! Talk about how even when you are small, you can make a big difference.
• Get outside and look up! Search for interesting clouds, and take turns saying what you think they look like.  Make sketches of them for the nature journal.
• Get outside and look for poop. No, really. Kids love poop. I swear. If you find a pile, try to guess what animal (or what neighborhood dog) made it. Then have a discussion about why it's so important to pick it up after your own animal if it poops outside (one mention of poopy runoff getting into the water supply will usually guarantee compliance with that rule!).
• Get outside and find fairy rings!
• Get outside and find rocks. Get a book from the library and see if you can figure out what kind they are. Create a craft with them - make a set of runes or make a pet rock!
• Get outside and bird watch. See how many you can name.  Grab a book from the library on birds of your state to help out.
• Get outside and make a crown of flowers! Be sure to get permission before picking.
• Get outside and identify bees and butterflies. Talk about how they are both in the decline, and how we can help them. Maybe start a garden to do so!
• Get outside and learn about herbs! There are many herbs and weeds that can be found growing wild. Get a book about herbs from the library, and see if you can find any growing in your neighborhood. Talk about what they are used for.
• Get outside and meet your neighbors! You never know who you might meet walking around the neighborhood!  Compliment the neighbor who's out watering their garden on her beautiful tomatoes. Tell someone how cute their dog is. (And, of course, have a talk with your children about how it's only safe to do this when they are with you.)

You don't have to wait for a special time to take the kids out and teach them to honor nature. Try to make a date at least once a week to walk around outside your neighborhood!