use green monday to enjoy, educate about and explore nature
With this following Green Monday why don’t we seize this traditional holiday as an opportunity to engage with nature a bit more. Many researchers agree that kids who play outside are happier, better at paying attention and less anxious than kids who spend more time indoors. Technology is awesome but lets make some time for the outdoors too and enjoy the simple and complicated beauty around us. It’s good for us!
Enjoying Nature:
What if on Green Monday you go for a long walk in our big national and very close local park, a hike in the woods, which is not that far off either or simply play more in backyards of friends if you don’t have one. Spending time in nature can be immensely enjoyable for children. Encourage them to use all their senses – feel the texture of leaves, get muddy, close eyes and see what they can hear or just try breathing in the fresh air. Let them run, jump, and explore to for hours, they get an awesome sense of freedom and joy that way that only nature can provide.
Exploring the Environment:
Green Monday presents an excellent opportunity to introduce children to the wonders of the natural world. Take them on a nature walk and encourage them to observe the flora and fauna around them. Point out different plant species, listen for animal sounds, and take even some magnifying glasses (careful with those in hot countries) so you can inspect the patterns of insects like detectives. Bring binoculars to enhance their exploration and make it even more exciting. By encouraging curiosity and exploration, we can have a breath out of stressful city days and even help them slowly develop a bond that will give them a relief for years to come.
Educating about Sustainability:
Green Monday is not just about enjoying nature; it's also about educating children on the importance of protecting our planet. Once we’ve taken the time to show them what is around us, let’s start making small steps in educating them how to look after it. Enviromental Anxiety is something that most of us suffer from and it’s especially high in the tween ages (8-13 years). Using this day as an opportunity to grow a love and understanding of nature we can always start to gently explain small things that make a big difference, hopefully before the start learning about the doom and gloom of what is yet to come. Pick up some rubbish you might find on your trip along with yours and recycle! Plant a tree or even start sprouting some veggies for your next picnic. Fly a kite and talk about wind power.
Enjoy, explore and join the love of nature.