Tip: 166 July 2022 – Nature Through the Senses

Educational Tip for Physical Development

Young children already have the most important tools they need for
investigating nature; their five senses. Through their senses, they
can observe the changes taking place in nature, study natural materials,
and enjoy the sense of wonder in it all.

The following are some ideas to enrich young children’s exploration
of the natural world by going on “Nature Walks.”

Infants:
Using Their Eyes

Try “theme nature walks” to focus infant’s attention. Ask them to look up
or down.

What do they see in the sky? (clouds, birds) What do they see on the
ground?

(dandelions, rocks) Take them on a color walk. Let them discover things
that are red (leaves) or green (grass) or brown (bark of trees) or
orange (flowers). Have them hunt for animals. See if they can find a
cat, a dog, birds, or ants.

Toddlers:
Using Their Ears

Have the toddlers pay attention to the sounds they hear when they go on a
nature walk. In particular, have them notice the sounds that animals and
insects make: crickets chirping, dogs barking, birds cawing. Also encourage them to
listen to other sounds in nature like: wind, rain, and thunder. Make a
recording of some of these natural sounds and challenge the toddlers to identify them.

Preschoolers:
Using Their Nose

Expand opportunities for smelling. Grow fragrant plants in pots or in a
garden. Try using herbs such as basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary and mint.
Encourage the preschoolers to help prepare foods like cold soups and add
some of the herbs they grew, like cold tomato soup with basil or cold sweet
pea soup with mint. They can also dry the herbs and use the leaves to make
fragrant collages.

Hold a tasting picnic. Have the children sample different
foods to stimulate their taste buds. Compare hard and soft forms of the same
foods like apples and applesauce or peanuts and peanut butter. Encourage the
children to taste the difference between butter, yogurt, cheese, and ice cream
using their senses. Talk with them about how foods feel and taste, but also
talk about safety regarding touch and taste. Help the children to understand
that their senses of touch and taste must be used with care. Teach them to
ask you or another trusted adult before touching unfamiliar outdoor object
and plants.

Emphasize that they should never taste things they find on the walks
outside.

To nurture a garden is to feed not just the body, but the soul.

(Alfred Austin)