Carmen
Member
Hi moms, I know nature study and outdoor time are important for young kids, especially for my son but I admit that I am not an outdoor person and I enjoy staying at home so much. So, how can I teach them if I don't like going outside? I try to "force" myself but I just feel forcing myself cannot make a good outdoor time with them!
Thank you for any suggestion!
Carmen
BetsyR
Member
Hi Carmen! Perhaps consider finding some aspect of nature you do enjoy such as flowers then go to a botanical garden or even exploring at Home Depot garden center or something like that. I'm not sure what you don't enjoy about outdoors (not that I can't understand a person not being outdoorsy lol just not what you mean by that)...is there something more to enjoying being home (i.e. anxiety or something like that)? There is a big difference in "I don't like to be hot/cold, dirty, looking at bugs..." & "there is something about leaving my home I don't enjoy." Also, I used to enjoy playing with bugs & getting dirty as a kid but not quite so much now lol but I take the kids out & walk while they enjoy looking more up close at things or let them play & explore in the yard as I swing in the hammock. You could add something to this that could make it more pleasurable to you such as reading a book while letting him explore then having him come back & tell you about, show you things for y'all (sorry, my southern girl slang) to explore further on the internet or in field guides. HTH!
Charlee51501
Member
Hi Carmen! Not all people like the outdoors, so do not feel inadequate that you don't. Do you live in a house, or an apartment complex? If you live in a house your backyard is a great place for your son to explore. Kids are natural explorers when it comes to nature, so he will beable to explore on his own. You can create scavenger hunts for him depending on the landscape of your backyard. You can also create an area of your backyard that is strictly a natural landscape for wildlife. You can search online for some ideas. These are easy to create with minimal time spent outdoors for yourself while having the comfort of home right there by you. I will continue this response in a bit....baby calls
Do you have others you could do nature study with? Getting together for it weekly with another homeschool family can help keep you on track. Around us there are a lot of nature sanctuaries with cheap programs. You still have to get out there but it takes some of the pressure off you. I woudl aim for something small like 10 minutes once or twice a week.
Nebby
http://www.lettersfromnebby.wordpress.com
Carmen
Member
Let me explain more. Since I grew up in the city, I didn't spend much time exploring nature stuff, so I would say I don't know much about bugs or gardening. I know and believe nature study is very good opportunity for kids to get close to God's world, but I just don't know how to teach them any since I have very little knowledge of this subject!
But I really love your idea going to Home Depot center for exploring flowers and plants. I will pray very hard for my weak area and I belive God will strengthen me!
One easy thing to have him do is to go and find something outside and observe it until he can see it in his mind's eye. Then come back to you and describe it in as much detail as possible. (Sort of like picture study.) If you like, you might go see it with him afterward but it would mostly be his observations. Eventually I suspect you will enjoy it more and be able to expand your experiences.
I do understand. My idea of nature study is reading a book under a tree. 
But we live on a farm so I have to get out a little anyway. My adopeted son from Shanghai isn't interested at all in nature study and my other 8yo notices everything and wants to drag me along with him (into some questionable places sometimes.) So it's a balancing act with them...trying to broaden interest in one and not squelching it in another (because there are just some places I'm not walkin'!) LOL!!
Carmen
Member
Thanks Nebby! How can you find those cheap program? Do you have any website for me to do searching?
Carmen
Member
Is it like a scavenger hunt?
Charlee51501
Member
I am back! If you live in an apartment, BetsyR had great ideas. Such as Home Depot etc. I also want to suggest that you can take a walk around the block daily. You and your son will discover more each day. I also think you will begin to enjoy that walk as it becomes a routine. I live in Iowa, from California, and I cannot tolerate the humidity, mosquitoes, and did I mention the humidity haa haa I have learned that if you have to deal with mosquitoes, they cannot land on you if the wind is 10 miles and above, so I only go out on those days during the summer and we visit the zoo on other days. If you just dont like getting out, get a variety of nature books from the library to have on hand. Your son can journal in his notebook on things he sees in the books. Hope this helps! :)
Charlee
Check this out and see if it will give you some ideas:
http://handbookofnaturestudy.blogspot.com/2008/09/where-to-start-with-outdoor-hour.html
Carmen
Member
Yes, I live in an apartment so there is not much sunlight get into my place. That's another issue I think going outside is a must activity. That's why getting out of my comfort zone for them is my goal to be achieved.
Thanks for all your responses. I think daily walk for 10-20 minutes and visit Home Depot is a good start for me!
Does anyone have good nature books suggestion?
Charlee51501
Member
Hi Carmen! Here is a great book that we supplement into our Nature Studies: Natural History (Smithsonian) by DK Publishing (Hardcover - Sep 20, 2010) You can find it on Amazon at a great price!
Another Nature book I use to get ideas is The Nature Connection: An Outdoor Workbook for Kids, Families, and Classrooms by Clare Walker Leslie (Paperback - Jul 21, 2010) You can find this one on Amazon too for a great price!
Have a BLESSED evening!
Charlee
Carmen
Member
Thank you Charlee.
I'm not much of a science person myself, but we just finished reading The Burgess Bird Book for Children and the study of birds has taken on a whole new meaning. You can read more about that here....http://reflectionsfromdrywoodcreek.blogspot.com/2012/05/for-birds.html I suggest putting up a bird feeder and watching from the window.
I have a leg disability that limits what type of terrain I can walk on. However, my husband and kids LOVE the outdoors. Is this something your husband could do?
Also, I often send our dd age 8 out with the camera and she captures various nature scenes. When she comes back with the camera, we review the photos, read books and discuss from there.
HTH,
Melissa
I do love the outdoors so this is easier for me, but I wanted to encourage you that nature study is often just natural for children.
As long as your son can spend time outside, he will find nature!
Digging in the dirt
Observing the ants on the sidewalk
Lying on a quilt and watching the clouds and seeing what animals they remind him of
Observing the changes in the sky from a window as a thunderstorm approaches,
Looking at a flower with a magnifying glass and tyring to learn the parts of it (they are truly AMAZING to see magnified; I highly recommend the Bearded Purple Iris if you have access to any)
Watching for any animals that might frequent your yard (maybe keep a log for a week or a day)
LISTENING to nature sounds in the day and at night (in your yard; what different sounds do you hear)
Going to a nearby park and just observing for a few minutes (animals? Sounds?)
CREEKS are wonderful for most little children (of course we just wade ankle deep but my DC would spend hours); I would imagine you can find one in your area in a local park maybe.
I also second the idea of classes. In the large cities near us, we have taken classes on:
Map & Compass (and put the skills to use immediately on a hike that day)
Bees (seeing an actual bee hive and observing up close with professional beekeepers leading)
Box Turtles
NIghttime Creatures
Local Wildlife
SNAKES! (oh my; yes they brought some out for TOUCHING but that is optional of course)
Hiking
Birdwatching
I can't even remember them all.
Oh and what about a nearby zoo? They will have classes probably and though it isn't wild nature, you still can observe animals that you might never get to see otherwise (I'm thinking giraffes, elephants, meerkats, etc.).
You can totally do nature study! Basically, just go outside even if only in your backyard.
Oh one more thought: what about a backyard camp-out?
We have a travel trailer, but our children love it when we just put up the tent and camp in the yard. Even if you don't have a tent, you could have a night out until it is time to sleep! Build a little fire maybe, have s'mores and do some of the above (like nighttime sounds/sights/etc.
HTH!
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