Skip to content
en English
am Amharicar Arabiczh-CN Chinese (Simplified)nl Dutchen Englishfr Frenchde Germanel Greekgu Gujaratiht Haitian Creoleiw Hebrewhi Hindiig Igboit Italianja Japaneseko Koreanml Malayalammy Myanmar (Burmese)ps Pashtopl Polishpt Portuguesepa Punjabiru Russianes Spanishsw Swahilivi Vietnameseyo Yoruba
Child Care Answers Logo
  • News & Stories
  • Events
  • Contact
  • Resource Center
    Featured Resource
    Choosing Care
    Learn more
    • All Resources
    • Family Help Guide
    • Child Care Program Help Guide
    • Employer Help Guide
    • Community Help Guide
  • Our Focus
    Featured Article
    Effects of Child Care on Businesses and the Economy
    Learn more
    • Families
    • Child Care Programs
    • Community Partners
    • Employers
    • Additional Reports and Data
  • Team
    • Our Expertise
    • Our Staff
    • Our Board
    • Careers
  • Get Involved
    • Partner with Us
    • Advocate
    • Volunteer
  • Find Child Care
  • Donate
  • Resource Center
    • All Resources
    • Family Help Guide
    • Child Care Program Help Guide
    • Employer Help Guide
    • Community Help Guide
  • Our Focus
    • Families
    • Child Care Programs
    • Community Partners
    • Employers
    • Additional Reports and Data
  • Team
    • Our Expertise
    • Our Staff
    • Our Board
    • Careers
  • Get Involved
    • Partner with Us
    • Advocate
    • Volunteer
  • Find Child Care
  • Donate
  • News & Stories
  • Events
  • Contact
arrow back All News & Stories
Activity Ideas Families Infant and Toddler Pre-K Preschool School Age

Explore the Outdoors with Nature Play

Jamie Le Sesne Spears
June 7, 2021

By Jamie Le Sesne Spears, M.Ed., Family Engagement Specialist 

Summer is filled with opportunities for children and adults to play outdoors. When children begin to explore and interact with nature, these outdoor opportunities begin to transform into learning experiences.   

Benefits of nature play   

Natural learning happens when young children play in and with nature. In fact, nature play is beneficial not only for physical growth but also intellectual and emotional growth.  

For example, a toddler or preschooler may collect rocks, leaves, and sticks on a walk. As they are collecting, they notice shapes and colors, learn new vocabulary, begin to communicate differences and engage their five senses. With a simple nature collection, young children are tapping into their developmental skills. Furthermore, you can enhance this learning through simple questions (i.e. “What do you see?” or “What do you feel?”) and wonder statements (i.e. “I wonder if all the rocks are the same size.” or “I wonder if you have more sticks or leaves.”) 

Planning your nature activities

Nature play can be easy to plan.  For a start, ask your child what they want to do. It could be as simple as running, building, climbing, or exploring – the options are endless! However, sometimes children need a little guidance from adults. But, as an adult, where do you get your guidance? Here’s where we come in!

Ideas for nature play activities

To help you guide your child’s nature play at home, we created the Exploring the Outdoors: Nature Play Birth – 5 Tip Sheet. In this tip sheet, you will learn about the intellectual, emotional, and physical benefits of nature play. We also outline specific ways to support your infant, toddler, and/or preschooler in nature-based activities. 

Additional nature play activities

  • 15 Outdoor Activities for Babies  
  • Nature Soup  
  • Frozen Flowers Sensory Play  
  • Staking Rocks Game   
  • Leaf Threading  
  • Nature Cutting Tray 
Related News & Stories

Find new ways to grow.

immigrant kids
Activity Ideas Community Families Family Engagement Inclusion Providers

We are all immigrants – learning about ourselves and our neighbors

June 16, 2022
pride
Activity Ideas Community Families Inclusion Preschool School Age

Celebrating Pride Together

June 6, 2022
beach boy
Activity Ideas Families Infant and Toddler Preschool School Age

Road trip! Tips for Vacations with Children

May 15, 2022
Newsletter

Early care and education news to your inbox

Count on our newsletters to get you the most important early care and education news, when you need it. We send a different newsletter each month to either families, child care professionals, or communities/employers. Sign up for one or all today!
CCA Logo White

Contact Us

info@childcareanswers.org
Phone: 317.636.5727 Toll Free: 800.272.2937
1776 N. Meridian St., Suite 101
Indianapolis, IN 46202

Our Partners

FSSA Logo

© 2022 Child Care Answers. All Rights Reserved.

Subscribe Privacy Policy
Twitter Logo
Facebook Logo
Instagram Logo
LinkedIn Logo
YouTube Logo
tiktok logo

What are you looking for?

Activity Ideas Businesses Community Families Family Engagement Food and Nutrition General Health & Safety Inclusion Infant and Toddler Last Day Q&A Pre-K Preschool Providers School Age