I’m officially a blogger. Yikes! I will face my fear of writer’s block head on! Blank screen...you’ve got nothing on me! I have loads of material to share with my readers...or at least that’s what I’ll tell myself! So as I look out the window, contemplating ideas for a riveting post, there it is staring right back at me...TREES! I shall blog about trees! Perfect timing because our theme this month for our Wiggleworms and Sprout classes is trees. That said, I’ve been brainstorming and researching all things trees! It’s amazing...I see trees everyday, but certainly don’t appreciate their existence on a daily basis. Not only are trees a beautiful sight in every season, but think about how much we rely on them for our own existence!
You likely have a childhood memory of climbing a backyard tree--finding a way to get to the top, swinging from a tire swing, picking apples, or jumping in a pile of leaves on a crisp fall day. Why not nurture your child’s appreciation and love of trees with some fun ideas the whole family can enjoy? So without further adieu, here’s a list of some fun, yet simple, activities that you and your children can do for the love of trees!
-Hug a tree. Is the tree trunk too big?...Hold hands and see how many family members or friends it takes to wrap around the tree!
-Go on a treasure hunt and collect items that have fallen from the trees such as acorns, leaves, and pinecones. Make a collage, sort, or compare your findings!
-Tie colorful ribbons or streamers on the tree branches to catch the wind.
-Looks for nests in trees and other animals, besides birds, that live in trees.
-Take a hike and notice the different kinds of trees you see along the way. (Cantigny Park has a 2.5 mile hiking trail around the perimeter of the park. You can even pick up a free children's Tree Identification Activity Booklet at the Visitors Center Kiosk desk to use along the way!)
-Find some shade under a tree, relax, and read a book!
-Hang a birdfeeder from a tree branch and watch the birds munch!
-Make a stylish leaf crown! (This idea is from the book Nature's Playground by Fiona Danks and Jo Schofield. We've done this activity in some of our children's programs and they just love it! Parents also get a kick out of their child's very vogue creation!) Materials needed: Thick cardboard (cereal boxes work great) cut into strips about 2.5 inches by 20 inches with double-sided sticky tape attached along one side of each strip, and a stapler to secure any heavier (or drooping) items. Have fun and remember to take lots of pictures! Hail to the King and Queen of the Forest!
This list can go on and on, so don’t waste anymore time...make a playdate with nature and enjoy the beauty of trees!
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