Connecting Kids to Nature

There are many reasons to get your kids outdoors. It's good for their bodies, it stimulates their minds and the more they are exposed to nature the more they appreciate this wonderful resource and want to preserve it. It generally is known that getting active outdoors helps kids maintain healthy bodies and healthy weights. But did you know that playing outside also helps kids learn and be more creative? Here are some ways to get kids engaged with nature.

Expert Q&A with Richard Louv

Richard Louv, chairman of the Children & Nature Network and the author of seven books about family, nature and community, including Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder answered your questions.

See the Answers

Read a Book about Nature

Reading about nature is a great way to stimulate a child's interest in the natural world, no matter what the age. Even babies enjoy being read to! Try reading a book and then doing a related activity to reinforce what kids learn from the book. Or, if the book is about a plant or animal that exists in your community, go for a nature walk and point out the real thing.

Find a book that is just right for the age of your child by clicking an age group below:

• Baby
• Toddler
• Preschooler
• Kindergartner
• First Grader
• Second Grader
• Third Grader