Earth and Sky

Young children are naturally curious about nature and the outdoor environment. When given the opportunity, they love to dig in sand and dirt, splash in puddles, look up and observe the sky and experience all types of weather. As three-year-olds explore the outdoors, they notice the colors, sizes, shapes, textures and other properties of natural materials like rocks, sand, soil and water. They learn the names of the objects they see in the sky — the sun, moon, clouds, and stars — and begin to notice and describe different aspects of weather. They may associate different types of weather with particular clothing or activities. The types of earth’s materials and weather you and your child observe will depend on where you live and the time of year. Wherever you are, as you investigate the earth and sky, talk with your child about what they see, hear, smell and feel outdoors. Introduce and use words — bright and dull, windy and breezy and rounded and pointed — that build their vocabularies and give them language to talk about what they are noticing and thinking about. Most of all, get outdoors with your child whenever you can throughout the year. And remember that when you let your child get messy — as they dig in dirt, jump in puddles and play in mud — you enable them to experience nature and the world around them to the fullest. You also give them the message that their explorations are important to you. You may notice that your three-year-old exhibits specific interests — in exploring water, observing the sky or building with natural materials, for example — so follow their lead! These experiences lay the foundation for your child’s later understanding of earth’s resources, earth as a home for all living things and earth’s place in a wider universe. Keep in mind that storms — especially thunder and lightning — can sometimes be frightening for young children. If that is the case with your child, read these parenting tips.