Rachel Abel - Natures not scary: 6 nature walks to take with kids under 7

6 nature walk adventures to take with kids under 7

For the anxious, adventurous and anyone in between no matter where you live.

Why I wrote this book for you

L ast year we were running some activities at an expo, meeting hundreds of families and kids and introducing them to what we do at Wildkids Australia. One family stuck in my mind more than the others.

Just so you know, my husband and business partner aka Wildkids Trevor is just brilliant at engaging kids with nature. His enthusiasm draws them in. They look at him with wide-eyed wonder as he bounces around exclaiming how plants are clever or getting his hands amongst the dirt and talking about composting.

But not all kids are super comfortable up close with bugs, bark, leaves or anything new or mucky. The truth is that for some, nature is scary. One particular kid we met who was about 4 years old was so shy. They were literally hiding behind their Mum as they watched their older sibling step forward confidently to touch a piece of old termite nest. Trevor encouraged the Mum to hold the piece too. At this point, I saw the younger child look up and decide that if Mum could do it, well then they could do it too. The look of pride and accomplishment on this childs face when they plucked up the courage to put the gnarly piece of nest in their hands was so inspiring. I got a little choked up. As did the Mum, who admitted to me quietly that she had always been terrified of nature but was desperate to make sure she didnt pass that on to her family. She just didnt really know where to start because it had not been something in her childhood experience.

I connected with how she was feeling because both of our kids have anxiety. Weve been careful to gently support them in developing a more adventurous spirit, building on their innate curiosity. Gently expanding their horizons rather than throwing them in the deep end. Weve witnessed them take those experiences into other aspects of their lives. Often in families, there are one or more parents or kids who love taking risks, getting muddy, climbing a tree and others who feel more apprehensive. I wrote this book with that in mind.

Its super simple one of the pre-schoolers announced during a Wildkids session.

What is? Trevor asked

Looking after everything they replied

Why do you think that?

Well, if you like somebody or something, you are kind to it and look after it. So, all you have to do is be kind to the thing you like. Then that would mean that everybody will be kind to what they like.

What do you like?

Um...I like flowers and I like rabbits and I like birds but not cockroaches and bugs they said.

What if birds ate cockroaches and bugs and the flowers needed the bugs to pollinate?

Does that mean that I have to be nice to them if the birds eat them?

Probably

Well, maybe youve just got to be kind to everything then.

Encouraging children to enjoy adventures in nature and having good conversations about whats around them will gradually bring them to find nature to be less scary. Their lives will be richer for it. Spending time playing outdoors increases emotional well-being, builds self-esteem and supports creativity. Plus, the connection with nature introduces children at a young

age to the concepts of conservation and sustainability. You are so much more likely to care for something if you enjoy it, know it and view it as important. Together were raising and educating the next generation of eco-protectors.