With the winter months just around the corner, now is the time to get those kids outside to enjoy the colors and beauty of fall. Whether it's hiking, visiting a nature center or packing up the day's activities and taking them to a nearby park to picnic and homeschool, getting the kids outside seems to hit a reset button in us. Our to-do list at home can wait as we make lasting memories and nurture our children's hearts with the wonder of God's creation. Think of these benefits as you find the perfect outdoor "field trip" for your homeschoolers.
1. Getting outside helps us know our Creator.
There are many ways to turn a hike or outdoor exploration into a devotional time. Turn your children's attention to all of God's creation. With little ones, ask them, "Who made these rocks, trees, mountains, waterfalls?" Make a list of the ways God has seen fit to care for animals. Psalm 84:3 says, Even the Sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young--a place near your altar, LORD Almighty, my King and my God. Remind them that not only does God care for the animals and he cares for us too. Matthew 6:26 says, Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable then they?
2. Getting Outside Gives Children an Appreciation for Beautiful Things.
Don't be in a hurry to get your outdoor field trip over with and don't turn it into a complete academic lesson. Take a day to spend time outdoors with the goal of slowing down and stopping to admire the wildflowers, moss covered trees, or a wooly worm bumbling along a twig. Charlotte Mason was an influential British Educator in the 1800s who believed that children should spend several hours a day outdoors to observe nature. While this served to give them an understanding of earth science, I also believe she knew the importance of surrounding oneself with beauty on a regular basis.
I love what Charlotte Mason wrote in one of her volumes, Out-Of-Door Life For The Children:
Let us suppose mother and children arrived at some breezy open wherein it seemeth always afternoon. In the first place, it is not her business to entertain the little people: there should be no story-books, no telling of tales, as little talk as possible, and that to some purpose. Who thinks to amuse children with tale or talk at a circus or pantomime? And here, is there not infinitely more displayed for their delectation? Our wise mother, arrived, first sends the children to let off their spirits in a wild scamper, with cry, hallo, and hullaballo, and any extravagance that comes into their young heads.
This is all play to the children, but the mother is doing invaluable work; she is training their powers of observation and expression, increasing their vocabulary and their range of ideas by giving them the name and the uses of an object at the right moment,--when they ask, 'What is it?' and 'What is it for?' (Vol 1, II, Out-Of-Door Life For The Children, p.45-47)
3.Getting Outside Teaches Children Stewardship.
When my 5 year old threw his empty water bottle down on the trail, I gasped in horror. Apparently these little rascals have to be taught not to litter. I suppose I thought they were born with an innate understanding of why we don't throw our trash on the ground. After making him retrieve the bottle, I asked him what he thought the beautiful mountain we were hiking on would look like if everyone left their trash on it. How would that effect the animals who live there? In Genesis 1:26-28, God gives his children reign over the earth and that comes with the responsibility to preserve and protect it. We also talked about how we try not disturb nature by hiking in restricted areas. This is also a good time to point out wise stewardship of their bodies and how hiking or running or playing outdoors is a good form of physical exercise for their temples of the Holy Spirit that were bought with a price (1Corinthians 6:19-20).
4. Getting Outside Teaches Endurance and Perseverance
Our hike was a strenuous 5 mile trek up and over a mountain, through a meadow, and down a winding, sloping dirt road to a beautiful reservoir. The boys were excited over the promise of the reservoir, but that last stretch nearly did them (and me) in. Once we reached the reservoir, they perked up and played and we finished the last of our trail mix. Finally, the trek down the mountain was a real test of perseverance. Especially for my youngest who tripped and ended up with a bloody lip at the beginning of our hike down. Once we completed the hike, we treated ourselves to a dinner out and were able to congratulate the boys on a job well down and talk about how they had persevered.
5. Getting Outside is One of the Best Ways to Experience Hands on Learning.
We had been talking about leaves and trees in our homeschool curriculum and the boys enjoyed a close up look at the Aspen trees and compared the different shapes, colors and textures of leaves. They felt the softness of the moss growing on the trees and the roughness of the tree bark. We counted squirrels and chipmunks, breathed in the fresh mountain air and observed how the terrain changed from the side of the mountain to the top of the mountain. Children love show and tell. Here they can give their own impromptu show and tell presentation of their outdoor environment. Also, ask them questions related to their five senses (okay, maybe not taste) about their surroundings.
Next time we go for a hike, I plan to bring along a few crayons and this Outdoor Bingo sheet I made. They may love it, but if not, we'll just enjoy the beautiful gift of creation the Lord has blessed us with and thank Him for His love for us.
Get your free Outdoor Bingo sheet HERE.
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