Developmental Milestones/ Health/ Outdoor Activities/ Parent Resources/ Play/ Resources/ Summer
Developmental Milestones/ Health/ Outdoor Activities/ Parent Resources/ Play/ Resources/ Summer

Fun in the Sun

“Live in the sunshine. Swim in the sea. Drink in the wild air.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson-

Summer is a great time to get kids outdoors. The benefits of exposing children to nature early in life have been well documented. According to Ming Kuo, Ph.D., a researcher at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, not only is time in nature good for children’s health, but it also improves their ability to learn as well. In an article written for Greater Good Magazine, Kuo lists six ways nature helps children learn.

  • Restores children’s attention allowing them to focus when needed.
  • Nature relieves children’s stress by improving cortisol patterns.
  • Nature helps children develop more self-discipline and better concentration. 
  • Time spent outdoors leads to more engaged and interested children.
  • Outdoor activity may result in increased physical fitness.
  • Nature settings may promote social connection and creativity.

Kuo goes on to state, “Even small doses of nature can have profound benefits”

Need ideas for exposing children to nature this summer? Try these activities from VeryWell Family:

  • Go bird watching – Birding is a little-to-no-cost, fun activity that helps kids tune into nature and build critical observational skills. Take photos of the birds and use a guidebook or app to help identify “feathered friends.” 
  • Grow fresh herbs in containers – Let children decorate old cans, milk jugs, mason jars, or other containers then use them to plant fresh herbs from seed. Children will enjoy seeing their artwork on display and learn about plant lifecycles when grown from seed. Even families living in apartments or houses with limited outdoor space can grow fresh herbs by placing the containers on a windowsill or patio/balcony.
  • Look for shapes in the clouds – Stretch children’s imaginations by laying on a blanket in the grass and watching the clouds roll by. Take turns describing what you see in the sky. 
  • Make a bird feeder – Add to the list of bird sightings by inviting them to children’s own yards. The only materials needed are string, sticks or pinecones, peanut butter, and bird seed. Roll the sticks or pinecones in peanut butter, cover with bird seed, and hang from a tree or balcony.
  • Make fairy houses – The construction of fairy houses sparks creativity, builds empathy, and helps children navigate the space between science and make-believe. Anything in nature – moss, bark, sticks, leave, etc. – can be used to build a fairy house.
  • Pick your own plants – There are a number of “U-Pick” farms in Southeastern Michigan. Children can harvest a variety of plants; including berries, veggies, and flowers. Allowing children to harvest their own food gives them a glimpse of where food comes from and the work that goes into growing it.
  • Plant a butterfly or hummingbird garden – While gardening, talk to children about the types of creatures the garden supports. What might they find in the dirt or on the leaves? What types of wildlife might benefit from these plants? In addition to strengthening STEM and analytical abilities, gardening helps to relieve stress and increase mental health in children (and oftentimes adults).  

Looking for more summer fun ideas? Check out Little Guide for a list of events and activities in the Metro Detroit area as well as the these Summer Fun resources below.

Summer Activities

Photo by Kindel Media on Pexels

– Shared from Southeastern Early Childhood Support Network July Newsletter

United Way for Southeastern Michigan
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