Summers are a good time for kids to put away their devices
and homework. Kids need to switch off from online games and explore non digital
activities. After all human beings are a part of nature and it’s important to
stay plugged into a system that we are part of. Being in touch with nature
regulates well-being, keeps the senses sharp and gives kids a sense of cyclical
continuity.
By Bev Sykes from Davis, CA, USA (Flickr) [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Many of the modern day lifestyle problems that kids have
developed can easily be sorted out with a massive dose of Vit-N. Here are 5 summer
activities for you to explore:
1. Get the kids to explore the geography
around where they live. Take the kids out to parks and open spaces close to
home. Let them feel the soil and grass under their feet. Open up a map and talk
about the contiguity of land. Spot rivers and other water bodies close by. Wade
through the water and throw pebbles in. Talk of the source of drinking water.
2. Spot our fellow creature in the
world. If you live in an urban jungle watch out for birds which have found new
nesting places. Help kids understand the importance of our little insect
friends. Teach them to observe plants and insects. Spot the caterpillars,
butterflies, wasps, bee hives or the many other signs of nature in our concrete
hubs. In case you need to learn more to get your kids interested, many
universities put out a lot of information about our fellow creatures on their
departmental sites. There are a lot of dedicated scientists/commoners who love
sharing their information on virtual and real world spaces.
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3. Get kids to photograph the same
things through various parts of the day. When they see the same scene/thing
photographed under various conditions of light, they understand the impact of
the Sun, and how we fit into the astronomical world.
4 . Try Hapa Zome, a
craft activity. Get the kids to collect leaves and flowers in various
colors and shapes. Lay them out on a piece of clean white cotton cloth with no
starch. Spread a piece of tissue on the plant matter and hammer gently on it.
This will help release the pigments onto the cloth. Peel the plant matter off
to see the prettiest of designs. Kids can hang their piece of art on the wall
or on the refrigerator at home.
5. Run a
scavenger hunt in a park. This can be an intensely fun activity in a
small neighborhood park. Make lists of things to be found. Distribute it among
the groups. Help the kids find them. This will help them explore the park in
ways you had never imagined. Give clues which will make them look for things
from different perspectives. E.g. Spotting an owl home or a type of ant nest in
the ground.
Well, enjoy the summer before the cold sets in. It's a great time for kids to also adopt some eco-friendly practices. Rejuvenate and bond with your kids. Go on and have a good time.
