RESOURCES FOR PARENTS
Play with your
children
Advice for getting your children outdoors
Initially, it might be difficult to get your children to want to go and play outdoors, especially if they love playing computer games! Here are some ideas to help you inspire them to get out and interact with nature, wherever you live.
1.Make whatever you do fun! As kids love playing and they are naturally curious, set them challenges to complete and encourage them to investigate. (see our free resources >>)
2.Encourage curiosity and imagination by asking questions like, “Where do you think that ant is going?” “What´s it going to do?” “Do you think those wasps are communicating with each other?” “What do you think they´re saying?”
3. Get them to use their senses. You can encourage this by taking away one sense eg, blindfold them and ask them what they can hear / smell / feel. (see our free resources >>)
4.Remember, children learn from example. Be a good example; take some time out from technology and observe your natural surroundings. Observe your children too, see what they like doing outside so you can create opportunities for them to do what they enjoy.
5. Go on walks and take a bag or bucket to collect* things and a magnifying glass to study them.
6. Collect* things from nature to create art back at home.
7. Play guessing games like “I spy with my little eye”.
8. Plant seeds and teach your children how to look after them. Then observe and watch them grow.
9. Put out bird food to attract birds to your balcony / terrace / garden and identify the birds that come to visit you.
10. Encourage your kids to get muddy and play in puddles. It´s healthy for them, honestly!
11. Use a phone to take photos in nature and create digital art.
12. Come to an agreement together about how much screen time vs green time they can have.
13. Be present if you’re spending time with your child outside. Put your to-do-list on hold and really be there with them, appreciating your natural surroundings together. It´s really healthy for you too!
14. Last of all, don’t give up. If something doesn´t work, don´t worry, try something else. All children love to play outside, sometimes they just need a nudge in the right direction.
Create memories playing outside. A childs most memorable day will never be one that is spent looking at a screen!
* Always be respectful when collecting things and never take anything that is in scarce supply.
Support learning from home
Resources to have fun and learn English
Here you will find downloadable educational worksheets to support your child in learning English from home. The activities are designed to be fun and easy to use, encouraging play and language practice as a family.
