As temperatures rise and wildfires break out in Europe, young children getting wind of this through the media may have questions about unusual weather events they see. As you try to answer these questions, they may also feel an accompanying wave of anxiety about the larger world to live in. To quell these fears, go on some activities that can alleviate their fears while also being proactive in protecting the natural environment around them.

Nature walks

Appreciation for the environment and nature begins by observation. Seeing the birds, butterflies and bees out in nature hunting and gathering for their daily subsistence awakens a sense of wonder and curiosity for living things in their environment. These nature walks make them appreciate how nature operates, changes, and nurtures all other living things around them.

Plant or garden

Let children know about how nature works its magic by witnessing it firsthand. From growing bean sprouts from mung beans to taking care of a garden that attracts the birds, butterflies, and the bees, it gives children an opportunity to understand there is a whole ecosystem of organisms that thrive by depending on each other.

STEM crafts

These activities help children understand nature and its processes through little experimentations mimicking nature events. Learning while experimenting helps them understand how different factors affect outcomes. Through STEM crafts, children actively learn about nature while also see exactly how different parts of a weather system work in concert to produce a certain event.

Walk or bike

From training them to walk more often for short distances, or teaching them how to ride a bike, it equips them with sustainable and environmentally-friendly options in terms of transportation. Aside from spending more time outdoors, it also helps children build their physique.

Join volunteer groups advocating for the environment

Thinking globally and acting locally is something that will efficiently achieve results that when pooled together achieves maximum benefits for everyone. This helps young children feel they are in control of doing something positive that’ll help the environment. These acts can also become a source of hope and inspiration for them to make the world a better place to live in.