Check out these articles on the PBS Parents website, and get familiar with all the website has to offer!
Encouraging Nature Play. “One of the greatest casualties of this indoor migration is the most quintessential of childhood activities—outdoor play. Overscheduled kids have no time for it. Over-screened kids opt for virtual worlds invented by others. And overprotected kids are kept inside under constant supervision….. (read more!)”
Helping Children Overcome a Fear of Bugs. “Many children have a fear of insects – and that fear can hold them back from playing outdoors and experiencing the world around them. At Nature Cat, we think our dear bug friends are getting a bad reputation. We want children (and adults!) to see these tiny creatures as critical players on this planet — as pollinators, helpers in the garden, and important links in the food web….. (read more!)”
Gardening with Kids: How it Affects Your Child’s Brain, Body and Soul. “For parents struggling to find ways to encourage their kids to eat a healthy and balanced diet, gardening can be an important tool. Don’t let the idea overwhelm you. Gardening doesn’t require a perfectly level, large or sunny backyard. Try planting in a small raised bed or growing a few edibles in existing landscaping. Lean a trellis against an outside wall to grow beans or other edible vines. If you don’t have a lot of outdoor space, a few containers and soil in a sunny spot can be an easy way to grow herbs or some sweet cherry tomatoes that kids won’t be able to resist. Plants like zucchini, radishes and herbs are fairly easy to grow without a lot of fuss, making them a great return on your investment. The much bigger return is how planting a garden can affect not only your child’s body but also their brain and soul….. (read more!)”
How Caring for Living Things Helps Kids Build Empathy. “When kids care for living things – from babies to animals to plants – they exercise their empathy muscles. They learn through experience that 1) everything has needs; 2) these needs are not always identical; and 3) they can help meet those needs….. (read more!)”