Hellobee

The Montessori theory is that as soon as the child can walk, we should allow them to do so a much as possible. It’s freedom of movement. Once the child starts walking, all Montessori parents are encouraged to take them on nature walks. For a very young child this could be down the driveway. As the child gets older and more capable, the nature walks can get longer.

The main element of a Montessori nature walk is that the child is to be allowed to walk at their own pace, to be able to stop and admire what and when they like. This can be difficult for parents, however setting aside as much time for this as possible is recommended. Maria Montessori said the child should be able to go for walks like this and be guided by what appeals to them, to pass from one discovery to another.

I have a few additional tips that can make nature walks more enjoyable and introduce different elements. Keep in mind, these aren’t necessary, just extra add ons.

– Make a nature walk a part of everyday life if possible, or a part of a routine or rhythm.

– Take a familiar route. This can allow the child to become familiar with their local environment, they can observe the same animals, trees in different seasons, etc.

– Take a listening walk. You don’t have to or want to be talking to your child the entire time. Try to listen to the sounds of your neighbourhood and encourage your child to do so.

– Use all senses, take some time to breathe in deeply and note any neighbourhood smells.

– On occasion go somewhere beautiful. Take a walk through the local botanic gardens or to a national park.

– To begin with, become familiar yourself with the local flora and fauna. It helps to know the basic species of birds and trees, and you can then pass this knowledge on to your child. For a young child this will help not only to expand their knowledge of their environment, but it will also help to expand their vocabulary.

– For a older child introduce them to a local guide. The more localised the better. Giving a child a guide of all birds in America is a bit much, but there may be a local guide for your area. Choose the guide you think will most interest your child. We currently have an insect guide for insects in our city and my children love it. They try to identity everything from bees to ants. There are all sort of guides to explore for things like butterflies, birds, leaves, spiders and trees.

– Once the child takes an interest in picking up leaves, feathers, stones, seedpods, small sticks or natural treasures and wants to bring them home, encourage the child to take a small pouch or shoulder bag. Be careful not to be destructive to the local environment, be careful of poisonous plants and try not to pick living flowers. We want to teach our children to be respectful of the natural environment. The small collection of items bought home can contribute to a nature table/shelf/tray. These items can be studied further at home. Observe how it changes over the seasons.

– Once the child is familiar with the the use of binoculars or a magnifying glass, consider taking these on a nature walk. While not necessary, they allow the child to make observations they couldn’t otherwise.

– On occasion take a night walk or an early morning walk. By going into the neighbourhood and nature at these different times, it’s likely the child will make different observations.

– Consider taking a camera and allowing the child to make some observations through photographs. A polaroid camera is perfect for this purpose or perhaps an old digital camera if the child is using it frequently. If you hear distinctive noises you could consider making some sound recordings and replaying them back at home.

– For an older child consider taking some paints or pencils and start nature journalling. This doesn’t have to be a formal process; perhaps begin by picking a nice place to sit; perhaps have a picnic and take some time and encourage the child to observe and record their surroundings.

– Pay attention to what interests your child. A child particularly interested in butterflies may like a butterfly book. Finding out what interests your child can be useful in many ways.

– Consider taking a friend or family member on the nature walk. If the child is talking, they may like to take a grandparent and tell them all about their neighbourhood.

– Nature walks are not all about nature. The child may find some road works or a construction site to observe. It may be a great way to get to know people your neighbourhood, local buildings and landmarks. Most of all nature walks should be regular and enjoyable!

I’d love to hear if you currently take nature walks and if your children enjoy it.