Jodi Valenta – Kids Discover Nature

Backyard Camping with Kids: Easing Fears of Night Noises

by Jodi Valenta

This is the third post in the series Backyard Camping with Children.

It is natural for a child to have questions and misunderstandings about the night. This creates fear that can be overwhelming to a child. But alas, help is here. Night sounds can be especially scary for little ears. My daughter’s first experience hearing an owl while we were camping in the backyard affected her for a long time. I had previously taught her about owls and how they sound. We even read the book Owl Moon. But I never took the time to prepare her for what she would hear while camping in our backyard. When she first heard the “hoot” of a Barred Owl in our woods, she covered her ears, burst into tears, screamed at the top of her lungs, and ran into the house at top speed. Needless to say, our campout came to an abrupt end.

I was totally unprepared for that reaction and for the fallout. It took several months to convince her to try camping again and to come to terms with owls and their “hoots.” To help parents avoid this mishap, I developed the following tips for helping children overcome fears of the night while camping. Following these tips will go a long way in preparing your child for the first “hoot.”

Essential Guide for Easing Childrens’ Fear of the Night While Camping

Discuss what they will hear (crickets, frogs, owls, coyotes, etc.), see (moths, raccoons, skunks, opossums, bats, etc.) or feel at night (insects, spider webs, etc.).
Explain why creatures are out and about at night (nocturnal vs. diurnal, finding food, mating, etc.)
Explain why they make sounds at night (calling to one another, guarding territory, etc.)
Read books about night creatures. Borrow books from the local library about camping in general, nocturnal creatures, or any animal in which they show a special interest.
While camping, focus less on the “dark” and more on how beautiful night time can be. Observe the stars and the moon. Talk about the “music” of the night.
Do not expect children to sleep outside all night. Take small steps by allowing them to sleep inside in their own beds when bedtime arrives. Another option is to allow them to fall asleep in the tent and then transfer them to their beds.
Practice for night time camping outside by camping inside first. Set up tents in the family room complete with sleeping bags, pillows, books, and flashlights and encourage them to sleep there for the night.
Hearing night time sounds can be fun if you make it a game. Ask children to identify what sounds they hear.
Allow children to fall asleep with their flashlights.

Birds

Quick & Fun Outdoor Activities for Kids

by Jodi Valenta

A few weeks ago I surveyed readers to determine their favorite outdoor activities to do with their children. The results showed that you overwhelmingly like camping and hiking. Frankly, I was surprised because these activities require a lot a preparation and planning. However, I totally get it because the rewards are great as both activities afford children an excellent opportunity to explore nature and spend valuable time with their families. Plus, summer is the perfect season for camping vacations and weekend hikes!

Now, with summer quickly winding down and children heading back to school, there will be less time to enjoy these activities and it will be harder to make time to enjoy the outdoors. All the demands of the school year have returned, with homework, after-school activities, less time off and, well, you know the drill. It makes the challenge of getting outside more difficult. However, with all those demands comes stress, so it’s even more important that kids (and you!) spend time in nature.

I thought it would be helpful if I provided a list of some outdoor activities for your children that don’t take much time or effort. They can be done even if you have only 30 minutes to spare one morning, afternoon or evening. Print it out and keep it on the fridge for quick reference for those days you need a quick idea.

1) Go for a walk around the neighborhood.
2) Explore your backyard with a magnifying glass.
3) Before bedtime, do a little stargazing on the front step.
4) Do some birding.
5) Pull weeds in the garden and look for bugs.
6) Look for interesting rocks and stones.
7) Play backyard games like tag or hide-and-seek.
8) Eat an afternoon snack outside on a blanket in the grass.
9) Try to catch butterflies with a butterfly net.
10) Spread a blanket out on the grass, lie down and look up at the clouds.

Not only are all of these activities fun, but they also promote relaxation, creativity and several include a splash of exercise!

Please comment on this post and add your own ideas. The school year is long, vacations are short, and we can all use some time to connect with nature, even if it’s only for a few minutes a day!

Camping with kids

The Essential Backyard Campout Safety Checklist

by Jodi Valenta

This is Part II of my series on camping in your own backyard.

When camping with children in your backyard, it is important to know how to keep everyone safe. Even though you are in familiar territory, it is surprisingly easy to experience mishaps. If you prepare correctly, you can keep these to a minimum. Plus, following safety protocols is the smart things to do. If your kids are old enough, you can review them together and have them help you prepare. It can be a fun learning experience for the entire family. Below are some basic tips to consider. I encourage you to do some research to help you prepare your family for fun in the backyard!

Essential Backyard Camping Safety Checklist

Use common sense while camping, especially if you have a campfire.
Have the proper equipment and tools (see my post Must-Haves for Backyard Camping for details).
Chose a safe campsite (a flat spot free of large obstacles like rocks and tree stumps)
Keep potentially dangerous items out of the reach of children (matches, knives, insect repellent)
Learn about and teach children about campfire safety if you plan to have one (a good resource is SmokeyBear.com)
Teach children to stay within eyesight or earshot.
Respect wildlife. Never approach or touch wild animals, use a camera instead.
Be aware of your surroundings and watch where you step.
Pay attention to weather conditions.
Do not leave children alone at the campsite.
Have first aid essentials available in the house.
If you are sleeping outside for the night, put all food away in the house before going to sleep to avoid attracting animals to the campsite.
Remember to be prepared for the unexpected, do not take unnecessary chances.
Supervise your children at all times!

Many of these are intuitive, especially for moms, but it doesn’t hurt to do a quick review once in a while. My goal in writing this was to provide an exhaustive list, but I am sure I have missed a few important points. If you would like to add your thoughts, please do so in the comments section.

Hiking

Hiking with Kids: How to Keep Them Motivated

by Jodi Valenta

Hiking with children can be challenging, especially when they are young. My five-year-old daughter enjoys hiking, but tends to get bored easily and often wants to turn around and head home within about 30 minutes of beginning the hike. At least she is predictable! This is about the time I employ some creative activities to keep her interested.

Keeping kids motivated while on the trail:
1) take a break and talk about what they have seen
2) take a food and water break
3) have them whip out the magnifying glass they packed and direct them to something interesting to investigate
4) tell them it is their turn to be the leader – kids love looking for and following the blaze marks on trees that mark the trail
5) picture time! – take a group picture or pictures the kids find interesting (or better yet, have them bring a camera along)
6) scavenger hunt – before you leave provide a list (with simple sketches) on paper of items your child should look for as you hike. When boredom strikes, have him/her take the paper out and, with a pencil, check the items off the list as they are found.
7) Play “I Spy” colors or letters – as you walk along challenge them to spy something that begins with the letter _____. For example, if you see a huge rock, it would be something that begins with the letter “r.” Do the same with colors, like “green” leaves.

Here are some additional great ideas I found in the book “Nature’s Playgound” by Fiona Danks and Schofield.

1) Play sweetie fairy – This is great for little walkers. An adult sneaks ahead every so often and places sweets on the route, maybe on stump, rock or directly on the path. Toddlers and young children will find it exciting to search for and find the treats and will eagerly walk down path.
2) Collect interesting natural items like leaves, flowers, etc.
3) Play hide-and-seek along the trail
4) Hike with another family so the children get keep each other busy.

Keep in mind that hiking with children isn’t about getting from beginning to end. If you are flexible and focus on enjoying the walk and the time spent on the trail, everyone will have fun whether or not you you make it from point A to B. Just remember to make it an adventure the whole family will remember.

Fish

Nature Activity: Enjoy a River Walk Together

by Jodi Valenta

Yesterday was a busy day, but I was determined to find time to take a nature break. I decided to stop by our park to let the kids play in the river. When we arrived my daughter said, “why are we here? This is boring.” I said, “Well, we have some time to spare so let’s walk down to the river to see what we can find.”

There is bound to be a river stream in your area that allows public access. If you are not sure where that might be, contact your park and recreation department and ask. Spending time by a river, stream, or even a pond is not only fun and refreshing but educational too!

Supplies You Will Need

Rubber-soled shoes to prevent slipping on rocks and to protect feet
Sunscreen
Hat
Clothing appropriate for the weather and activity
Insect repellent

What to Do

Encourage your kids to explore the bank by looking at the rocks, critters, vegetation, etc.
Throw stones a safe distance from others
Watch sticks and leaves flown downstream in the current

The Challenge

Who can find a fish, frog, crayfish, etc.?
Who can name the critter?
Race sticks or leaves downstream
Build a dam with rocks and mud

Great Ideas

Bring along critter nets and a pail for collecting
Discuss currents and eddies as they watch their sticks, etc. float downstream
Discuss the difference between fresh and saltwater
Teach how and where rivers begin and where they flow
Discuss the ecology of the stream and food chains

Additional Tips

Take the back seat and allow the children to explore on their own
Remember to return critters to there home before leaving
Encourage gentleness when handling critters

Safety Tip

Children should wear personal safety devices if the water is deep
Never allow them to drink the water
Never allow them to walk barefoot, rocks can be sharp and you never know what is on the bottom (glass, rusting metal).

Benefits to Your Children
Encourages exercise, relaxation, and exploration. Provides the opportunity for lessons in water flow, natural history, and ecology.

Helpful Links

Learn more about rivers at American Rivers.
Learn about our country’s wild and scenic rivers.
Find fun activities for river play at TLC Family

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Backyard Camping with Kids: Easing Fears of Night Noises

Quick & Fun Outdoor Activities for Kids

The Essential Backyard Campout Safety Checklist

Hiking with Kids: How to Keep Them Motivated

Nature Activity: Enjoy a River Walk Together

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