There are two ways to do this:

1 Go outside into nature

  • Nature playground. There are now nature playgrounds in many municipalities. Take the group there sometime.
  • Climbing. Add natural climbing materials to the outdoor area. Think of a tree trunk or a small hill. There are companies that specialize in creating green outdoor spaces.
  • Looking for bugs. Look for beetles or spiders outside. Put them in a magnifying container and let the children observe them. How many legs does a beetle have and what color is it? Once everything has been examined carefully, the bugs can be released again.
  • Insect hotel. Put an insect hotel in the outdoor area. Every day, look with the children to see which insects they can spot in the hotel. You can also make one yourself.
  • The vegetable garden. Nothing is more fun than watching vegetables grow. A vegetable garden does not have to be large, because vegetables even grow in pots. Sow herbs together with the children or buy small plants, such as lettuce, zucchini, pumpkin or tomato plants. This way, the children will soon see something growing. Let them water the vegetables and remove the weeds. Take photos of the growth process so that the children can see how the plants have grown. Can you harvest anything? Make a delicious dish together.
  • The discovery garden. Create a discovery garden with vegetable patches, fruit trees, a small body of water, narrow paths through the greenery with stepping stones, and a hut made of willow branches. There is something to discover and experience at every turn. Visit the green theme page to find out who else can help you.
  • Mud Day. Take part in IVN Mud Day. It is held every year on June 29. Read how to make the perfect mud.
  • Lying in the grass. Lie down in the grass and look up. What can the children see? Clouds drifting by in all shapes and sizes, airplanes, birds or butterflies flying overhead. There is plenty to see in the sky.
  • Planting bulbs. Plant bulbs in the outdoor area in autumn. Think of crocuses, tulips, hyacinths or snowdrops. It is great fun for children to see when they poke their heads above the soil. And with a little luck, they will return every year.

2 Bring nature indoors

  • Looking for worms. Look for large earthworms together with the children in the outdoor area. Sometimes they find earthworms spontaneously after a heavy rain shower. Put the worms in a container. Provide magnifying glasses so that the children can examine the worms closely. Discuss what the worms look like. Then put them back outside.
  • From caterpillar to butterfly. You can order cabbage white butterflies from the Dutch Butterfly Conservation. You will receive 20 eggs, 10 caterpillars and 5 chrysalises. The website explains how to care for them. Check every day how far the butterflies have developed and talk about it. Are the butterflies ready to fly away? Release them with the whole group.
  • Snail hotel. When playing outside, sooner or later the children will bring along a snail. Make a snail hotel using a terrarium, soil, leaves/twigs, and raw vegetables/apple. Put the snails inside and moisten the hotel daily with a plant sprayer. Clean the hotel after a few days and return the snails to where they were found after a week.
  • The tree. Make a tree indoors, for example from a large pruned branch. In winter, the tree is bare, just like the trees outside. But what happens there in spring? The tree grows leaves and perhaps blossoms. Make leaves and blossoms with the children and hang them in the tree. Does the tree now look like the trees outside again?
  • Autumn table. Make an autumn table with autumn leaves, chestnuts, pine cones, beech nuts and acorns. Let the children bring things they have found outside. Add an oyster mushroom growing kit, and the children can also see how mushrooms grow. Name everything and let the children feel what a chestnut feels like. And what about the chestnut shell?
  • Autumn leaves. You can make a beautiful painting with autumn leaves. Glue some autumn leaves onto a sheet of painting paper and paint around them using autumn colors. Later, remove the leaves and you will have a beautiful painting of autumn leaves.
  • Beans. Take a resealable plastic bag. Fill it with damp cotton wool and put a few beans inside. Hang the bags in front of the window at eye level. Keep the cotton wool damp and watch the beans germinate and grow.
  • Sowing cress. Cress is great fun to sow with the group. Take small containers and decorate them with a photo of the children’s faces. Sow the cress. As it grows, it looks as if the child has green hair. It is also delicious on bread.
  • Feeding birds. In winter, hang bird feeders close to the window or on the window. Refill them together with the children. Do any birds come to visit?
  • Making bird feeders. Make a bird feeder from an empty milk carton. Let the children cover it with autumn leaves, thin twigs and seeds. Hang a large branch from the ceiling and hang the bird feeders from it. Why do the birds get food in winter?

Source: Gezonde Kinderopvang.