One of the simplest ways to introduce mindfulness into your family’s life is to weave it into your everyday activities - including when you're out and about enjoying Mother Nature!
Mindfulness starts with us as parents, and I found the best and simplest way to introduce mindfulness into my family’s life was to weave it into our everyday activities.
As soon as you get into the flow of including mindfulness into your family routine, it just becomes a way of life.
I am excited to share with you my top three family mindfulness activities that connect us to nature. Now is a great time to get out in nature, put the gum boots on, get dirty, get our hands in the autumn leaves and appreciate all the beautiful colours we are currently surrounded by!
Not only are these activities free (or super cheap) but they get everyone out of the house and feeling great!.
Nature Colour Hunt
My daughter loves this activity and it can be done over and over again for children of all ages! It keeps them entertained on long or short walks and gets them connecting with the nature around them, as they take time to really appreciate the colours and textures of what they find.
What you need:
1 piece of card per child
6 little pegs per child (you can purchase these in a dollar shop)
Colouring pens
How to create your Nature Hunt Card:
On a piece of cardboard, colour in square blocks for each of the following colours: yellow, pink, brown, green, blue and orange
Use glue to a peg above each coloured square
Once you have created your Nature Hunt Card, you're ready to head out on your walk. As you go, ask your children to find nature's gifts that match the coloured squares (such as a pink flower or a green leaf). Once they find something, they just need to peg it to the matching colour!
Nature Mandalas
I have used this activity so many times with preschool children, school kids and for my yoga and craft school holiday workshops. The children’s concentration, focus and creativity during this activity never ceases to amaze me!
How to create your Nature Mandala:
Head out on a nature walk either along the beach, in the forest or somewhere where you know you can gather lots of amazing and different bits and pieces from nature. Take a big bag and have the kids collect what they like along the way.
When you get home head out into the garden and empty your goodies. Explain to the kids what a mandala is (you can use the photo here to help them visualise) and using all the things you have collected together make a big or little mandala. This is the time to let their creative juices flow! It’s such a pleasure sitting and watching them work and seeing how proud they are of their creations at the end.
If you want to keep their mandalas, grab a big piece of cardboard and some glue and carefully stick each piece on to your cardboard. This would look great hung outside the front door! Why not show off to everyone what a creative family you are!! 😊
Nature sun catchers
These look beautiful hung in windows or on your balcony or deck, and the kids will love getting creative with the flowers and leaves they collect!
Materials needed:
Paper plate
Colour ribbon
Contact paper
Leaves and flowers
How to create your Suncatchers:
With the children, collect some leaves and flowers from your garden. Then comes the creative bit! Cut the middle section of the paper plate out and then ask the children to decorate the outside with stickers, drawings or paint. Make two holes at the top of the plate and thread through the ribbon, which will be used to hang the suncatcher once you've finished. Cut out a circle of contact paper, a little bit bigger than the hole in the centre of your paper plate, and then stick it on one side of your paper plate.
Your child can now use the gorgeous leaves and flowers they found and place them in a beautiful pattern onto the sticky side of the contact paper. Finish by sticking another piece of contact paper on top. Now admire their creation and hang it somewhere for everyone to enjoy!