Preschool Is for Playing
No child is too young to learn to love the environment. Without teaching young children about the fearful aspects of pollution and animal extinction, you can teach a general love and respect for nature. Instilling an appreciation for the natural world in a child gives them the foundation to want to care for it.
KISS (Keep It Simple and Silly)
It probably goes without saying, but young children need everything in the simplest form. Instead of talking about the environment, talk about specific pieces of nature. Highlight the colors and shapes of birds, plants, and insects so children begin to notice them and their beauty. Art and crafting are fundamental desires of young children, so draw and paint pictures of the natural world around you. They also love to sing and dance and hear stories, so you can find songs and books about different aspects of nature that capture their desire for creativity while teaching them the basics of nature.
Young children also love being silly. Find bizarre species to teach them about and talk about what makes them different. Kids have an amazing capacity to remember exotic plants and creatures. Make their education full of a love for life and an appreciation for diversity.
Explore and Experience
Small children learn through their senses. Find as many ways as you can to let them touch, hear, and smell nature. Here are some simple ideas for getting out into nature to explore and appreciate all there is to offer.
Explore textures by touching bark, shells, feathers, rocks, leaves, and anything else you can find.
Experience sound by closing your eyes and listening for birds, insects, the wind in the trees, or whatever other natural sounds you may have around you.
Pursue smells by sniffing pine branches, leaves, rocks, flowers, fruits, or anything else that's natural around you.
As much as you can, take them outside. Encourage them to notice all of these tiny, beautiful pieces of nature. Compare and contrast colors and textures. Try to describe smells and sounds. Having a recognition of these small moments of life builds a foundation for seeing the bigger picture and appreciating nature as they grow older.
