Nature Area For Babies

[Nomes]

Hi everyone,

I am a nursery room assistant this year and I have the task of coming up with a nature area as we don't really have one in the room. I was just wondering what natural things I could put in the area for ages 6 weeks to 15 months.

Thanks in advance

[Lorina]

- Get up close to plants or point them out while walking in nature.
- Talk about and touch the seeds, nuts, berries and flowers. Let babies and toddlers feel different textures with their bare hands and feet.
- Stroke leaves or flowers on arms, legs and cheeks. Give babies and toddlers time to explore and focus on nature.
- Look at and talk about the colours, textures, shapes and sizes.
- Sit with babies to use their senses with nature; you will be close so they don’t swallow anything. Let them touch, smell and even taste sticks, grass and leaves.
- Roll gumnuts or bigger seeds. Bury them in the sand to dig up again.
- Float flowers, leaves and feathers in puddles or shallow water.
- Use seeds, grass and leaves to mix into mud with a stick.
- Point out small creatures: spider webs, dragonflies, ants, butterflies, bees. Hold some on your hand or a stick: ladybugs, caterpillars or a praying mantis.-
- Be brave when discovering small creatures so you can encourage curiosity and interest – not fear! Catching and releasing minibeasts shows respect and concern for nature.
- Use a long stick to lift and explore underneath sticks or bark.
- Let babies try nature experiences several times to get used to different textures e.g. sand, bark and sticks.
- Watch and listen to the birds. Bigger birds like swans or ducks can be easier to see. - - Visit different waterways, like rivers, creeks and beaches. Talk about and compare what you find.
- Make a birdbath for your garden to encourage the birds. Keep it simple and cheap: place a shallow terracotta plant base on a tree stump.
- Let young children dry out seeds from fruit and vegetables. Plant, water them and watch them grow.
- Dress in waterproof clothing and have short visits in gentle rain. Let the rain drop on hands and faces.
- Hold your baby while they paddle hands and feet in muddy puddles or shallow water good for senses and gross motor skills for strength with walking and standing.
- Be fascinated and explore the reflections and shadows in water – go for a walk near a lake or creek or find some clear, shallow puddles.
- Let young children wear gumboots and splash and stomp in puddles.
- Ride little bikes through puddles.
- Run through sprinklers (on your watering day).
- Plant an edible herb and flower garden to touch, taste, look at and smell.
- Watch the clouds or the shadow of the sunlight in the trees. Let toddlers chase their own shadow and compare their shadow with yours
- Let babies and young children mix and poke their fingers in mud and clay.
- ‘Paint’ mud on things outside with brushes or branches.
- Make mobiles out of found objects – feathers, leaves, sticks, to move in the breeze.
- Attach material, ribbon to trees and bushes to watch fluttering in the breeze.
- Watch and chase the leaves on a windy day - watch what the wind does to light things: hair, feathers.

Ref Nature Play For Babies

Hope this helps!

,
Lorina

[Lorina]

The above are some ideas of nature play for babies, even though these are for outside play you can adapt these to your room. You could also set up a "Nature Play" area outside for the babies to explore as well...

,
Lorina