5 Ways To Learn & Explore the Arkansas Outdoors
Fall is here, which means lots of outdoor adventures for your child. Jumping in the leaves, carving pumpkins, playing at your local park and attending family-oriented festivals can all be lots of fun. Not only does fall bring cooler weather and outdoor activities, but it also provides an opportunity to help your child learn through play.
Outdoor play allows kids to express their creativity and imagination while strengthening their immune systems through physical activity. And while you’re outside playing together, you can contribute to their developmental skills and prepare them for life.
Here are just a few ways to help your child learn from the great outdoors – and most of these ideas can be done in your own backyard:
- Collect leaves, acorns, pecans or pine cones. This is a chance to ask your child what differences they see in their collection – think shapes and colors.
- Look for different types of trees, research the name of each tree and practice your new knowledge on walks around the neighborhood.
- Draw in the dirt with sticks. Or even better, wiggle your toes in the sand, dirt or mud in the backyard.
- Lie on your back in the grass and watch the clouds. Ask your children what shapes and images they see.
- Have a picnic! Prepare lunch or dinner together and enjoy it in the backyard or at a local park.
On days where you want to explore past your backyard, consider visiting one of these beautiful parks in Central Arkansas: Pinnacle Mountain State Park in Roland; Burns Park and Idlewild Park in North Little Rock; and the Clinton Presidential Center Park, Two Rivers Park and Rebsamen Park, all in Little Rock.
For more tips on exploring the outdoors, visit ARBetterBeginnings.com.
This article orginally appeared in our October 2016 issue.