Nature Art helps nurture a deep love and respect for the Natural World
Today I read a rather sad article – Children are forgetting the names for plants and animals
A recent UK study has revealed 83% of children between the ages of five and 16 can’t identify a bumblebee. The article by Katharine Rooney goes on to explain :
When 1,000 children were shown pictures of native plants and animals, 82% did not recognize an oak leaf and nearly five out of 10 failed to spot a bluebell.
In the survey, carried out for the family activity application Hoop, 26% of children said they had little or no interest in nature. A third of parents blamed too much screen time. (read here:
What can we do?
We need to make time to restore our relationship with the natural world. Relationships take time and commitment, our relationship with nature is no different.
Time in nature opens our hearts and makes us realize we are part of nature too.
The Power of Nature Art
A beautiful and magical way to actively engage children with nature is through creative explorations.
“Nature inspires creativity in a child by demanding visualization and the full use of the senses” Richard Louv –Last Child in the Woods
Through creative nature play children begin to fall in love with the birds and insects, dandelions, the trees and the bumblebees.
Here are just a few of the names children didn’t recognize in the survey: Bumblebee; Oak leaf; Woodpecker; Dandelion; Conker; Robin; Fox
Here’s what we do at Educating the Heart to help children fall in love with the oak trees and the bumblebees; the woodpecker and the humble dandelion…
Simple Nature Art
Helping to remember the names of plants and animals
Dandelion Love – up-close and personal with the enchanting little dandelion – who doesn’t love to make dandelion crowns and blow fairy wishes!
The Mighty Oak and her fairy friends – read post here
A is for Acorn
Storytelling with Stick People – read more about this inspiring little booklet here:
Falling in love with the birds
Foxy drama and storytelling – a series of nature based art activities for all ages – learning more about the fox and its habitat both in the countryside and the city. Read post here:
Nurturing the Child’s Creative Spirit
Let’s play Conkers -watch the video
Bumblebee love
We Protect What We Love