Books to Help Your Kids Engage with Nature

What is the Winter Solstice? It’s beginning to feel a lot like winter in many places across the United States. The temperatures are dropping and the landscape has transformed into dull greens and browns as the deciduous trees are now mostly bare. Probably most noticeable of all are the short days and long nights. We are approaching the winter solstice (also known as Yule for some cultures). On this day we have the shortest day and the longest night of the year as one of the earth’s poles (the north pole for those of us in the northern hemisphere) tilts furthest away from the sun at 23.44 degrees. It also marks the first day of winter—December 21 in the northern hemisphere. Celebrating Winter and the Return of Light Celebrations of the winter solstice date back to ancient times. From Soyal, the winter solstice celebration of the Hopi Indians of northern Arizona to Dong Zhi, the “arrival of winter,” in China, people around the world observe the solstice in unique and special ways. Although it's the shortest day (and longest night) of the year, this important astrological occurrence is viewed by many cultures as the return of the sun. After all, the days grow in length and light starting on December 22. We think this transition from fall to winter on the longest night of the year is worth a celebration! Check out these activities, crafts and book recommendations to help your family celebrate the winter solstice. Activities Night Walks and Hikes: Nature transforms at night with different sights and sounds to experience. Winter offers the unique opportunity to partake in night events without having to throw the kiddos routine out the window. Check out this list for ideas on how to take advantage of the long nights of winter. Sensory Scavenger Hunt: Welcome winter with each of the five senses. Review this printable checklist or create your own based on your region. Create a winter nature table: Creating a space where your kids can place items that remind them of winter is a great way to kick off the season! It can be as small or big as you want, and the items that you place on it can vary widely. You can include pine cones, pine needles, twigs, winter crafts (see below), etc. Or better yet, following principles of “leave no trace”, you can take photos of these items in nature to include on your table. Read this article for more creative ways to enjoy the outdoors with your family this winter. Craft Ideas Stick Art: Sticks and pinecones are plentiful this time of year. Here are 4 easy winter crafts to make using materials you can find in your own backyard. Craft or Bake a Yule Log: The Yule Log tradition started as a medieval Nordic tradition. The yule log was lit as a symbol to entice the sun to return and lengthen the days again. Check out this article for a fun Yule Log craft. Looking to add some baking into your winter solstice celebration? Check out this recipe for a yummy Yule Log cake! Winter Solstice Lanterns: Bring light to the longest night of the year by creating a nature-inspired lantern. Books to Read As the saying goes, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” These beautifully illustrated books help children of all ages understand what happens as fall turns to winter — starting with the shortest day of the year. Birth - 3 Years Winter in the Forest By Rusty Finch - Follow two little raccoons as they learn about winter in the forest. Even the littlest kiddos will enjoy lifting the flaps to discover hidden surprises in the snowy landscape. Winter Board Book By Gerda Muller - This chunky board book shows the joys of winter through beautiful illustrations. This book is part of a four-part, no-text series on the seasons. One Short Day in December By Lilith Rogers - This fun book follows a deer family of two moms and their baby deer as they celebrate the Winter Solstice. 4 Years and Up The First Day of Winter By Denise Fleming - Follow a little boy as he discovers all the trimmings needed to make a perfect snowman. This cumulative tale will have children chanting along to the tune of “Twelve Days of Christmas” starting with the first day of winter. Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter By Kenard Pak - Join a sister and brother as they greet the signs of winter while they explore nature and take a stroll through their town. The Shortest Day: Celebrating the Winter Solstice By Wendy Pfeffer - This book explains the science, history and cultural significance of the winter solstice in lyrical prose that kids can enjoy. How does your family celebrate the winter solstice? Let us know in the comments below!   Photos courtesy of Krystal Weir, Deanna Curry and Jessica Human. ABOUT OUTGROWN OutGrown is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to create a world where everyone can enjoy the physical and mental benefits of spending time outside. We are focused on creating opportunities and removing barriers to access so families with babies and young children can take their first steps outside. We believe all families have the right to connect with nature, benefit from spending time outdoors and be inspired to a lifelong love of nature. Since its grassroots inception in 2013, OutGrown is a growing community of 280,000 families and over 300 volunteer Branch Ambassadors. More information on all of our programs can be found at WeAreOutGrown.org    EDITORS NOTE: We hope you enjoyed reading this article from OutGrown. We’re working hard to provide our community with content and resources that inform, inspire, and entertain you. But content is not free. It’s built on the hard work and dedication of writers, editors, and volunteers. We make an investment in developing premium content to make it easier for families with young children to connect with nature and each other. We do not ask this lightly, but if you can, please make a contribution and help us extend our reach.  

Want to learn more about using the outdoors as a learning tool for your whole family? Check out these books to help inspire you to bring nature into your child’s education. Walter Payton Edwards @shootsipeat   Homeschooling If you have made the decision to homeschool your kiddos or are considering it, check out these books for inspiration, encouragement and resources to help you along your way. The Call of the Wild and Free: Reclaiming Wonder in your Child’s Education By Ainsley Arment  This versatile book offers information, advice, and encouragement for caregivers that are considering homeschooling, looking for inspiration for their current homeschooling approach, or even those who simply want supplementary resources to enhance their kids’ traditional educations. The Brave Learner: Finding Everyday Magic in Homeschool, Learning, and Life By Julie Bogart  Bogart takes a child-centered approach to schooling by showing parents how to make education an exciting experience for their kids and create an environment that naturally moves learning forward. She encourages caregivers to make room for surprise, mystery, risk, and adventure in their routine so their kids can approach life with curiosity, joy, and the courage to take learning risks. Ideas for Getting Kids Learning in Nature These books offer a plethora of fun and engaging ideas, tips, and activities, to help you get your kids outside to learn and have fun in nature. Vitamin N: The Essential Guide to a Nature-Rich Life By Richard Louv This practical guidebook includes over 500 activities for children and adults along with down-to-earth advice for connecting with the power and joy of the natural world right now. You will also find thought-provoking essays and informational websites on everything from outdoor activities to choosing nature-smart resources such as schools and medical professionals. The Green Hour: A Daily Dose of Nature for Happier, Healthier, Smarter Kids By Todd Christopher  Here you'll find a range of easy science lessons,  projects, and fun facts meant to engage and energize your child, as well as the practical advice for caregivers that makes getting outdoors less stressful. There are options for all age levels along with book recommendations and tips to help make your nature exploration more meaningful. Play the Forest School Way: Woodland Games and Craft for Adventurous Kids By Jane Worroll and Peter Houghton This outdoor adventure manual encourages self-esteem, confidence, and social skills through engagement with nature. It is loaded with ideas from making nature jewelry and whittling a bow and arrow, to building a shelter and foraging for food with variations based on age group and group size. A Year of Forest School: Outdoor Play and Skill-Building for Every Season By Jane Worroll This book follows the previous “Play the Forest School Way” guide with brand new games and activities. It is structured around the four seasons with each chapter packed full of step-by-step Forest School games and activities that harmonize with the weather and what’s happening in nature at that time of year. Guides that Inspire Kids to Explore Nature These fun guides speak straight to the kids. They include things like fun outdoor projects, seek-and-find lists, photo scavenger hunts, and kid-friendly recipes to try. These are great to throw in their backpack on a hike or take along on your next outdoor adventure. The Kid’s Guide to Exploring Nature By Brooklyn Botanic Garden Educators This beautifully illustrated guide inspires kids to look closely at the world around them and teaches them how to observe environments as a naturalist does. This book shows how the complex ecosystems of plants and animals in the woods, at the beach, and in a city park change with the seasons, and includes fun activities that encourage families to explore nature in new ways. Backpack Explorer: On the Nature Trail By Editors of Storey Publishing This take-along field guide is designed for kids aged 4-8 and includes seek-and-find lists, on-the-trail art projects, and discovery games to get kids engaged in hands-on learning about nature. It even includes a pull-out magnifying glass to give a close-up look at the tiny aspects of nature such as tiny insects and seed pods. Exploring Nature Activity Book for Kids: 50 Creative Projects to Spark Curiosity in the Outdoors By Kim Andrews  This gorgeously illustrated activity book includes 50 amazing outdoor projects that are designed for a variety of seasons, regions, and age ranges. The hands-on, get-dirty approach of this book encourages natural observation, exploration, and learning in the outdoors. Foraging with Kids: 52 Wild and Free Edibles to Enjoy with Your Children By Adele Nozedar This fun, useful book encourages families to interact with their environment and gain knowledge and practical understanding of the natural world by foraging for 50 easy-to-identify plants. Once they have foraged their plants, children will be amazed by the diverse practical uses that they can set them to, from making soap or stopping minor cuts to creating delicious meals. Why Learning in Nature is so Important These titles delve into the research and science about why getting kiddos outside is so important. They also include tips, advice, and family activities you can do right outside your door. How to Raise a Wild Child: The Art and Science of Falling in Love with Nature By Scott D. Sampson Sampson, the host and science advisor for the tv show “Dinosaur Train”, makes a compelling case for the importance of fostering a “nature connection” in children in the age of boundless technology. He also provides a variety of ways to explore and enjoy nature starting in our own backyards.   Balanced and Barefoot: How Unrestricted Outdoor Play Makes for Strong, Confident, and Capable Children By Angela J. Hanscom  This book, written by a pediatric occupational therapist, shows how unstructured freedom of movement and outdoor play is vital for the cognitive development and growth of our children. Hanscom offers tons of fun, engaging ways to get our kids outside and help ensure they grow into healthy, balanced, and resilient adults. There’s no Such Thing as Bad Weather: A Scandinavian Mom’s Secrets for Raising Healthy, Resilient, and Confident Kids By: Linda Akeson McGurk  This personal narrative illustrates how Scandinavian culture could hold the key to raising healthy, resilient, and confident children in America and beyond. McGurk helps us get over our fear of exposing our children to “poor weather conditions” in order to let them have the freedom to grow and explore in nature. Did we miss any books? What books would you add to the list? Looking for more information? Here are some other Hike it Baby posts that may be helpful. 10 Ways to Combine Nature and Virtual Learning Nature-Rich Resources for Distance Learning and Homeschooling 9 Diverse Children's Nature Books to Add to Your Collection Learning in Nature: Programs that Promote Love for Nature Epic Adventures Begin Right Outside Your Door with The New Outdoor Activity Booklet Series The Dos and Don'ts of Risky Play   Hike it Baby works to be the most effective hub of tools, information, and community inspiring all families with babies and young children to get outside and connect with nature. Learn more about Hike it Baby’s mission and how you can get involved. ABOUT HIKE IT BABY Hike it Baby is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to getting families outdoors and on trails across the U.S. and internationally, supporting, educating and inspiring families through their more than 300 communities across North America. Since its grassroots inception in 2013 in Portland, Oregon, Hike it Baby is now a growing community of 270,000 families and 500 volunteer branch ambassadors hosting more than 1,600 hikes per month. More information, as well as daily hike schedules, can be found at HikeitBaby.com, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram. Editors Note:   We hope you enjoyed reading this article from Hike it Baby. We’re working hard to provide our community with content and resources that inform, inspire, and entertain you.   But content is not free. It’s built on the hard work and dedication of writers, editors, and volunteers. We make an investment in developing premium content to make it easier for families with young children to connect with nature and each other. We do not ask this lightly, but if you can, please make a contribution and help us extend our reach.   This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through one of those links you won't pay more but Hike it Baby will get a small commission which helps us further our mission. Thanks!