Now that spring has arrived, it’s the perfect time for us to get outside and start enjoying the warm weather! What better way is there to help your children enjoy and learn more about the outdoors than engaging them in some themed activities? Learning about what weather is and how it affects us often starts as early as 3 years old. By this age, children are becoming more perceptive of the world around them, and they are usually able to notice natural materials such as color, texture, and shapes. As they observe the natural world, the topic of weather will naturally arise as it plays such a huge part in our everyday lives, and with spring, comes a lot of changes!
Help introduce your children to the vast topic of weather by teaching them about something we use every second of every day- AIR! Besides air being rather necessary for most of us living creatures, it is a very interesting topic when we study how air affects the world around us and how it relates to weather. While we cannot see air, we CAN feel it! According to National Geographic, wind, to put it simply, “is the movement of air caused by the uneven heating of the Earth by the sun.”
Studying the wind helps us have a better, more tangible, explanation of weather AND many creative activities can be used to introduce children to such topics and help keep them engaged with the world around them.
Start your lessons on wind by trying one (or more!) of the below activities:
Kite Flying
This is great for all ages! Buy a kite with your favorite colors or TV show character. If you want to be super adventurous, try making one from scratch!
For instructions and inspiration, click here: https://www.instructables.com/Easy-Paper-Kite-for-Kids/
Bubbles
Who doesn’t love bubbles?! Try getting a variety of different bubble wand shapes or a bubble machine! For an extra dose of magic, try adding 5-10 drops of food coloring into your soapy solution to make for a colorful creation. Ask your children about their observations of how different bubble sizes fare in the wind.
Try your hand at at-home bubble wands by following these steps: https://parents.highlights.com/how-to-make-homemade-bubbles-and-bubble-wands
Wind Chimes
Wind chimes are not only beautiful to listen to, but they’re super fun to make! There are a ton of different ways you can do this, but even using string and bottle caps and then tying them to a tree branch does the trick! For older kids, try upping the challenge by using beads and thread to make their chimes.
Pinwheels
Dating back to 400 B.C. China, pinwheels (also known as whirligigs) have been a symbol of joy and good luck. Playing with pinwheels can be a great way for those high-energy kiddos to get fresh air and exercise. They make a lovely decoration for your yard, which children can then study as the wind changes. Do you know what else can make a pinwheel turn? Blowing on it but human energy is a lesson for another time!
Make your own pinwheel by following this guide: https://onelittleproject.com/how-to-make-a-pinwheel/
Wind Flags
Design your own windsocks by decorating any sheet of paper, rolling it (make sure to leave a hole large enough to catch the breeze) then taping it, and attaching streamers to the bottom of it! See your beautiful creations flowing in the wind!
For detailed instructions, click here: https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Windsock-for-Children.
Creating fun children’s activities for these blustery days, and helping them learn, can help create a shift from fear of wind to excitement for it. If your child is experiencing anxiety around the weather, it may be rooted in fear of the unknown. Try teaching them about what different types of weather mean– this can be especially helpful for neurodivergent children who love to learn. Being able to understand what’s happening and knowing the facts can relieve anxiety as well as create excitement for it! Check out these links for kid-friendly explanations about the wind: https://www.weatherwizkids.com/weather-wind.htm & https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/wind/. For slightly older kiddos who thrive with hands-on learning, try conducting a science experiment at home to teach them about wind and why/ how it works. From making your sail-powered car to creating a tornado in a jar, there are so many ways to educate your children about our beautiful planet. For more ideas, click here: https://www.science-sparks.com/weather-science-for-kids/.
If you’re looking for someone to come bring some outdoor fun to you and your children, contact us at info@nannyauthority.com today!