You Don't Need a Jungle

If you are anything like me, when you think of children engaging in nature play, your mind immediately goes to a setting lush with greenery, full of trees to climb, flowing water, sandy embankments and a scattering of leaves, logs and stones across the ground.

Idyllic? Yes!

Realistic? Not really.

While there are a few of us, lucky enough to have access to spaces similar to the one I dream of, for many of us this is not our reality. When I allow my mind to wander this far into an imaginary world, it often limits me from seeing the potential that does exist in my setting. Nature play isn't dependent on having a jungle in your playground. When we dream of grander things, we often miss the things that are happening right in front of us.

Nature play can be as simple as........

Jumping in a puddle.

Feeling the smoothness of a stone beneath your fingers.

Running your hand over the bark of a tree.

Trying to catch the shadows as they dance on the ground.

Letting the sand trickle through your fingers.

Feeling the mud ooze up between your toes.

Collecting leaves, sticks and other natural treasures. 

Splashing, pouring and immersing in water.

Watching the clouds roll by in the sky.

Catching the rain as it falls.

Listening for the crunch of a leaf underfoot, a bird's song or a stone as it plops in the water. 

It's good to remind ourselves of the value in these small, but significant acts of nature play, while we aspire towards our jungles!


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