Nature Activity!

There's a lot of discussion around smartphones and screens and how they can be addictive and draw children away from playing outdoors, but here's a way you can use them to help children engage with nature! Most kids love being given control of a task, particularly where there's technology involved so why not encourage them to become wildlife photographers! When you go for a walk, to play in the park or on your way to school why not encourage them to look out for interesting parts of nature to take a photo of. This could be a beautiful tree, some ducks, autumnal leaves on the ground or in this case a beautiful shadow cast by some leaves.

You can then take them home and make an exhibition and talk about and research what you've photographed. Even if the photos are blurry, have a thumb over the lens or only have half the subject in shot, the main thing is to share in their excitement of having created something. Your child can show other family members and friends what they've found. Younger children may need a fair bit of supervision to help with the photographing and to protect your phone but if they really get into it you can find loads of secondhand point and shoot digital cameras on Ebay or in charity shops for less than a tenner! Who knows you could have a future award winning photographer on your hands, but either way it's another cheap and easy way to help your child connect with the natural world.