Are you just starting out with nature study or trying to revive flagging interest?  Here are a few ideas to jump start nature study activities with your family:

1. Set out a bird feeder.  It is winter in North America and this is a perfect time to set out a feeder and attract hungry birds.   If you place your bird feeder in view of a window, you can enjoy your new feathered friends from the comfort of indoors.  Don’t forget to also pick up a bird identification book at the library.

2.  Start a collection.  Leaves, rocks, seeds, pressed flowers, shells, the list is endless.  Young children especially love to fill an empty egg carton with their treasures.

3.  Get new lenses.   A sturdy magnifying glass or a pair of binoculars will entice your children to observe the world around them more closely.   How about an inexpensive camera to give you insight into how your children view the world around them?

4.   Add to your library.   New field guides and nature themed books with bright photos and colorful illustrations are sure to catch the attention of your children.  Our family loves the Smithsonian Handbooks series.

5.  Appeal to the arts.   If your children are artistic, a new pad of paper and a set of paints or watercolor pencils will delight them as they capture the line on a leaf or the wing of a bird.

You can find more nature study inspiration under our blog’s nature study category.