The Nature for Toddlers Activity Book: 50 Fun Early Learning Activities to Explore the Natural World

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First Rockridge Press trade paperback edition 2022

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Paperback ISBN: 978-1-68539-735-7 | eBook ISBN: 979-8-88608-834-2

Manufactured in the United States of America

Interior and Cover Designer: Jennifer Hsu

Art Producer: Sue Bischofberger

Editor: Laura Bryn Sisson

Production Editor: Emily Sheehan

Production Manager: David Zapanta

Illustrations used under license from shutterstock.com

Author photo courtesy of Joel Gardner

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To my boys, Zane and Calvin, and their fellow wild nature critters

Contents

CHAPTER 1: Before You Explore

CHAPTER 2: Fun with Nature All around Us: Weather, Seasons, and More

Nature Scavenger Hunt

Heading Out for a Hike

Rainy Day Puddle Stomping

Noticing Nature on a Rainy Day

Nature Obstacle Course

All Seasons Sensory Walk

Reading about Nature in Nature

Making a Nature Stick

Nature Impressions

Nature Texture Surprise

Nature Fishing

Packing for a Picnic

CHAPTER 3: Learning about Earth: Soil, Rocks, and Water

Cooking in the Mud Kitchen

Mud Painting

Water, Soil, and Rocks Sensory Bins

Observing a Pond

Rock Collecting and Categorizing

Rock Stacking

Rock Scrub

Wagon Haul

Pond Water Sampling

Skipping Rocks

Water Painting

Discovering Geodes

Quick and Easy Sandbox

CHAPTER 4: Creatures and Critters: Birds, Bugs, and More

Animal Theater

Making Tracks

Bug Hunt

Worms in the Rain

Animal Home Tour

Bird Sound Sleuth

Making a Pinecone Feeder

Building Nests

Making a Critter

Signs of Birds Scavenger Hunt

Catching Butterflies

Creating a Bird Feeding Station

Raising Happy Butterflies

CHAPTER 5: Green Growers: Flowers, Leaves, and Trees

Growing a Miniature Garden

Pressing Flowers

Leaf Rubbings

Leaf Memory Game

Making Nature Crowns

Name That Smell

Making Tree Faces

Becoming a Tree Friend

Making an Outdoor Mural

Making Leaf People

Exploring Seeds

Growing Roots from Foods We Eat

Resources

References

Acknowledgments

About the Author

CHAPTER 1

Before You Explore

The outside world is a wonderfully stimulating place for a toddler to explore. The smells, sights, sounds, and textures offer a sensory smorgasbord to enrich your child’s growing brain. Toddlers are curious, playful, and ready and willing to take in new experiences and explore their world. That’s why the first three years of life are the perfect time to introduce your child to nature play!

Digging in mud, planting seeds, balancing on a log, splashing in puddles, and scribbling with sticks are all fantastic fun for a toddler, but these activities also help foster a toddler’s physical development. The activities in this book are designed to delight toddlers and inspire learning through outdoor play in nature. Your toddler will develop physical, creative, fine motor, and language skills in a fun, age-appropriate way when engaging with the natural world.

My Toddler-Parenting Nature Adventure

When my oldest son was a toddler, he started noticing everything about