Finding age-appropriate nature fun for littles to do on your homestead this May-June is tricky the younger they are. But it’s so important to get them involved and engaged young so when they are old enough they will want to be part of the family team and contributing to the homestead. That’s the end goal.
But it’s been hard to figure out what’s age-appropriate and how I can involve them in the most meaningful way. Here’s what I’ve come up with so far and yes – these are actual things I’ve done and will do with my littles in this season.
May to June Activities for 0-24 Months
When they’re this young, it’s easy and also very hard to get them involved since they’re still basically blobs. But don’t negate the importance of them being there when possible!
Baby Wearing While Gardening
This seems like an easy thing, but they baby gets to be part of the experience of being outside in the sun smelling the soil and seeing you try your very best to do something with a 15 pound blob attached to your front.
Playing in Designated Soil
Until the child is over the age of two, it’s hard to them to really control their impulses and not pull plants or dig out flowers. Providing them with a designated play area/container filled with extra garden soil to play with is not only a great sensory tool but also a fantastic way to get connected with earth and connect this soil to what you’re doing.
May to June Activities for 2-3 Years Old
Watering the Gardens
Kids love water! Teaching them that we need to water the garden beds and perhaps giving them the chore (with your assistance obviously) of watering is giving them purpose and a goal for the family unit. It’s practicing their motor skills while also feeling involved. You may need to pick up their slack when they decide they’re over it, but it’s a start!
Planting Their Own Pot
Pots are easier to maintain than garden beds. They’re more mobile and can easily be moved to where-ever the little preschooler wants them. Help them pick a pot, fill it with soil, plant a seed or two and add water. Then they can see their plant grow each and every day. Through this they’ll start learning about patience and rewards.
We went to the nursery and let our 3 year old pick a flower she really liked and let her plant and water it in her own pot.
Painting Red Rocks for Strawberry Protection
This is a fun task you can do yearly with kids this age and older. It including painting (a child’s favourite thing) while also helping the garden! As strawberry season approaches, lots of animals come to eat them so a natural early season deterrent is to do paint red rocks for the animal to peck at, realize it’s not food and look elsewhere. It’s a tactic in my ‘how to protect strawberry bed from pests’.
Harvesting Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits and Flowers
Littles at this age are perfect for harvesting all sorts of garden snacks. Using garden pruners (which are like scissors – good fine motor skill practical use) they can cut off kale or lettuce or spinach leaves. They can pick strawberries off the vine. They can cut off some oregano or mint in the garden. They can pick dandelion flowers and place into a bowl.
Additionally, they can also cut stem flowers and arrange a floral bouquet from the garden. This is a very Montessori inspired concept, to arrange flowers. I love that the kids can create their own beauty in the home while also showcasing their art to everyone that passes by it.
Helping Cook In the Kitchen
Some people are hesitant to have a 2 or 3 year old help in the kitchen – but I truly feel this is important in building that family team and solidifying from youth, the importance of homecooked meals crafted by hand with love.
Yard Clean-Up
This has been so well received by all children 3 and under! My littles love driving around in their battery-powered car and picking up fallen sticks and rocks to help daddy before he has to cut the grass.
Conclusion
Have you tried these activities with your little kids? Are there other fun nature activities you do for kids these ages in May-June?
