• View ecochildsplay’s profile on Facebook
  • View ecochildsplay’s profile on Twitter
  • View ecochildsplay’s profile on Instagram
  • View ecochildsplay’s profile on Pinterest
  • View Jennifer Lance’s profile on LinkedIn
  • View ecochildsplay’s profile on YouTube
  • View ecochildsplay’s profile on Google+

Eco Child's Play

Live a greener, healthier life!

  • Environment
  • Pregnancy
  • Food & Recipes
  • Health News
  • Parenting
  • Green Toys
  • Beauty & Beauty Products
  • Green Home & Cleaning
  • Contact

The Gift of Nature

‘Tis the weekend to find a meaningful, last-minute gift! The best gift you can give a child is a gift that will help forge a connection with nature. I believe birds and plants are the two great ambassadors of the environment. If your child has been nagging for a pet, why not help them develop a sense of responsibility and foster their connection to nature with a birdfeeder?

Contrary to what you may have heard, birdfeeding will not spread disease or make the birds forget where their natural food sources are. All seed is not created equal. The cheap seed you find in mega-marts generally comes from the bottom of the silo of seed for human consumption. It is long bereft of the healthy oils that the birds are seeking. If you see the birds, “sorting” through your seed, you need to look for a better quality source.

I purchased a “pole system” from my local Wild Birds Unlimited a few years ago and am watching a pair of cardinals, a nuthatch, purple finches, mourning doves, and blue jays converging on the feeder as I type. Yes, occassionally a sharp-shinned hawk swoops in to grab a meal; but learning about predator/prey and the cycle of life is part of appreciating nature!

A nature/field journal is not only a gift that will foster the connection between a child and their environment, but it is a gift that can become treasured memorabilia. Post-holiday, help get a kid going by suggesting a location to monitor or a place to visit and suggestions on what kind of data to record. Visit your local library or bookstore and look at journals of note. NEVER edit a child’s entry! This is a record of what they observed and thought at that moment and it is never “wrong.” Don’t be surprised if they go back and edit themselves when they find more information!

You can also give kids the opportunity to contribute to the family and make the connection between living, growing things and the food they eat. A “sprout kit” is easy to assemble and package up as a gift. For a kid, sprouting seeds is nothing short of pure alchemy! Imagine, just seed and water and, BINGO! Food! You can experiment with a wide variety different seed types and flavors. Could this be the key to getting them to eat more greens??

[This post was written by Lee Welles.]

  • Twitter
  • Email
  • Pinterest
  • Print
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • More
  • WhatsApp
  • Tumblr
  • Reddit
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Subscribe!

« Green Household Products – Seventh Generation’s Cheerleader for Eco Living
Organic Banana Bread with Flax Seeds »

Trackbacks

  1. The Baby Einstein Farce : Eco Child’s Play says:
    January 8, 2008 at 9:07 am

    […] interacting with their environment and loved ones. Playing with open-ended toys, such as blocks, exploring nature, reading books, etc. benefit children in ways a Baby Einstein product never can. In fact, a […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Search Content

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter


About Eco Child’s Play

Our ethos is to provide news, information, and opinions on natural, green parenting to help your family live a greener, healthier life! Additionally, we offer personal consulting services to help you achieve your green living goals.

Jennifer is a vegetarian, yoga teacher, gardener, hiker, teacher, and mother that has been living off-the-grid for over 20 years.

Contact Eco Child’s Play

AspenClean: Premier Cleaning Products & Service for the Eco-Conscious

Naturally Clean Appliances with PurTru All-Natural Cleaners

More from the archives!

Childhood Stress Contributes to Adult Disease

The truth on gluten: Celiac vs. gluten intolerance

The French Ban TV for Children Under Three

Toxic Chemical Lobby: Exclusive Leaked Footage!

Unassisted Childbirth: One Woman's Story

Vegan Creamy Cauliflower Tahini Bisque

Uniquely Scented, Soothing Hand Sanitizer with Integrity: New Vegan PlaneAire Hands with Aloe and Green Tea

Information

  • About & Contact
  • Archive
  • Blog
  • Consulting Services
  • Disclaimer, Disclosure, & Sponsored Posts
  • Privacy Policy

Hank D and the Bee: The Defenestrator and The Exfoliator–Dynamic Duo?

$75 Million Settlement From Pfizer Over Illegal Drug Trials

Toys R Us Goes Green, But Questions Remain

Repel Lice Naturally with Happyheads Lice Prevention Products

Green your Garage: Start with the Lube!

Popular Categories

  • Breastfeeding
  • Health News
  • Natural Childbirth
  • Parenting
  • Education
  • Product Review
  • Green Toys

Get our posts via email

Please stay in touch!

You might also like to read…

Super Cool Wooden Cars by Automoblox

Prevent the Stomach Flu: Close the Toilet Lid

The Story of Stuff and the Next Generation

From nappies to sleep: Organic baby balms

From nappies to sleep: Organic baby balms from Little Green Radicals

Green New Year's Resolutions From the Writers at Eco Child's Play

Copyright © 2021 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2021 · Divine Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.