We Are Nature: How spending time outside can help your child connect with herself

Remember as a child climbing a tree? Sitting high on a branch, bird-level high, embraced by the leaves, looking down at the earth below, we felt different. Not just removed from daily life but merged with something greater. Something wondrous, peaceful and inspiring. We were connected with Nature.

Our vibrantly alive earthly environment overflows with awe-inspiring creations, and our body is a part of this incomprehensible living system. Our body is part of this web of life.  

In Greek mythology, Earth was personified as Gaia, the supreme Mother Goddess who created and nurtured all of life. They believed humans were formed to be caretakers of Gaia and Her creations. Everything in nature was revered as a manifestation of Gaia, and She was worshipped under groves of trees and natural springs and celebrated in community festivals.

The Gaia Hypothesis, developed in the 1970s, embraces the divinity of Earth as a collection of biological systems that behave as a huge single entity. Plants, minerals, animals and humans are part of the system that coexists in harmony to maintain a healthy environment.

Astronomer Carl Sagan said, "The cosmos is within us. We are made of star-stuff." Some of the same organic molecules observed in space are found in our physical body.

Astronomers found that the elements of the stars, including carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorous, and sulfur, are known to be the building blocks of all life on Earth and make up 97% of the mass of the human body. 

In Nature, everything is connected. Thus, we are Nature.

In this article we share how spending time outside in nature can help your child connect with herself.

Your Daughter is Nature

Introducing our daughters to the infinite wonders of our world can help her view her own body as a miraculous creation.

On a micro level, her physical body is a constellation of cells, chemicals, and systems that collaborate through divine intelligence and support her health and life. Human biology and physiology are so complex and perfect that the world’s most brilliant scientists can barely grasp how it works. She is made of star stuff and embodies the divine.

On a macro, wider view of the human body, your daughter lives harmoniously with the rhythms of our planet. She is active during daylight and rests at night. She plays wildly during summer months and hibernates quietly in winter. Much like the phases of the moon, her energy waxes and wanes during her menstrual cycle. She consumes natures gifts of food, water and air so that her own divine gifts may come forward.

As part of a miraculous ecosystem, it’s important for children to spend time outside and develop a relationship with our planet.

When your daughter connects with the nature, she becomes part of a universe that helps her experience a richer life and greater appreciation for herself and others. Her own true nature is revealed.

Exploring and experiencing our world’s natural gifts benefit our human body in a variety of ways, including physically, mentally and spiritually. Here’s how:

Physical Benefits

Whether you sit and gaze at the beauty, or walk and hike over the land, being in nature positively affects our physical body. Relaxing helps to calm the nervous system and de-stress from daily worries. Walking, hiking, biking and other activity strengthens the muscles and bones, improves heart health and lowers blood pressure.

Sunshine increases the Vitamin D in our body, which helps us absorb calcium for strong bones and supports our immune system. Vitamin D is also linked to improved mood and inflammation regulation. 

The air outside in nature is healthier than indoor air. Fresh, outdoor air contains more oxygen, less carbon dioxide, and fewer toxins than the air inside of a building. Thus, walking in fresh air stimulates brain activity and increases energy.  

The air that circulates in natural environments such as beaches, forests, grasslands, waterfalls, and even groves of trees are loaded negative ions, known as “Air Vitamins.” These electrically charged oxygen molecules help purify the air and improve mood, reduce stress and even boost immunity.

Mental & Psychological Benefits

Removing ourselves from our small, enclosed, cramped world and stepping into the open air, big sky, and solid ground widens our perspective of life and helps our woes seem smaller. This calms the mind, soothes the nerves and invites clear thinking. Spending time in nature reduces the negative effects of stress, decreases anxiety and reduces rumination. Long term effects include reduced depression and improved cognitive function.

Access to green space has also been shown to improve mental well-being, cognitive development in children, and lower psychological distress in teens.

Nature increases a child’s sense of wonder and curiosity, which leads to further explorations and the development of special interests.

Witnessing the inter-connectedness of nature contributes to the development of empathy, which foster greater kindness and understanding for all creatures and people. This helps children grow into caring adults who care for the planet and each other.

Spiritual Benefits 

Many of us look at the stars and feel our strongest connection with the Universe. Others may experience a transcendent moment in the woods or the ocean. While connecting with the energy of Earth and Sky, many of us receive inspired ideas and divine guidance. 

Since the beginning of human consciousness, a Higher Power has been worshipped in nature. Even today, many cultures worship aspects of nature as holders of divine energy; Japanese Shinto, African Yoruba, Native American, Australian Aboriginal peoples and other indigenous tribes honor the energy and spirits that dwell within the rocks, plants, bodies of water, and mountains.  

Whether one believes in a Higher Power or not, the energy of earth and the cosmos is palpable and can affect us deeply. Studies show that a spiritual connection with nature enhances well-being and a greater sense of self. The spirit of land and sky soothes the soul and expands our conscious awareness of the vastness of life, which can help reduce the bigness of our personal problems into less significant ones.

Self-Esteem

The positive effects nature offers our body, mind and spirit contribute to the greatest gift we can give our children: confidence and higher self-esteem.

A combination of studies indicates that children exposed to nature reported significantly higher self-worth and positive feelings than when not exposed to nature. Activities in nature can help develop a child’s independence and self-sufficiency. With the view of a large, fascinating world, her mind is opened and interested are expanded. Nature helps children become deeper thinkers and less intrigued by superficiality, leading to appreciation of their own physical and mental gifts.

Overall, life for children improves when they experience nature.  

Ways to Experience Nature

Today, as children are becoming increasingly dependent (and addicted) to computer, iPad and smartphone screens, which are proving to be harmful to childhood development, it’s now vitally important to encourage outdoor time.

Following are activities that can help a child of any age detach from electronics and learn to enjoy the beauty and mysteries of the natural world. When possible, participate in outdoor activities with your daughter to strengthen your mother-daughter bond and deepen your own connection with nature.

Mindful Walking

Mindful walking is much like a moving meditation; simply go outside, step slowly and consciously on the ground, and become fully aware of the details of the nature around you. This simple exercise may be a challenge for some children, but practicing with your child can help it become a fun game.  

Walk together and look closely at the patterns on the leaf of a plant, to feel the texture of a rock, listen to the sound of a bird, sniff a flower. Encourage her to engage all of her senses. Share your discoveries with each other.  

Mindful walking calms the nervous system and supports the development of focusing and concentration. It is also shown to improve mood and sleep quality.

Nature is everywhere – even urban streets; weeds growing through the sidewalks, pigeons hanging out in puddles, clouds changing shape in the sky. The natural world overflows with mysterious beauty, and a mindful walk can contribute to our connection with nature. 

Walking and Hiking

For a more energetic immersion into nature, encourage your daughter to take a “regular” walk around your neighborhood or local city park. Though fewer details of nature are observed this way than with mindful walking, regular walking invites your daughter to experience the freshness of the air, swaths of color from the ground and trees, the sounds of birds, and the feel of the wind in her hair. Walking elevates mood, improves health, and calms the spirit.  

If possible, take your daughter to protected wilderness areas, such as state parks, nature conservancies, hiking trails, and waterfronts. Walking and hiking in these environments allow you to observe untouched ecosystems that illustrate Mother Nature’s purest form. Here you can engage in mindful viewing and delight in the details of nature’s diversity and beauty. 

Gardening

Working with the soil is a powerful way to help our daughters connect with the earthly delights. Growing a plant, be it a flowerpot on the patio or a row in a garden patch in the yard, invites her to experience the miracles of the earth and witness the development of a plant from a tiny seed.  

Gardening benefits children and adults in many ways: Physically, the body carries, digs, pushes and pulls to cultivate the land, which leads to increased blood circulation and muscle strength. Psychologically, gardening can lead to lower rates of depression, stress and anxiety. Studies have shown that gardeners experience a higher quality of life in general.

Spiritually, gardening stimulates your daughter's curiosity, wonder and awe. The thrill of watching a seed bear fruit or vegetables is a mystery that delights even veteran gardeners.

Support your daughter's gardening experience by starting small; plant herbs like basil, peppermint, rosemary or thyme in flowerpots. Remind her to water them regularly and remove dead leaves. When the herbs are mature, add them to a salad or other dishes, and celebrate her success in her harvest.

If you are a gardener and/or have the land, give her a small plot to grow vegetables, such as tomatoes, lettuce, and squash. Watch her self-confidence grow along with her plants.

Birdwatching

One of the most entertaining representations of nature is a bird. A bird flies, lands, flits and chirps. They eat and socialize together. These winged creatures come in an array of colors, sizes and behaviors.

A study shows that even everyday encounters with birds are associated with time-lasting improvements in mental well-being. And this is especially true for people living in urban environments. Listening to bird songs reduces stress and depression, and increases optimism and productivity. Bird watching improves children’s observational skills and attention to detail, which further enhances problem solving skills.  

Make birdwatching an enjoyable nature project for your child with a bird identification guide. Challenge her to name the species she sees in the sky or trees and record them in a journal or notebook. As her bird journal expands, so will her self-confidence and appreciation of nature. It may spur her interest in birds and nature that can last a lifetime. Binoculars can helpful while in the field, but not necessary. A bird feeder attracts all kinds of birds and allows you to view from the window. Though not outside, it's still fun to watch and identify these little feathered creatures.

Star Gazing

The stars have fascinated humans since the beginning of time and continue to be the focus of scientists who explore the mysteries of the cosmos. Perhaps your child may experience a similar intrigue with the constellations and planets. Star gazing can open your child’s mind to immensity and beauty of the natural world.   

Studies show that people who connect with the night sky have better mental health, feel less stress and are generally happier.

You may inspire your child’s appreciation of the night sky simply by going outside after dark. If you’re lucky and live in an area without streetlights, you may see constellations, but even in lighted cities it’s possible to see brighter stars and planets. Stargazing can take place anytime, and because of the earth’s rotation, the stars appear in a different location every night.

Make stargazing fun for your child with a star map or handbook. You may also download a stargazing map on your smartphone. Sit with your child, find stars in the sky, and use your handbook or app to find their name. Your child may record in a journal or notebook the star’s name and draw a picture of its location in the sky with the day's date. Over time, she may be surprised by the star’s changing position each night.

Moon Tracking

The moon has been a fascination since the start of humanity. Its constant rhythm of waxing and waning helped humans track time and inspired the first calendars. Early science discovered the moon’s powerful effects on the ocean tides and even the human body.  

The moon has been associated with a woman’s menstrual cycle, as each have a cycle of approximately 28 days (though menstruation can vary between 24 and 35 days). Like the moon, our body’s energy waxes and wanes during our monthly menstrual cycle.  

The simple act of tracking the phase of the moon each evening can help your daughter connect with her inner-nature and appreciate the rhythm of her own body. It’s easy. She simply draws or writes the phase of the moon on a calendar, and simultaneously, writes the phase of her cycle. Over the months, she will observe her cycle in and out of synchronizing with the moon's phases. When her period does start on a full moon or new moon, she may decide to celebrate the magic of her body's connection with nature.

You and your daughter can learn more about the moon and menstruation in our FREE booklet, Your Body is Like the Moon: Self-Care for Each Phase of Your Cycle. Download it from our homepage.  

Camping

Camping is a great way to escape our artificial world and fully commune with Earth’s wonders. Sleeping under the stars, hiking in the woods and sharing the land with the creatures can refresh the body, mind and spirit like little else.

Of course, camping is a family experience and not advised for unsupervised children. Together as a family you set up the tent, cook your meals, and keep your supplies organized. This boosts a child’s sense of accomplishment.

Together you may hike, bird watch, star gaze, tell stories by a fire, and dream together. This creates a strong family bond which translates into improved social behavior in general.

Camping does not require a lot of equipment, though you need a few basics, such as a tent, simple burner for cooking, lantern, and cooler. You can improvise everything else; a stack of blankets to sleep on and under, a box for storing food. Or you may decide to go for more luxurious camping and rent a camper.

For beginners, camping in local and state parks are best, because they’re typically well maintained and attended by other families. Often a camp host or ranger lives on the premises. These days, camping fees are required, and advanced reservations are recommended. Google “state parks with campgrounds” to find what is available near you. Once your child tries camping, she will never for get it and will be forever changed by her time in nature.

Conclusion

As you can see, encouraging your child to spend time in nature is a good investment that will positively impact her entire life. Cultivating her appreciation of nature will strengthen her care for the environment, which is good for the world.

After an outdoor activity, go to HonorNature.org, where your daughter can download a free "In Honor of Nature" certificate. She will feel proud to display it in her room and will have fun inviting her friends to download their own certificates.

We are Nature. Your daughter is nature and composed of the element of earth and sky. Her body is a divine creation made from the stars. Whether your daughter dances among the trees to honor Gaia or records in her journal the details of a bird's wing, her connection with Nature can help her discover and appreciate her own wonders.