NATURE TIP #4: You Don't Need to Be an Expert!

Many parents and teachers are intimidated to take children out into nature for fear that the kids will ask questions the adult can’t answer. The truth of the matter is that very few people are true nature experts, able to identify the bulk of plants and animals in a given region, or address queries about rocks, clouds, and waterways. And the great news is that you don’t need to be an expert! You simply need to take kids outside, show enthusiasm and respect for the outdoors, and let the child lead the way. If kids ask questions you can’t answer, work together to come up with some plausible explanations and perhaps continue the discovery on the computer when you get home, figuring out the answers together. While out in nature, take on the role of mentor rather than teacher. That means questions are typically far more powerful than answers.  Watch the child carefully, find out what they’re interested in—perhaps some insect, bird, or tree—and then ask them something about it. “Why do you think that squirrel spends so much time in trees?” “How big do you think that cloud really is?” The key is to power up imaginations and help to inspire wonder and awe. Oh yeah, and have fun! 

(Image source: Wikimedia Commons)