Lesson Walk

As a parent I am always trying to find interesting ways in which I can incorporate learning, exercise, and the natural world. In a society were media and technology rein, teaching your kids simple things like numbers and letters are not excluded. There are so many movies, computer games, and T.V. shows that do this seemingly well. Here is my issue with things like this, it takes the personality out of parenting. You are so tempted to just sit them in front of a television and walk away to do chores, work, or just have personal time. I know it is quite tempting, and on occasion it is perfectly fine when balanced with other activities. I have made a new years resolution to engage my little ones in learning experiences outside.
I want to share the first of many Lesson Walks as I am calling them. As a family we love taking walks whenever we get a chance. It gives us time to spend together and talk without distraction. I have found that I look forward to these walks and makes our family seem closer. As we walk we talk to our children, and always make a discovery whether it is a cool rock, stick, or acorn. Our children ask many questions and we try to answer them as best as we can. My focus is to make these walks a bit more structured. Trying to sit my kids down and teach them letters and numbers has been a hassle in the past, especially with my middle daughter.  She however loves being outside and discovering things. I thought if maybe I can incorporate her love of the outdoors and learning, it would be a win-win.
My oldest daughter has the ability to walk to school, so today I incorporated some learning objectives for my four year old. I gave her the task of finding letters and numbers along our walk. I was sure she would point out some obvious letters and numbers on signs and houses, but was surprised when she found them made from natural materials. Surprisingly she was all for it, and found many hidden letters and numbers that I really didn't see.
I encouraged her to look for letters and numbers. She was intrigued by the scavenger hunt aspect of it. She also was discovering other things as well. She noticed ice, acorns split open, squirrels, and animal prints. Of course we had to discuss all of these discoveries and it turned into quite the lesson as the questions she had about all we where seeing kept coming. She was able to tell me why the water turns to ice, what kind of animals she thought made the footprints, how the acorns got split, and what the squirrels where doing. What was important is that I was simply asking her questions and allowing her to answer. I listened carefully, and allowed her imagination to take hold. Some of her answers took me by surprise and even impressed me, as they where stated with adult like composition.
What I learned is that these walks where fun, interesting, and most of all successful. We walked and skipped together singing songs, and talking. It reminds me of how much I enjoy being a mother and how much I learn from my children. I remembered fond days of doing the same with my mother and how much I learned from her. I can only hope that these Lesson Walks can continue and I can continue to teach my children to respect and learn from nature.