{"id":21866,"date":"2025-07-09T14:54:58","date_gmt":"2025-07-09T13:54:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/?p=21866"},"modified":"2025-07-15T12:13:07","modified_gmt":"2025-07-15T11:13:07","slug":"sharing-outdoor-experiences-with-children","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/sharing-outdoor-experiences-with-children\/","title":{"rendered":"Nature nurtures: Sharing outdoor experiences with children"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"color: #000080;\" data-olk-copy-source=\"MessageBody\">Based on research originally published as: Ruckert, J. H., Moreno, C., Postigo, M., &amp; Thurston, M. J. (2024). <span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><a style=\"color: #00ccff;\" href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/08927936.2024.2345473\">Encountering animals cultivates meaningful shared experiences between children and parents<\/a>.<\/span> <i>Anthrozo\u00f6s<\/i>, <i>37<\/i>(4), 705\u2013726.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_79_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"cursor:pointer\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #121c4e;color:#121c4e\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #121c4e;color:#121c4e\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/sharing-outdoor-experiences-with-children\/#Key_takeaways_for_caregivers\" >Key takeaways for caregivers<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/sharing-outdoor-experiences-with-children\/#Children_and_nature\" >Children and nature<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/sharing-outdoor-experiences-with-children\/#How_we_uncovered_the_meaning_of_shared_nature_moments\" >How we uncovered the meaning of shared nature moments<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/sharing-outdoor-experiences-with-children\/#Typology_of_nature_experiences\" >Typology of nature experiences<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/sharing-outdoor-experiences-with-children\/#Exploring_nature_strengthening_social-emotional_skills\" >Exploring nature, strengthening social-emotional skills<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/sharing-outdoor-experiences-with-children\/#Relational_bonding\" >Relational bonding<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/sharing-outdoor-experiences-with-children\/#Tips_for_building_relationship_between_your_child_and_nature\" >Tips for building relationship between your child and nature<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_takeaways_for_caregivers\"><\/span><strong>Key takeaways for caregivers<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>In our work, parents reported that a variety of nature experiences (e.g., reading nature books, watching nature documentaries, playing in the backyard or at a park) are meaningful and valuable.<\/li>\n<li>When asked to share a story about a meaningful time they had outside with their children, parents most often recalled encounters with wild animals, particularly in their natural habitats.<\/li>\n<li>Parents remarked on their children\u2019s psychological experiences of sustained attention, <a href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/curiosity-efficient-learning\/\">curiosity<\/a>, and perspective taking. Outdoor adventures sparked children\u2019s desire to learn, as evident in their questions about animals and ecosystems. Children showed empathy and understanding by considering the needs of animals (e.g., when raising tadpoles and learning about their changing diets).<\/li>\n<li>In nature, parents can model what is meaningful and valuable through their interactions with nature. They can also serve as guides, encouraging their children to observe the natural world, ask questions, and develop a sense of caring and connection with animals and ecosystems. These shared adventures not only deepen children&#8217;s appreciation for nature but also strengthen the bond between parents and their children.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Children_and_nature\"><\/span><strong>Children and nature<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Over decades of research, children\u2019s experiences in nature \u2013 particularly those shared with caregivers \u2013 have consistently been linked to children\u2019s healthy development (including <a href=\"https:\/\/www.childrenandnature.org\/resources\/category\/benefits-of-nature\/\">physical, psychological, and social<\/a> development), as well as their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jstor.org\/stable\/10.7721\/chilyoutenvi.17.4.0144\">developing environmental commitments<\/a>. Interactions with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hup.harvard.edu\/books\/9780674017528\">animals<\/a> have played a key role in children\u2019s psychological well-being and their developing concerns about conservation.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_21869\" style=\"width: 2570px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21869\" class=\"wp-image-21869 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/pexels-pixabay-51953-1-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"A mother holds her child high in the air whilst the sun sets in the background.\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1696\" srcset=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/pexels-pixabay-51953-1-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/pexels-pixabay-51953-1-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/pexels-pixabay-51953-1-1024x678.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/pexels-pixabay-51953-1-768x509.jpg 768w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/pexels-pixabay-51953-1-1536x1017.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/pexels-pixabay-51953-1-2048x1356.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/pexels-pixabay-51953-1-356x236.jpg 356w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/pexels-pixabay-51953-1-700x464.jpg 700w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/pexels-pixabay-51953-1-50x33.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-21869\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/photo\/silhouette-photo-of-a-mother-carrying-her-baby-at-beach-during-golden-hour-51953\/\">Pixabay<\/a> on Pexels<\/p><\/div>\n<p>In a world where many spaces and places to experience these kinds of interactions are in <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/pan3.10118\">danger of disappearing (referred to as <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/pan3.10118\"><em>extinction of experience)<\/em><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/pan3.10118\">,<\/a> it is important to understand the range of nature experiences and the meaning and value they offer children and their families.<\/p>\n<p>Often, children explore the natural world with help from their caregivers. This may involve finding roly-polies in the dirt on a family camping trip, and being fascinated by their squirming legs and ability to roll into a tight little ball when they are accidentally flipped over. It may involve hearing the hoots of owls and the chirping of insects as the children go to bed, which creates an unusual but somehow comforting symphony.<\/p>\n<p>In a study we conducted, we gathered heartwarming stories from parents of young children to explore the types of nature experiences they shared and what made these moments meaningful.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_we_uncovered_the_meaning_of_shared_nature_moments\"><\/span><strong>How we uncovered the meaning of shared nature moments<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>While many studies have outlined the benefits of children\u2019s nature experiences, few have explored parents\u2019 perspectives on the meaning and quality of these experiences. In our study, we asked two overarching questions: 1) What do parents do outside with their children? And 2) What makes these experiences valuable to the parents?<\/p>\n<p>Forty-nine parents (82% mothers, 18% fathers) of young children (seven and 10 years old) completed a written survey in which they provided a short narrative response to the prompt, \u201cPlease describe a meaningful nature experience that you have shared with your child.\u201d Most parents in our study were White (74%), nearly all were college educated (92%), and all lived in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States.<\/p>\n<p>To understand the range and significance of parent-child outdoor experiences, we analyzed the stories to identify patterns, categorize key ideas, and accurately represent parents&#8217; perspectives. Combining insights from previous research with a careful review of the narratives in our study, we identified themes that highlight the types of outdoor experiences parents find most meaningful, their impact on children\u2019s emotional growth, and how they strengthen family bonds and connections to nature.<\/p>\n<p>We identified three key findings:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>A diverse typology of nature experiences matters to parents,<\/li>\n<li>Parents reported that their children demonstrated curiosity and perspective-taking skills during these outdoor adventures, and<\/li>\n<li>Parents valued the natural experiences for the relational bonding their children experienced with nature, their parents, and families.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Typology_of_nature_experiences\"><\/span><strong>Typology of nature experiences<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Based on the work of <a href=\"https:\/\/psycnet-apa-org.library.lcproxy.org\/record\/2002-01686-005\">Stephen Kellert<\/a>, a professor of social ecology who explored ties between people and nature, we organized parents\u2019 descriptions of nature experiences into three categories: direct, indirect, and vicarious.<\/p>\n<p><em>Direct experiences<\/em> are those that can be seen as wild (e.g., encountering a wild animal in nature). For example, when a parent shared, &#8220;When visiting Grammy in Montana, we have seen many wild animals in her yard: deer, rabbits, birds, chipmunks, squirrels,\u201d we coded this under Kellert\u2019s <em>direct <\/em>category since these wild animals moved spontaneously through the grandparent\u2019s yard.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_21870\" style=\"width: 2570px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21870\" class=\"wp-image-21870 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/pexels-jenny-uhling-2262740-17807527-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"A child and a dog look at a mountain view.\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" srcset=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/pexels-jenny-uhling-2262740-17807527-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/pexels-jenny-uhling-2262740-17807527-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/pexels-jenny-uhling-2262740-17807527-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/pexels-jenny-uhling-2262740-17807527-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/pexels-jenny-uhling-2262740-17807527-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/pexels-jenny-uhling-2262740-17807527-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/pexels-jenny-uhling-2262740-17807527-356x237.jpg 356w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/pexels-jenny-uhling-2262740-17807527-700x467.jpg 700w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/pexels-jenny-uhling-2262740-17807527-50x33.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-21870\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/photo\/blonde-child-with-dog-in-mountains-17807527\/\">Jenny Uhling<\/a> on Pexels<\/p><\/div>\n<p><em>Indirect experiences<\/em> are domesticated and controlled by people (e.g., encountering a starfish at the aquarium, or as a parent reported, \u201cWe visited the bear sanctuary outside Bozeman\u201d).<\/p>\n<p><em>Vicarious experiences<\/em> are mediated by technological and other sources (e.g., reading a book on sharks, watching an episode of Wild Kratts, interacting with a robotic toy dog). For example, a parent told us, \u201cWe have a cousin who moved to Australia but they did have some animals she had never heard of. We went online to look them up and learn all about the \u2018unknown\u2019 animals of Australia.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In our study, parents mentioned all three types of nature encounters, demonstrating the diversity of experiences parents find meaningful. However, most of the encounters parents described in their spontaneous storytelling were direct and wild, involving exposure to animals in their natural habitat. When parents discussed vicarious experiences, they often framed them as enhancements of a direct experience (e.g., &#8220;he frequently wrote about the trip and shared photos he had taken.\u201d).<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Exploring_nature_strengthening_social-emotional_skills\"><\/span><strong>Exploring nature, strengthening social-emotional skills <\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Building on <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/978-3-030-32146-8_10\">the work of Gail F. Melson<\/a>, a noted authority on children\u2019s relationships with animals, nature, and emerging technologies, we identified various psychological responses parents observed in their children during the outdoor adventures.<\/p>\n<p>These activities often sparked curiosity (e.g., \u201cShe asked lots of questions about where  live, how old we thought they were, what they eat, etc.\u201d).<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Parents\u2019 stories revealed how their children demonstrated perspective taking by considering the unique needs of animals.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Nearly half the stories highlighted children\u2019s sustained focus and fascination with nature. For instance, one parent told us, \u201c can spend hours searching tidal pools for creatures, or under rocks\/logs in the woods searching for bugs.\u201d Reported another: \u201cThe water had receded quite a distance and we could get right up to the rocks to look at the starfish, urchins, anemones, and other tidal pool creatures.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Parents\u2019 stories revealed how their children demonstrated <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1089\/eco.2018.0039\">perspective taking by considering the unique needs of animals<\/a>. For example, one parent shared, \u201cWe gathered tadpoles from a neighbor\u2019s pond and raised them up into frogs. It was fascinating to watch the excitement when changes were discovered. Also, the ever-changing food needs as they grew bigger gave lots of opportunities to research tadpole, froglet, and\u2009frog dietary needs.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Relational_bonding\"><\/span><strong>Relational bonding<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><em>Relational bonding<\/em> is about building and strengthening connections \u2013 between parents and children, and between children and the natural world. When children share outdoor experiences with their caregivers, these moments not only promote psychological and physical health but also <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/pan3.10128\">nurture a lifelong commitment to caring for the environment<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Research by Louise Chawla on children and nature highlights four key ways parents influence their children\u2019s connection to nature:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Emphasizing that caring for the land is an important part of the family\u2019s identity and well-being<\/li>\n<li>Disapproving of harmful or destructive practices in nature<\/li>\n<li>Expressing joy and pleasure when spending time outdoors<\/li>\n<li>Showing fascination with natural wonders and phenomena<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Parents play a crucial role in getting their children outside and helping them develop a sense of well-being and connection to the world around them. What caregivers focus on during these shared adventures \u2013 whether admiring a bird\u2019s song, examining bugs under a log, or marveling at a sunset \u2013 teaches children what is meaningful and worth appreciating and protecting.<\/p>\n<p>The parents in our study talked about bonding through shared interests. For example, one said, \u201cWe also listen to the birds in the park and we talk about them. I can\u2019t think of a particular conversation or experience \u2013 I think of all these chats to\/from school as part of a larger whole.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Parents also shared their emotions; for example, one said, \u201cIn the summer of 2012, we went to Yellowstone National Park and visited geysers and saw lots of wildlife. My child was very moved by the whole experience.\u201d These moments do more than just deepen children\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/muse.jhu.edu\/pub\/330\/article\/897533\/summary\">love for the outdoors; they also strengthen the bond<\/a> they share with their parents.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tips_for_building_relationship_between_your_child_and_nature\"><\/span><strong>Tips for building relationship between your child and nature<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Building from our data and the rich literature that structures and guides us, we offer 10 tips on how caregivers can connect with their children in outdoor spaces.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Going outside <\/strong>is physically and psychologically <a href=\"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/10.1177\/0885412215595441\">beneficial to children<\/a>, boosting creativity and critical thinking, building social connections with family, and supporting lifelong commitments to care for the natural world. The outdoors can be a big and wild place (e.g., a national park) or your backyard or a nearby park. The key is to find more time to bring nature into your lives together. What caregivers focus on during these shared adventures \u2013 whether admiring a bird\u2019s song, examining bugs under a log, or marveling at a sunset \u2013 teaches children what is meaningful and worth appreciating and protecting<\/li>\n<li><strong>Reflecting<\/strong> to a child about your <a href=\"https:\/\/muse.jhu.edu\/article\/897533\">shared nature experience<\/a> supports bonding and boosts awareness of the world around the child. Many of the nature experiences shared by parents in our research highlighted meaningful activities and the ways they support family connections and shared love and concern for the natural environment. You can reflect on what happens, what you see and do, and how the experiences support your relationships as a family and as part of the wider wilder natural community.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Paying attention <\/strong>is a <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/14729679.2020.1736110\">powerful element in the interaction<\/a>. Much has been written on the importance of being present and in the moment. Taking this practice to nature, and with your child, can deepen the relationships you are fostering. Parents in our study said how meaningful the shared experiences were when they were attending to the moment and the child\u2019s experience of that moment.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Educating<\/strong> children about the natural world by <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/978-3-319-67286-1_49\">learning with them<\/a> builds a sense of love and respect for animals and the outdoors. Engaging in outdoor activities, such as bird watching, gardening, and raising animals, may foster new and exciting conversations. It can feel challenging to not know an answer to an eager child\u2019s question, but this is a good opportunity to learn together about an animal\u2019s habitat or lifestyle or a plant\u2019s place in an ecosystem.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Encouraging<\/strong> questions is another way <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4324\/9780203940723\">educating and learning<\/a> can occur, and while caregivers may help answer some of their children\u2019s questions, they can also ask a question about what they are seeing, which in turn can encourage them to pay attention to natural processes and the five senses (e.g., \u201cWhat do you hear? The birds chirping\u2026\u201d \u201cWhat do you see? Paw prints in the dirt\u2026\u201d). Asking questions about what children are feeling can encourage appreciation of nature, while also deepening their understanding of their emotions by having them reflect on those feelings.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Diversifying<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1660-4601\/13\/6\/529\">nature activities in your own neighborhood<\/a><u> can provide a way to deepen exploration<\/u>. In our study, parents talked about experiences in national parks, at zoos and beaches, and in their backyards, including experiences with their own pets and school projects about sea creatures. All nature experiences (direct, indirect, vicarious) are important to children and when parents diversify the activities, it gives their children a fuller picture of what nature can mean. While a big trip to a national forest may not be an option for everyone, looking in a small patch of grass outside your front door or taking a walk and seeing what lurks in the trees in a local park are great ways to look for different creatures close to home.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Valuing wilder places is also important<\/strong>. The words <em>nature, wild, <\/em>and<em> natural<\/em> have different cultural meanings and definitions that require some thoughtfulness. The idea of <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/0013916510385082\">valuing wilder<\/a> spaces is meant to encourage seeing plants and animals in a place that is natural to them and appreciating how the world works without human intervention.\n<p><div id=\"attachment_21872\" style=\"width: 2570px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21872\" class=\"wp-image-21872 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/pexels-panditwiguna-1128318-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Two parents are teaching their child how to ride a bike outside.\" width=\"2560\" height=\"2024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/pexels-panditwiguna-1128318-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/pexels-panditwiguna-1128318-300x237.jpg 300w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/pexels-panditwiguna-1128318-1024x810.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/pexels-panditwiguna-1128318-768x607.jpg 768w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/pexels-panditwiguna-1128318-1536x1215.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/pexels-panditwiguna-1128318-2048x1620.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/pexels-panditwiguna-1128318-356x282.jpg 356w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/pexels-panditwiguna-1128318-700x554.jpg 700w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/pexels-panditwiguna-1128318-50x40.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-21872\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/photo\/man-standing-beside-his-wife-teaching-their-child-how-to-ride-bicycle-1128318\/\">Agung Pandit Wiguna<\/a> on Pexels<\/p><\/div><\/li>\n<li><strong>Discussing<\/strong> the animals and plants you see with your child can encourage talk about your shared values. Whether these talks take place at the dinner table or on a car or bus ride, discussing shared nature experiences can encourage consideration of what conservation means, as well as talk about shared beliefs and ways of seeing the world.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Acknowledging <\/strong>the varied ways you and your child interact with nature is another important activity. Whether you check out a library book about butterflies, observe a crow in a tree, or watch a documentary on dolphins, these activities represent important ways of learning about the world.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Bringing in your own interests<\/strong>. When a child sees that you like something, that shared activity can deepen your bond and increase their care for the world. Whether your interest is in fishing, skipping rocks, pressing flowers, or making a whistle out of a blade of grass or an acorn top, talking about those activities and even engaging your child in the activity can be a joyous experience. You may also want to invite your child to show you their favorite animal or rock.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div class=\"mceTemp\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Based on research originally published as: Ruckert, J. H., Moreno, C., Postigo, M., &amp; Thurston, M. J. (2024). Encountering animals cultivates meaningful shared experiences between children and parents. Anthrozo\u00f6s, 37(4), 705\u2013726.\u00a0 Key takeaways for caregivers In our work, parents reported that a variety of nature experiences (e.g., reading nature books, watching nature documentaries, playing in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":331,"featured_media":21867,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5780],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21866"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/331"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21866"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21866\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22225,"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21866\/revisions\/22225"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21867"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21866"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21866"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21866"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}