For some kids, it may be instinct to get out and explore nature. However, in the age of video games and computer technology, the same cannot be said for all children. Some kids hardly play outside, let alone learn to love and appreciate nature. Fortunately, with creativity you can teach even the most unaware and unwilling kids to love nature. Generally, once they get out there and start enjoying it in various ways, it comes naturally.

Visit a Nature Reserve

Nature reserves can hold some of the most captivating wildlife scenery, especially to young minds. They often have a large amount of different plants and animals. Also, they are designed especially for the purpose of preserving and appreciating nature. Nature reserves can offer uniquely creative programs, tours, and classes you won't find anywhere else. One way to find a nature reserve in your area is to visit the Nature Conservancy at Nature.org. You also may want to check your local parks and recreation department.

Gardening

Gardening is an activity that will allow kids to observe nature from start to finish. This makes an excellent candidate for creatively teaching a child to love nature. Many kids will enjoy various aspects of preparing, planting, observing, and (where necessary) harvesting a garden. Some great starter plants for kids include bean plants, sunflowers, bulb plants, and sprouted plants. Allow the kids to be creative and design the arrangement of plants. Also consider getting the kids involved in the community by creating bucket gardens for the hungry or homeless.

Family Nature Night

Ever thought of dedicating a special night just to nature? Holding a family nature night is one way to instill the love of nature. It also can create some great family bonding time and memories. Various activities can be done during family nature night, such as star gazing, bird watching, insect observing, nature crafts, gardening, and so much more. Nature crafts can be anything from bird and squirrel feeders to collages, handcrafted jewelry, and wreaths. Since it's about nature appreciation, be sure to stick to all natural and eco-friendly crafting. To take this a step further, consider making it a regular habit.

Last updated 2/17/2022

One way to appreciate nature or enforce previous nature appreciation lessons is to have a family nature night. Whether your family members are nature gurus or just getting started, this can be a fun activity. Adults and kids of all ages can participate in some or all ways.

Natural Observation & Sample Collection

When you have a family nature night, kids and adults can collect samples from nature to examine, talk about and treasure. These can be things like fallen leaves, pine cones, flower petals and more. Just be sure to choose only fallen items, as you're there to observe and enjoy nature, not destroy it. Insects, frogs, lizards and other small creatures are great to observe in their natural environments as well. Night time may reveal things you didn't see during the day.  A nature scavenger hunt is one fun way to enjoy the item collection (leave animals and insects out of this part).

Plant Something

Depending on the season, some garden fun with the right plants can be a great addition to a family nature night. Pick out seeds or transplants ahead of time. You might even consider making small container vegetable gardens to donate to the homeless. Plant them in a bucket with irrigation holes at the bottom to create a sustainable food source that's also portable.If you're unable to plant outdoors, you can still use pots and plant indoors.

Photo Session

Photos can help create lasting memories, as well as beautiful displays. Take pictures of the family enjoying nature, as well as pictures of the nature itself. Nature pictures can be used later to create albums, posters, computer screensavers, puzzles, collages, other art projects, and so much more.

Collage-Making

Speaking of collages, how about making a natural one? Compile collected items from nature, like leaves, dried flowers, small nuts and more. The items can be glued to recycled poster board or cardboard. Homemade glue using just flour and water works very well for this. The consistency should be thick, but not enough that it looks like dough. It takes a while to dry, but holds well afterward. The creation can then be placed in a poster-size collage frame to accent any room in the house.

Sky Gazing

Sky gazing is another excellent way to enjoy family nature night. Lie out on the lawn on blankets or beach towels. Stare up at the sky and discuss what you see. This could be the stars, moon, cloud shapes, birds, dragonflies, tall trees, etc.

Quiet Time

Before or after the sky gazing, everyone can close their eyes and just listen to nature. Suggest a certain amount of time for everyone to be completely quiet and just listen. When that time is up, the family can talk about what they heard, where the sounds may have come from, and what or who may have made them. This is a good activity to end family nature night with, as it is relaxing and will get everyone in the calm mode shortly before bedtime.

by Lyn Lomasi,Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

So, you've decided to homeschool your tween and don't know what you should be doing about social interaction? Maybe you're not new to homeschooling, but just curious about some methods other than your own. As a mom and homeschool teacher to kids in a wide age range, I've experimented with several different techniques. Learning how to keep homeschooled tweens social is not as difficult as it may seem. Learn how to keep homeschooled tweens social from a long-time homeschooling mom of 6.

The world is your classroom. Don't just teach at home. This is my number one rule as a homeschool teacher. Keeping my kids in public often has been the best method of keeping them social, hands-down. The kids and I learn in many different places. Parks, museums, the grocery store, the library, the post office, and so many more places in your city can all be your classroom. This enhances social skills, as well as helps provide a very diverse and well-rounded learning experience. Many homeschoolers follow this mantra. For this reason and others, some homeschooled tweens may actually have a more balanced daily social life than those in traditional schools.

Attend community events and other social gatherings. Most communities will have something going on just about every day. Also, remember that family gatherings provide great social experiences as well. Attend as many family and friend hosted gatherings as possible. If no one is hosting events, throw your own and invite as many people as you can handle. Look in newspapers, school listings, community bulletins and websites, and more to keep up with what's going o in your area. Attend as many of these gatherings as you can. Like the 'world is your classroom' mantra, this is much the same, as far as providing a well-rounded social atmosphere for your homeschooled tween.

Involve your homeschooled tween in sports. Athletics can be a great way for your tween to meet some new peers who have similar interests. Organizations like the Boys and Girls clubs and YMCA offer sports programs for tweens who are both homeschooled and in traditional schools. Your tween may be able to join sports teams from schools in the area, depending on your state's regulations and those of the school district. There are also leagues just for homeschoolers, church leagues, and other local leagues that anyone can join. Allow your tween to choose the sport that interests them the most.

Join a homeschool group. Most areas have groups and organizations created just for homeschoolers. Some involve sharing teaching duties, others may involve field trips and gatherings, and some may be a combination of both. Do your research and be sure to look for one that not only fits your preferred option, but also fits your educational style. Many homeschooled groups are geared toward a specific method or religion. For instance, you may find an unschooling group, a Christian Montessori group, an eclectic group, and more. It's important to know what a group is about before you join to avoid disagreements or heartbreak later down the road.

Invite your tween's friends over regularly. Just like any other tween, homeschooled tweens want to hang out with friends and relatives of their age group. Invite friends over whenever possible to help keep your homeschooled tween socially active. Slumber parties, friend fun days, and cookouts are also a good idea (when you can handle it) because this creates a larger social setting.

Keeping homeschooled tweens social is really about finding a variety of social and public activities to keep your tween busy with. Because homeschool is so versatile, it's actually quite simple to keep homeschooled tweens social. With some styles of homeschooling, it may just come naturally.                    

When making the decision to homeschool your children, there will be a variety of things you'll need to be aware of. Some of those things include laws, where to find resources and materials, how to plan a schedule and curriculum, and even record-keeping and grading. Elementary record-keeping is often simpler than during high school (and possibly also in grades 6 - 8). This is due to the necessity of transcripts and course credits in higher grade levels. As a veteran homeschool mom, I've tried many record keeping methods.

What Records and Grades Will You Track?

This might seem like a question that has a simple answer, but it may not. Does your state require attendance records? If so, you will need to record attendance daily. Even if they do not, this is something you just may want to have for your personal records. This way, if any questions or issues related to attendance or truancy come up later, you always have it for reference. Some states require records of the lessons or materials used to teach the children, as well as grades and scores received daily and on lessons. Some have no regulation or requirements on this at all.

Do I Really Need to Track Everything?

Whether your state requires it or not, you may choose to record this information for your own personal information. You never know when the information will come in handy personally or professionally. It is always better to have too many records than it is to be caught off guard and have none. While some states require no record-keeping and are not allowed to inquire about your child's studies, other states are allowed to ask and you are required to provide that information when asked. Outside of following regulations, keeping records will help you keep your child on track.

Preparing Homeschool Record-Keeping and Grade-Tracking Methods

Teacher's planners can be purchased at office supply and teacher supply stores. There are also many homeschool sites that offer printable plans. I personally prefer to use a combination of my own forms and a few quality ones I've found online. Remember that you are going to need several things, including attendance forms, grade sheets, report card sheets, a curriculum and material list, and more. Those are the basics, but your state may ask for more.

Documenting the Grades in a Homeschool

Determine how often you will take down grades and what exactly needs to be graded. You can determine this by evaluating your individual needs and comparing it to state requirements. You may have extra tracking that you would like to do outside of what is asked for. Because you are the teacher, unless your state requires a specific method, you can choose how to determine grades. You may simply follow what is done by area schools, operate on a pass/fail plan, or opt for something else. As long as your method is in compliance with area regulations, being consistent matters more than the method itself.

*Please note that laws and requirements vary by area. Please check with the area Department of Education to see what is required in your state. This guide is meant for informational purposes only.

Useful Resources:

Home School Laws
Homeschool Reporting Online
Homeschooling Planners

Does your child know his neighborhood well? Not just the street you live on, but knowledge of the entire neighborhood is important. If your child ever gets lost, he should know how to get home. Neighborhood knowledge is essential for kids of all ages, but is usually taught in Kindergarten. Use this free homeschool lesson to teach your child all about his neighborhood.

Teach your child his address. This and the phone number are extremely important for your child to know. Not only is it the first step in learning about the neighborhood, but it will also be helpful if your child ever gets lost. I like to use songs to teach the kids their address. Make up a catchy tune that goes along well with the sound of your home address. Sing it to your child and have him sing along too. Also have your child practice writing down the address on paper.

Take walks often. This is a simple, but useful way of teaching your child about the neighborhood. Getting around by foot and by car are two different things. Your child can become more familiar with the area, including parts that can only be seen by walking. This provides a good visual for map-making and studying. Don't forget to collect things from nature on the walk that you can use in other school projects.

Show them where the police and fire stations are located. Your child needs to learn where these important destinations are located. Even if your child is young, there may be a time when he needs the information. A child may get lost, kidnapped, or have another emergency. Knowing where these are located can help him in many situations.

Make a simple map. Draw a simple map of your neighborhood, making sure to include your house, anything surrounding it, and any landmarks, such as a fire station, library, museum, and stores. Have your child study the map. You can point out certain things as well as have him point out certain things to you. Talk about how to get to each place and have him tell you directions as well. Let the child make his own map after the above activities.

Use home, stores, and trusted neighbors as safe havens. Talk your child about strangers and where they can go if they are in danger. Young children should always be with an adult. But emergencies can happen and they need to know what to do. Talk to your child about specific scenarios and locations and give them a breakdown about which places are safe to go in each situation. For instance, while the home is generally a safe haven, if there's an emergency and you are injured or cannot help, there should be a trusted nearby neighbor, store, or police station the child can go to.

by Lyn Lomasi; Owner of Intent-sive Nature & Brand Shamans Content Community

You have the learning materials ready, corresponding field trips planned out, and have turned your home into a classroom. Everything is perfect. But what about recess? For homeschoolers, back to school time means planning many things. But how do you fit in recess without having a fully stocked gym on hand? For me, it was all about figuring out which types of physical activities worked well with only one to five people.

Make a list of activities appropriate for the number of people in your family. Talk about activities that will work for the number of people in your family. Some easily adjustable activities include volleyball, bike riding, basketball, relay races, jogging or running, dancing, yoga, hiking, and swimming. Have everyone make suggestions and make a list of the ones that can be adjusted (if necessary) for the number of people you have. Take at least one suggestion from each family member to avoid arguments and keep things fair.

Make a schedule that fits all those activities. Now that you have your activities worked out, you need to figure out when to do them all. We like to rotate our favorites throughout the week so that we are never doing the same activity two days in a row. Typically, our school day would always start with yoga or Pilates. But recess time could be anything from basketball, to hiking the trails, or even dancing around the house. As long as the schedule includes doing some type of physical activity every day, that's a good thing. If one or more family members plays on a sports team or has other classes involving physical activity, those may need to go on the schedule. Consider the times they occur and where it would need to be allowed.

Keep a 'free day' where people can do solo activities. A free day where each person can do their own thing (within reason) for recess helps keep things fair. This makes up for the fact that there may be some activities that not everyone in the family wants to do. This way, one child could shoot hoops while another jump ropes and you do your power yoga. Sometimes, even on free days, we may choose to do something together, such as take an extra hike along the trails. The free day should simply be used however everyone agrees on said day.

Alternatively, invest in a family gym membership. If you just cannot keep it together or get everyone to agree on things, consider joining the gym as a family. Many gyms now offer classes for all ages. This means your kids could be exercising by doing the latest hip-hop dance while you attend an advanced yoga class. Younger kids could be doing beginner yoga or tumbling or babies can attend parent and baby stretch or yoga classes. There are likely classes you could all take together as well.

LAST UPDATED: 8/24/2022

*I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network

by Lyn Lomasi; Owner of Intent-sive Nature & Brand Shamans Content Community

Back to school time! The fall season brings on new challenges for homeschooled kids, as well as those in a more traditional school setting. It's your family's first year homeschooling and you need to establish a routine. Having experienced the beginning-of-the-year dread several times over, I've learned a thing or two. When you have a basic plan, most things just fall into place as they come. Establishing a routine from the beginning makes each homeschool day much less stressful. If your children learn throughout the summer, like mine often do, then you may already have a taste of what the school year will be like.

Consider your existing family schedule. Do the kids participate in dance, karate, basketball, piano, or other extracurricular activities? If so, then you'll need to remember to work that schedule into your homeschool schedule. Prioritize all of the existing activities, chores, and jobs. Is there anything in the existing schedule that can be rearranged or eliminated if necessary? I find it helpful to number each schedule item in order of importance. That way, if something needs to be changed, I can easily see what to start rotating or eliminating first.

Have a family meeting. This is an absolute must to get everyone on the same page. Establish the routine by discussing goals, expectations, scheduling, and more. Give everyone a chance to speak and ask questions so that nothing is left unsaid. It's easier to establish your homeschool routine when it's clear what everyone wants and needs. Take everyone's thoughts into consideration before finalizing anything. While you may not be able to give Johnny that wish of 169 recess days and one school day for the year, you can probably make sure he gets to ride his bike for recess a few times per week.

Make a schedule. It's important to do this during the family meeting so that everyone has input, as far as what's scheduled. It's also essential establishing a routine. If everyone knows how things will be from the beginning, the day to day process will run more smoothly. Be sure to allow time for getting to any destinations outside the home when creating the schedule. For instance, if one child needs to be at soccer practice at 2 p.m, be sure to allow time in between the previous class and getting to the soccer field. Remember that your schedule can be more flexible than in a traditional classroom. If necessary, schoolwork can resume after the soccer practice.

Be clear and consistent about what's expected. Talk about how the schedule will work, as well as what each person is expected to do. Every family member should know the overall learning style and methods being implemented. It should be clear that if you choose unschooling the eclectic way, everyone should stick to that. Unschooling is a bit more flexible, as far as establishing a routine. But rules do need to be laid out, such as the fact that even if the operational mood is relaxed, learning should still be taking place.

LAST UPDATED 8/24/2022

* I originally published this content via Yahoo Contributor Network: http://web.archive.org/web/20140806195145/http://shine.yahoo.com/back-homeschool-establishing-routine-190300503.html

When choosing the right backpack for homeschool, keep your learning style in mind. You might need a traditional backpack for each of the kids. But then again, you may not. Think about your daily activities and what fits in with that best. You may be surprised at the variety of options or you may learn your kids don’t need backpacks at all.

Where does most of your homeschool time occur? Think about where you teach the kids most of their classes. Is it somewhere you would need them to transport materials to in large quantities? For instance, do you homeschool at the park or at the library? If so, do you bring books and supplies? If so, a good, rugged backpack may be in order.

Do you take field trips often and where to? If you and the kids take field trips to zoos, museums. Libraries and more on a regular basis, they may need sturdy backpacks for homeschool. On the other hand, if you only go every now and then and don't take materials along, you may only need to get them something lightweight. In some cases, they may not actually need one.

What will be transported in your child's homeschool backpack? Consider the items you like the kids to bring along when you go places during the homeschool day. Do they carry heavy textbooks or just notepads? This will help determine which type of backpack or bookbag will work. If you only bring along a couple pencils and worksheets, consider an eco-friendly reusable grocery bag instead. The kids can even decorate them for customization.

Do you even need a backpack? Considering the options above and others, does your child really even need a backpack? In some cases, the answer might be no. Some homeschoolers prefer not to cart everything along when going on field trips. In such cases, a backpack is probably not necessary. If that sounds like you, consider buying some other homeschool supply instead or putting the backpack money toward a college fund.

What are some alternative options if you don't need a backpack? If your kids need some sort of bag for homeschool, but not quite a backpack, there are other options. For the girls, try a large, but lightweight purse. Canvas totes are another option. Reusable grocery bags make excellent options for carrying around supplies.

*I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network