rainy day? get the benefits of nature indoors
Spring has sprung! And with it comes rain and thunderstorms. Even in bad weather, your family can still feel the benefits of nature using these tips!
Being outside or interacting with nature help our mental wellness, including:
- Lowering stress levels
- Increasing productivity
- Improving sleep quality
- Increasing a sense of happiness
Besides bad weather, early bedtimes, safety and having an adult free to keep watch can also keep us indoors. The good news? Even small moments with nature can make a big difference! Here are some simple ways to bring nature into your home so your child can receive its benefits at any time.
bringing nature home
Family nature projects:
- Collage: Collect rocks, leaves, sticks or other natural items with your child. Glue them onto a piece of paper to create a collage of their favorite things.
- Mobile: Collect seashells (if you are on a beach vacation) or small rocks. Drill a small hole into each item. Attach the items to string or homemade friendship bracelets and attach to a large ring (you can get these at the craft store). Hang it up from the ceiling to create a nature mobile.
Photography:
- Take a picture of your child’s favorite place outside. You can get these printed and put into a photo album or make a collage. This way, your child can pull it out and look at it whenever they want to remember how they felt at their favorite nature place!
- Take picture of flowers, trees, animals, waterfalls or other cool nature things you find. You can get them printed and framed or printed on canvas that you can hang on your walls.
Breathe fresh air:
- Letting in some fresh air is good for your health and mental wellness. Taking a deep breath of the outside air can help our minds to wake up, improve our creativity and lower our stress levels. Fresh air can also help prevent the spread of germs!
Play soothing nature sounds:
- Find some nature sounds online. Breathe deeply while you listen to a babbling brook, a songbird or some crickets.
Nature video meditation:
- Pull up a video of a waterfall or other serene nature scene. Just looking at nature, even through a video, can give us many of the same benefits of experiencing it in person.
We know that experiencing nature is beneficial for both our physical and mental health. The good news is you don’t have to take up rock climbing or hike 100 miles to feel its benefits. Small moments such as opening a window, listening to birds or creating something with natural materials can help reduce stress, boost mood and bring families closer together.
join the On Our Sleeves community today
The mission of On Our Sleeves is to provide every community in America access to free, evidence-informed educational resources necessary for breaking stigmas about child mental health and educating families and advocates. For more information, visit OnOurSleeves.org.
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