Time in nature is good for you and your family’s well-being. Going outdoors can increase enthusiasm and focus as well as enhance creativity, problem solving and critical thinking.
Do the activities
Hunt for critters
Climbing a tree
Image: Liz Carlson | ©
Hunt for ngārara/insects:
- in the leaf litter
- underneath bark
- among plants (check under leaves)
- in a worm farm or compost
- rockpools at the beach
- under rocks in the river.
Be sure to replace rocks gently!
You could try to:
- photograph or draw your ngārara/insects
- identify your ngārara/insects using the iNaturalist app or the ‘What is this bug?’ tool.
Race leaf boats
Float a leaf boat on your local awa/river or a nearby stream. You could even do this in a bucket or your sink. There are so many fun 'boats' to try. You could:
- float sticks and leaves
- make a harakeke/flax boat
- make mini rafts
- play ‘pooh sticks'.
Get outside whatever the weather
Feel the wind with Tāwhiri-mātea. You could:
- fly a kite
- use an old sheet, t-shirt or cloth to catch the wind – hold the corners and let it billow out.
Experience the exhilaration of rain. You could:
- go for a gumboot walk
- splash in puddles
- open your mouth to the sky for a refreshing drink
- cup your hands to catch the rain.
There are also plenty of other ways you can get moving in nature.
Nature crowns
Image: Pearl Freemantle | DOC
Get crafty in nature
Create a posy, crown, ‘ei Katu, tīpare/flax headband or wreath.
Which one will you make? You could make:
- a harakeke tīpare/flax headband
- an ‘ei Katu or lei po’o
- a daisy chain
- a mini bunch of flowers to gift or keep
- a cardboard crown – cut out a length of card from a cereal box to fit around your head and stick the ends together, decorate it with ferns, leaves or flowers.
Discover somewhere new
Hunt out a new place to discover nature. This could be:
- a park around the corner
- your local ngahere/forest
- an awa/river you haven’t been to for a while
- under a tree in your garden
- different streets you haven't walked down before
- a space in your backyard or on your balcony with plants
- a track you've never walked.
What did you enjoy most about your new special place?
Who would you like to take next time to explore with you?