How to Encourage a Love for Nature in Your Preschooler

30 August 2025

Have you ever watched your preschooler stare in wide-eyed wonder at a ladybug? Or dance through puddles like they’ve struck gold? That, right there, is the beginning of a deep and beautiful bond — a bond with nature. And as parents, nurturing that connection can shape the way our little humans see and treat the world.

Encouraging a love for nature in your preschooler isn’t just about hiking or camping. It’s about opening their hearts and minds to the magic that happens outside their front door. So, how do we grow little nature lovers in a digital world? Grab a warm cup of coffee and let’s dig into it (pun totally intended).

Why Nature Matters for Preschoolers

Before we load up on ideas, let’s chat about why nature is such a big deal for toddlers and preschoolers.

- Builds Curiosity: Every leaf, bug, and cloud is a question waiting to be asked.
- Boosts Mental Health: Nature is calming, and honestly, who doesn’t need a little calm in the chaos of parenting?
- Encourages Physical Activity: The great outdoors is the ultimate playground.
- Fosters Creativity: Playing in dirt beats a screen when it comes to sparking imagination.

When kids connect with nature early, they’re more likely to care for it in the future. It’s like planting a seed — give it time, sunlight, and love, and you grow a good-hearted human.

Start with Their Senses

Preschoolers explore the world through touch, taste, sight, sound, and smell. Nature? It’s the ultimate sensory playground.

Touch

Let them get dirty. Seriously. Let them dig in the soil, feel the bark of trees, or trace lines in the sand with their fingers.

Try this: Set up a “nature feel box” with pinecones, feathers, smooth rocks, and leaves. Let them touch and guess!

Sound

Birdsong, rustling leaves, or the distant croak of a frog — these sounds are pure magic.

Try this: Go on a “listening walk.” Say nothing for five minutes and then talk about all the sounds they heard.

Sight

Colors, shapes, movement — it’s all there.

Try this: Have them find something red, something round, and something that moves. It turns a walk into a fun scavenger hunt.

Start Close to Home

You don’t need a mountain trail or a forest. Your backyard, the local park, or that little patch of weeds by the sidewalk? Nature lives there too.

Backyard Adventures

Dig in the garden together, even if it’s just a potted plant. Watch bugs crawl. Trace clouds. Count birds.

Local Parks

Make park visits regular. Let them lead the way. If they want to sit by a tree and poke sticks into the dirt for 30 minutes, that’s okay.

Remember: It’s about presence, not productivity. We’re not checking off a list — we’re growing wonder.

Bring Nature Indoors

Some days are rainy. Some weeks are freezing. That doesn’t mean nature has to stop.

Create a Nature Table

Dedicate a small space for collected treasures — rocks, feathers, acorns, even interesting twigs.

Let your child decide what belongs there. It gives them a sense of ownership and pride in their “nature collection.”

Read Nature-Themed Books

Stories have a way of deepening love and curiosity. Books like “The Gruffalo,” “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt,” or “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” bring elements of nature to life.

Reading together about animals, seasons, forests, and oceans creates a bridge between imagination and the real world.

Make Nature Part of the Routine

You don’t need a grand adventure to feel connected to nature. Just make it part of the everyday rhythm.

Morning Nature Peek

Every morning, open the window or step outside. Ask, “What’s the sky doing today?” or “Do you hear any birds?” It takes 30 seconds but keeps the connection alive.

Nature-Based Crafts

Use fallen leaves, sticks, or flowers in art projects. Create collages, paint rocks, or make a “bug hotel” from recycled materials. It’s tactile, fun, and keeps nature top of mind.

Be a Nature Role Model

Your preschooler watches everything. If they see you light up at a butterfly or pause to watch the sunset, they’ll feel that same joy.

Show the Joy

Say things like, “Wow, feel how soft this moss is!” or “That sky looks like a painting!” Your enthusiasm is contagious.

Learn Together

Don’t worry if you can’t name every bird or tree. Let your child see you wondering and learning. Say, “That’s a neat bug — let’s find out what it is.” Curiosity is a team sport.

Limit Tech Time (Without the Guilt)

Screens are everywhere, but when they take over, nature takes a backseat.

You don’t need to toss your tablet out the window. Just make sure there’s outdoor playtime every day, whenever possible — even 15 minutes can work wonders.

Tip: Pair screen time with nature. Watch a quick video about butterflies, then go look outside for some. Connection through curiosity, not just pixels.

Create Seasonal Traditions

The changing seasons offer a perfect excuse for nature-based fun.

- Spring: Plant seeds and watch them grow.
- Summer: Splash in creeks or chase fireflies.
- Fall: Collect colorful leaves or go on a pumpkin walk.
- Winter: Find animal tracks in the snow or feed backyard birds.

Traditions anchor memories. When you tie those memories to nature, it becomes part of their story.

Encourage Free Play Outdoors

Preschoolers don’t need a plan. Sometimes the best gift you can give them is unscheduled, unstructured time outside.

Let them run, dig, splash, climb, and daydream. Hover less (safely, of course). Trust their instincts.

Remember, a muddy kid is a happy kid. Boots wash, but joy? That sticks.

Visit Natural Places Together

If time and budget allow, plan little trips to places where nature REALLY shows off — beaches, forests, farms, or botanical gardens.

These “wow” experiences can deepen appreciation and wonder.

Even a monthly trip can do wonders:

- Visit a zoo and talk about animal habitats.
- Head to a farm and pick veggies.
- Go for a walk at dawn or near sunset to see different colors, hear different sounds, and feel a new kind of nature.

Involve Nature in Everyday Moments

Even chores and errands can have a splash of nature.

- While walking to the store, pause to look at flowers or bugs.
- While doing dishes, talk about the water cycle.
- While eating, chat about where food comes from (Hint: Not just the grocery store!)

Nature isn’t a separate subject — it’s the backdrop of life. Bring it front and center, one moment at a time.

Wrap-Up: It’s About Connection, Not Perfection

Here’s the thing: You don’t have to be outdoorsy or own hiking boots to raise a nature-loving preschooler. You just have to slow down, notice, and invite them along.

Every bug hunt, leaf collection, or muddy puddle jump is a step toward raising a child who appreciates the planet and feels at home in it.

So go ahead, dig in the dirt, chase that butterfly, pick that dandelion bouquet. The world is waiting, and your little one is ready.

Let’s grow some wonder together.

Quick Nature-Inspired Activity Ideas

- Bug Safari: Take magnifying glasses and search for bugs.
- Sky Watch: Lie on a blanket and describe the clouds.
- Nature Bingo: Create simple checklists of things to find.
- Stick Painting: Collect and decorate twigs with paint and yarn.
- Mud Kitchen: Set up an outdoor play area for muddy “cooking.”

These activities are simple, affordable, and oh-so-memorable.

Final Thought

Teaching your preschooler to love nature doesn’t require a perfect plan. All it takes is your time, your presence, and a little bit of dirt.

In a world full of flashy toys and endless screens, nature is still the best teacher, storyteller, and playground. And you? You’re their guide to it all.

So get outside — even just for a few minutes. Let the wind mess up your hair. Let your child lead. And watch the magic unfold.