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mini innovators...

urban / surburban nature walk

1, 2, 3, Look and See.


Here's a little game you can play with your child anytime, anywhere.


But it's especially fun to play out in nature as it helps you both explore and celebrate the wonders that surround you both.

Looking, and really using your eyes, is a valuable skill. If you can begin to really notice what you see, you can apply that to the creative field and the scientific field.


You will need:

  1. Preschool child eager for attention

  2. Stopwatch or sand timer (optional, but fun)

  3. Favourite outdoor spot


What to do:

While on a nature walk together, tell your child you want to play a little game in which you will take turns relying on your eyes and brains to notice and remember what you see around you.

Introduce the game with one or two 'practice turns' so your child can learn the game.

To play, select a spot on your walk to stop and observe. Tell your child to take a very careful look around at his or her surroundings.

Use the timer to offer your child a limited amount of time (30 seconds - one minute) to look around. When time's up, have your child close his or her eyes. (No peeking!)

While your child's eyes are closed, ask your child questions about the spot you are in. You can begin by posing broad 'easy' questions and then, if your child is successful with those, move on to more specific questions.

After your child has offered an answer to each question, say, "1,2,3 Look and See!"

Then, have your child open their eyes and check their answer against what is actually observable in nature.




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