Wild Ideas

Getting your family outdoors is fantastic, but dragging kids through the mud - literally or figuratively - without considering what interests them, could lead to resistance.

To avoid groans and full-on tantrums, focus on sparking their curiosity. With just a little extra guidance, you can equip your kids or grandkids with the purpose, passion, and patience they need to truly appreciate nature.

Rock tumbling

A perfect hobby for older children and teenagers, rock tumbling helps young minds comprehend the unseen, turning dull stones into dazzling décor! You can find beginner-friendly rock tumbler kits from around £30, making it an affordable way to explore the wonders of geology, polishing ordinary rocks to reveal their true colours. This hands-on activity also polishes their observation and identification skills, all while turning ordinary walks into exciting opportunities to expand their collections.

Den building

Silk Wood is a treasure trove of natural building materials, perfect for constructing teepee-style shelters. With plenty of fallen branches, dried leaves, and grass scattered across the forest floor, it’s an attention keeping activity that can keep kids engaged for hours. Fantastic for larger families, everyone can pitch in to create the ultimate hideaway, dividing tasks like gathering, sorting, stacking, and decorating. Plus, little ones can make little dens for their teddys too, transforming a simple walk into an immersive family adventure!

Nature journalling

Journalling and getting into nature are two of the most powerful outlets for stress, so why not combine the two? By providing a simple notebook and prompting some ideas, a nature journal can evolve with your child’s interests and abilities. Whether they’re making crayon rubbings of different leaf shapes, recording the animals they spot, or pressing wild berries between the pages, every entry can inspire their creativity (and reveal a lot about how they like to connect with the world)!