Going wild with children

The Galway Buzz

Biodiversity resources for young (and old!)

Children from Cloughanover NS on a meadow walk
Marina Levitina
Working with the community on a living willow sculpture at Rinville Park
Aine Clarke

Children instinctively love nature. From a young age children are full of wonder about the natural world around them. They love to pick up earthworms, flap their wings like a bird, jump in muddy puddles, touch and crinkle and smell plants, swing out of trees and roll on the grass.

Nature can inspire and entertain an open mind. Adults sometimes spoil the fun by squealing at the sight of a worm or a mouse, or giving out about mud trailing into the house! We can pass on our bad habits and inadvertently teach children to be scared or disdainful of nature because some of us have lost our fascination with the natural world as we grow older.

There are huge opportunities for education and learning experiences in nature that can be fun and existing and inspiring for young and the not so young. There is also lots of evidence to show that nature can provide solace and joy for those struggling with anxiety and depression, both of which can affect young people.

The good news is that there are lots and lots of biodiversity-related resources available aimed at young people and for those working with children. Please feel free to suggest more!

Nature activities to do at home

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2020/03/kids-nature-activities-self-isolation/

https://www.rhs.org.uk/education-learning/gardening-children-schools/family-activities/Activities

Birds and birding

https://heritage.galwaycommunityheritage.org/content/category/topics/raptors

https://birdwatchireland.ie/our-work/fun-learning/

https://www.museum.ie/en-IE/Museums/Natural-History/Engage-And-Learn/Learning-Resources/Birdsong-Challenge

Pollinators

https://www.biodiversityireland.ie/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/Newsletter-Farming-Kids-EIP-Pollinators-Issue-1.pdf

https://pollinators.ie/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Talk-for-kids-to-give-their-classmates-on-pollinators_2018.pdf

https://pollinators.ie/schools/

Bug safaris

https://www.rspb.org.uk/fun-and-learning/for-families/family-wild-challenge/activities/go-on-a-bug-safari/

Bogs and peatlands

http://www.irishbogrestorationproject.ie/facts_for_children.html

http://www.ipcc.ie/discover-and-learn/resources/

Whales and dolphins

https://iwdg.ie/junior-section/

Notice nature

http://www.noticenature.ie/kids_area.html

Trees and woodland

https://childrenstreecampaign.org/

https://leafireland.org/about/

 

 

 

This page was added on 27/05/2020.

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