7 Motifs of Nature Play to Encourage Your Child's Love for Nature: A Guide for Parents
    As parents, we all want our children to grow up loving and respecting nature. But how do we encourage this in an engaging and exciting way for them? Enter David Sobel's seven motifs of nature play. These motifs provide a framework for parents to create experiences that are not only fun but also educational and meaningful. In this blog post, we will explore these seven motifs in detail and look at how to use them to encourage your child's love for nature.
If we want children to flourish, to become truly empowered, let us allow them to love the earth before we ask them to save it. — David Sobel
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Adventure: The first motif is adventure. This involves exploring and discovering new things in nature. You can create an adventure for your child by taking them on a walk in your neighbourhood, a hike, visiting a new park, or camping. Encourage your child to explore and ask questions. This will help them develop a sense of wonder and curiosity about the natural world.
Fantasy and Imagination: The second motif is fantasy and imagination. This involves creating stories and imaginary worlds that are inspired by nature. You can encourage this by reading nature-themed books or creating a nature-themed play area in your yard. Encourage your child to use their imagination and make their own stories. This will help them develop their creativity and love for nature.
Animal Allies: The third motif is animal allies. This involves developing a relationship with animals in nature (both real and imagined). Engage their senses and listen for the calls of birds, look for animal tracks, or howl at the moon like a wolf. Encourage your child to learn about the animals in your local community and their habitats. This will help them develop empathy and respect for all living creatures.
Maps and Paths: The fourth motif is maps and paths. This involves exploring and learning about the natural world through maps and paths. You can encourage this by creating a nature scavenger hunt or treasure hunt. Encourage your child to use a map to find their way and discover new things in nature. This will help them develop their orienteering and problem-solving skills.
Special Places: The fifth motif is special places. This involves developing a connection with a special place in nature. You can encourage this by visiting a local park or nature reserve regularly and encouraging your child to find their own special spot. This will help them develop a sense of belonging and connection to nature.
Small Worlds: The sixth motif is small worlds. This involves creating miniature worlds inspired by nature. You can encourage this by creating a fairy garden or terrarium with your child. Encourage your child to use natural materials and create their own small world. This will help them develop their creativity and love for nature.
Hunting and Gathering: The seventh motif is hunting and gathering. This involves learning about and collecting natural materials. You can encourage this by going on a nature walk or hike and collecting natural materials like leaves, rocks, and sticks. Encourage your child to learn about the natural materials and their uses.
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In conclusion, David Sobel's seven motifs of nature play provide a valuable framework for parents who want to encourage their child's love for nature. Incorporating these motifs into your child's play can help them develop essential skills like creativity, empathy, problem-solving, and respect for nature. So, get out there and explore the natural world with your child! PS: We're currently looking at nature-based pre-schools vs. Waldorf for our little one. For those also curious about nature preschools, check out this interview with David Sobel:
