12 ways to keep your kids in sync with nature

We are nature. Nature is us. We often forget that we are nature. It’s not something separate from us. So when we begin losing connection with nature, somewhere we begin losing connection with ourselves. Can you recollect that absolutely childlike excitement you feel when you are at the beach and the waves touch your feet? The excitement you feel when the cold waves suddenly you’re your feet and out of nowhere, you find yourself chasing a retreating tide and jumping with joy and excitement. Yes! That’s your inner child, a true form of nature that suddenly comes alive in a natural habitat. There is always a shift in our state of mind whenever we are in natural surroundings, be it mountains, beaches, waterfalls or even simply the countryside complete with a farm and animals. Children almost always are in this peaceful yet excited state of mind. These emotions come naturally, that’s why the term childlike is used. Children are closest to nature. They are pure and their minds unblemished from the nuances of adult life and that of modern-day living. We live in a fast-paced world bound and determined upon moving all of us away from nature. Many see that as a small price to pay for a modern lifestyle that warrants convenience. Malls, movies, mobile phones, video games, television and toys are the output of the “convenience” philosophy. All these necessary evils are quickening their pace and permanently making their place in our lives. It was at the juncture of overdependence on creature comforts and modern lifestyle that my husband and I felt the need to break away! At this juncture, we decided to acquire small farmland on the outskirts of the city to show our kids a different way of life!  I have observed a vast difference in my children’s state post their visit to a mall as compared to a farm visit. They are much calmer after spending the whole day at a farm compared to a few hours at a mall.  This made me think and it’s been my endeavour to think and come up with ways to keep my children in sync with nature. It’s entirely in the hands of parents to expose kids to the right environment to keep them as close to nature as possible. Nature is where we start and where we end and all answers lie in nature. With some basic thinking and taking ideas from like-minded parents, I have been able to come up with a few ideas that help me to keep my kids in sync with nature.

1) FOOD

This is a common cliché and literally the textbook example of how nature fits into everyday life. But it has to be the leadoff of this very concept. By walking on this path and adopting the principles of natural hygiene, we are trying to fuse a plant-based diet in our children’s lives. One that subsumes a high content of fruits, raw vegetables, dry fruits, nuts, and seeds and is low on packaged or processed food. Choosing fruits and vegetables that are seasonal, regional and local is the key to being closest to nature, as nature is designed so beautifully that it knows what is best for us. She gives us cooling foods in summer and hot foods in winter. Also, we aim at keeping their bodies alkaline, because most bacteria and viruses don’t survive in an alkaline environment. We usually achieve this with the help of raw fruits and healthy vegetable juices P.S. It’s easy and almost effortless for your kids to get into the habit of unhealthy snacking and binging on those potato wafers doesn’t require extra effort! However, inculcating the habits of healthy eating requires daily effort. But the earlier you begin, the sooner it becomes a part of their lifestyle.   

Keeping this in mind I ensure that I make my kids a part of the working process of including healthy greens and raw fruits in our life. For instance, we have started potting and planting microgreens in-house! I make it a point to ensure that my kids are a part of the entire process from the planting to the final consumptions. Imagine the excitement they feel when they see the first few sprouts and when they can finally snip those little pods and actually consume it in the daily diet. This participative approach gives them a sense of accomplishment and exposes them to a different style of food consumption that is healthy and sustainable in the long run and also engaging and exciting. 2) MEDICINE FREE LIFE

Yes! As individuals, we should try and take full and complete responsibility of our health rather than treating our bodies like robots that need to be fixed every time something goes wrong. We took a decision to walk the path of a medicine-free life and cut of both internal and external consumption. Now I understand that this is rather perplexing to a lot of us. Especially those wondering how we manage in case of grave medical emergencies. But what we often forget is that the medical system is a boon for us but we must use it for emergencies only and not as a quick fix.   We often tend to underestimate what a fantastic machine our body is! Empower it with the right tools and the body is his own DOCTOR. In doing so healthy food and environment play major roles. Homemade healthy concoctions like Kadhas work better than any medicine one might be tempted to pop to get rid of a common cold! Not to mention it can be really appetizing as well. It might even surprise you to know that my kids love consuming kadha and often end up asking for another cup! Food is, in fact, the best medicine and it does more than just fuel your body. Of course, Proper food combines with the right amount of rest and deactivation can build a fortifying wall of immunity and heath which is the current need of the hour! But did you know that common kitchen items can easily be used to fix a lot of everyday health challenges? Let’s the most common being Haldi for cuts and wounds or aloe Vera the wonder drug for your skin and has an effortless reputation of being closest to the legendary sanjeevni booty for the host of benefits it carries. Not just your skin, but your hair and scalp and even for daily internal consumption to build immunity, aloe Vera is just the thing you need. What’s more, it’s freely available in the window garden that my kids and I built together.  Ginger juice works like magic on muscular pains and rose water for relaxation and rejuvenation.  We are following a medicine-free life for ourselves and our children and enjoying the process. Fevers, colds, coughs are managed by home remedies, because illnesses usually stem from inadequate nutrition and bad eating habits. If people were to learn good eating habits then optimum health would be restored. Just like Hippocrates said, “Leave your drugs in the chemist's pot if you can heal the patient with food." We’re trying to do just that and besides, there’s nothing loads of rest and an alkaline body can’t fix. 3) PHYSICAL MOVEMENT

When a baby is evolving in the mother’s womb, there is movement in the sack as it grows. Every time it does a new movement, we say that the baby has reached a new milestone and movement is associated with the essence of growth. Movement and Growth are an inevitable part of life. Kids don't like to sit in one place, they love to move. As parents, it is our responsibility to provide them with a favourable environment for unrestricted and free movement. So taking them to open spaces that are close to nature on a daily basis is a must. Kids must run, hop, climb, jump and swim. There has to be unrestricted free-flowing physical activity and room for optimum physical development. Even during the Lockdown, we used our Terrace every day for a few hours in the evening to give them that space. They learned so many new games and hopscotch and yoga are their new favourites. Along with movement, they also need to energy release to calm their system and water is a great medium to achieve that. Bathing them 2-3 times a day or simply put them in a tub for as long as they like really helps achieve the calm. We also end the day with aromas from essential oil, rose water rubbed on their feet and hands and relaxing music for sleeping.  

4) NATURE WALKS AS A PART OF DAILY ROUTINE

Nature walks are an engaging and enriching experience for people of any age. One simple way for parents to keep their kids close to nature is to take learning outside and have children interact with their environment. Kids need the sky, fresh air and sunlight. We make sure to bring them to natural and rustic environments so that they can appreciate nature as is. Kids learn so much just by just observing the trees, running behind butterflies are really experiencing the simple joys which kids absolutely love. Believe me, it’s a sight I can never get enough of! Some fun and easy ways to bring the kids outdoors luckily I discovered in my by lanes of the green area of Deonar in Chembur! We are blessed with a big and beautiful garden and lots of open spaces inside the telecom factory! We’ve taught our kids to recognize the different types of trees and they are pretty accurate at spotting rare birds and local flora and fauna too! One, in particular, is the English tamarind which my older daughter and husband love! They have a ritual wherein they manage to pluck these little sweet fruits and wash and eat it! Simple joys of life I guess. Some other activists that I’ve achieved with my kids are 

• Birding spots around the city - Bhandup pumping station and Navi Mumbai

• Organic and natural farms – Lonavala and city limits

• Local green spots - Mahim nature park

Spending time amongst trees, around water bodies and climbing trees is the new normal for us! These experiences are fun, exhilarating and inspirational. Nature is indeed cheaper than therapy! 5) WEEKEND TRIPS

Many great outdoor adventures are so far off the beaten path, they may seem unattainable in a long weekend. But we’ve managed to find some gems, not too far from the city! I usually like to make an experience out my trips! Not just chilling in comfortable resorts, I’ve turned weekend trips into exploration and a venture into something my kids have never experienced and we as adults have forgotten. 

I’ve managed so many surreal and wonderful experience for the kids and in the process enjoyed every bit of it. Not to mention the satisfaction of seeing my kids smile and knowing I did something right is unmatched! So out go-to is our very rustic farm in Lonavala. IT’s a piece of land that is complete with farm animals and fields. The localities work there and earn an honest buck! They are so attached to my kids and every time I visit, they teach my kids new things. By now my older one knows how to work her way around a chullah and she has learned to strain tea using nothing but a handkerchief.

They also help out in the farm and enjoy the simple home-cooked meals and the clean crisp air. Another such experience was Bhigwan a beautiful birding paradise. My kids love bird watching and this seemed ideal. It is a simple homestay but the experience of staying in the village is surreal. Keeping their love for bird watching alive, we also take them to spot Flamingos when the time is right. We also visited the famous Kaas Plateau - Valley of flowers and the kids had never seen such beauty before! A treat to sore eyes it was! But isn’t that literally nature’s KRA.

6) VACATIONS

The trick is in choosing the right destination. Ours is a safari most of the time. Something about those! Each time is literally a once in a lifetime experience. You never know what you will find! The idea, however, is to be in the midst of jungles and witness the wildlife as is. It is of immense satisfaction to witness your littlest kids getting up early in the mornings, getting into the safari gear, pack the binoculars and climbing onto the safari jeep to spot the animals, take pictures. They have grown to love nature! Animals do not just excite them, they are now in love with nature and realize the importance of seeing them grow in their natural habitat. I’m proud to say that I’m raising a pair of woke nature-loving girls! Safaris are really a great and the closest way to connect to nature and experience it in the easy it is meant to be experienced. See nature in its true form, no malice and every bit as beautiful as God made it!

7) CELEBRATIONS

Our celebrations now look different too! Don’t get me wrong I do enjoy the typical birthday parties complete with sweets and goodies and return gifts. But I also wanted to look at a rather sustainable way of celebrating occasions and keeping the essence intact while breaking away from the city-bound traditions of junk treats! This was a rather recent initiative but I’ve managed to pull off a rather alluring birthday celebration for my daughter’s birthday last year! We managed to have nature-friendly approach to a birthday where sweet treats were healthier and junk was replaced with healthy yet tasty food items like corn cobs and chaiya maniya stalls that keep kids engaged and takes us back to our childhood as well. I also organized workshops where the kids were taught to plant seeds in pots and could take them home as return gifts! It was an experience in itself, not to mention the kids were happy and had a blast too.

8) NATURE BASED ACTIVITIES 

Nature is a giver! IT is loving, caring and accommodating. The more you give, the more you get. IT allows you to participate in its processes and hence we must be caring and responsible towards it. As a family unit, we believe in participating in the process of nature. The primitive living is a way of learning about nature by participating in it. We had small humble beginnings which began with a terrace garden and a regular ritual of watering plants and witnessing the magic of watching them grow. I saw my kids enjoying the process and decided it was time to engage them further, which is when I decided to start growing microgreens with them. It has been an immense learning experience for both me and my children and a rather fulfilling one.

One very unique initiative that my kids are completely part of is composting! Yes, might I dare say they are of turning waste into wealth and teaching my children that nothing in nature is wasted and every bit is as useful as it comes! This is the power of nature, even the waste items have the power of providing us with something useful and productive! My kids and I have grown fond of composting. They know that nothing is to be wasted and that everything has its own use and importance.

9) WALDORF SCHOOLING I’ve introduced my kids to this wonderful method of learning called Waldorf schooling. Believe me, my older one loves to go to school! She throws a tantrum when there are days when she has to skip school. Can you even believe that! This system has been a blessing really. For those who don’t know, Waldorf education was founded in the 20th century and aims to inspire life-long learning in all students and to enable them to fully develop their unique capacities. It believes in letting kids evolve in a natural almost rustic guru Kul style which elevates their unique skill sets and helps them develop the same. IT focus on holistic growth rather than just textbook skills. They have no air conditioners in the class and the toys provided are wooden and nature-based toys. Their uniforms are made using natural materials like cotton and wool and sport soothing pastel colours. It really believes in letting children find their flow at the same time instils a sense of discipline in them but in a rather smooth manner. Their extracurricular activities will typically involve climbing trees and gardening and petting butterflies are part of their daily curriculum.  This a unique way of letting the child fully develop intellectual and motor skills and ready to face the world.

10) DAILY USE ITEMS

The most overlooked area that hinders nature the most. Commonplace items like plates and containers and bottles are all using plastic that is far from beneficial and not to mention really harmful. In my household, I have managed to change this and switched over to steel straws, tiffin’s and water bottles and even glassware. Anything but plastic as far as possible. We have switched over to organic toothpaste, soaps, shampoo, bamboo brushes. Not that it makes too much of a difference to the merchants. But let’s support nature to enjoy it in the future. If we do not preserve it now, what will we left behind for our future generations to enjoy!

11) LOW SCREEN TIME

Now it’s an unavoidable circumstance and give the choice I’d keep my children as far away from phone screens and monitors. But unfortunately, we live in a world where technology dictates a lot of daily activates. Kids are kids, they will get attracted to screens and as parents, the best we can do is to try and regulate that and give them appropriate screen time rather than trying to restrict usage. Generally speaking, we’re not big TV watchers and our kids don’t own tablets or iPads, so limiting screen time for our children has not been that difficult. However they are intrigued by phones and like indulging in streaming videos on YouTube. Striking a balance between helpings they understand the importance of gadgets at the same time not letting them getting addicted or dependent on them is key. Mostly it’s the parent’s duty to set a stellar example before the kids and not indulge beyond a certain time span, in order to ensure the kids learn from what they see!

12) SOCIAL BONDS:

As a family unit we are very connected and family and friends have been an integral part of our growing process. We want to pass on this legacy of creating and maintaining beautiful relationships to our kids. Strong social bonds make confident individuals. We ensure that our children spend enough time with kids of their age and are friendly and playful around their peers. This gives them a sense of belonging to a particular social order. They also love spending time with their older cousins and get along like a house on fire! My girls are lucky to receive a lot of love and affection from both their set of grandparents and other family members alike and we ensure that they spend enough time with them to develop familial bonds that will last a lifetime. This way we ensure that they develop appropriately balanced socialising skills and at the same time understand the importance of being socially active and connected.