Quiet Nature Time Everyday for Mental Health

Try this with your child whenever you can, even if you have a toddler or baby! Find a quiet place to sit or lay down. We use garden kneeling pads, it simulates "storytime" at the library and signals to the child that it is time to "do something." Wear a watch.

Have your child close their eyes, take a deep breath and exhale. Tell them that you will be closing your eyes and listening to the world around you for a set a amount of time (I start with 30 seconds for the first time regardless of age, and aim to build up to one minute with toddlers.) Now, listen to the sounds around you. Make sure you do this with them, too! After the designated time is up, you can talk about what they heard. At first they will probably say "people talking, cars beeping, or music playing." With practice and time, they will learn to drown these artificial noises out to hear the more natural noises, such as the leaves blowing in the wind or birds chirping.

Another version, if you are in a forest or other natural place is to do nature observations. This can even be in your yard or local park early in the morning when it is quiet. Find a spot to lay or sit. Lay for at least 5 minutes and watch the same area. After time passes, children may see changes in the setting, including birds flying, insects crawling and trees swaying. This is particularly therapeutic for eyes that have been trained too much on tv and phone screens.

Find a serene, natural view for observation, whether it be in a forest preserve or local park.

The sky provides great opportunity for observation. Nothing can seem more mystical or get a pair of eyes lost better than a grand set of tree limbs.

And who doesn't love cloud gazing one imagining what shapes the clouds could be!?

Even the smallest eyes can benefit from some quiet time with their parent watching the natural world. You may think, "oh, my toddler will never sit still!" Give it a little time and set an example, and they will be more likely to follow your lead!

The grass in your backyard may just seem like a jungle if you look closely enough at ground level.

Bare patches amongst a grassy area can provide some very interesting observation if you look closely. A variety of weeds usually inhabitant these sorts of spaces, bringing with it lots of bugs and flowers, too!