What’s a Grandma To Do?

Take Me for a Nature Walk, Grandma

Children aren’t born with an acute sense of observation. Grandma time, then, is a lovely opportunity to develop that in grandchildren, with a Nature Walk. If there are woods or a park nearby, great! If not, a walk through the garden or yard will do nicely. Don’t have one? Visit someone who does or merely walk along a street and observe gardens.

I’m not an authority on plant life, though my grandchildren think I am. It doesn’t take much to know more than a four year old. The first thing we do on these outings, which are frequent, is to look for a flower—often being the teeniest of ones in the woods, not usually known for its floral exhibits. Flowers have a way of delighting and raising our spirits. Large flowers are obvious and speak for themselves. We like surprises though, as when we find a small wildflower in an unusual place.

Maybe I should have said the first thing we do is to be sure there is no poison ivy around. If so, or even if not, explain it and help your grandchildren identify it another time. And then, of course, explain the consequences of touching it, being careful not to get too close. Stepping on poison ivy can come back to haunt you any time you touch those shoes back home. If by chance you are not familiar with poison ivy, study that first. Remember—leaves of three, let them be.

Another fun thing on a nature walk is watching for some sort of wild life. Be on the lookout from the beginning. Do you see a rabbit? A chipmunk? Birds? If there is water nearby, maybe you’ll be lucky and come across a frog, a crayfish, or a turtle. Even catching a grasshopper can be a great event. Sometimes the findings are slim and we get desperate and resort to shrieking over worms or ants. Turn over a rock and you’re bound to find some. Great fun! And a great opportunity to teach your grandchildren to be gentle with and to not be afraid of these harmless little things. Now, a snake? That’s different. See how many different trees you can observe. Take along a bag and drop in fallen leaves from a number of varieties to take home (More about this in the next chapter). If you don’t already know the tree names, look them up later. Do not attempt to cut branches or whole plants from a neighbor’s garden, or worse, a public or state park. Let’s also teach respect for other people’s property. Not to mention the law.

This simple, pleasant walk is a learning activity for grandkids and another way to build a relationship. But it isn’t over yet.

Once home again, talk about the experience. Ask questions like, “What plant did you like best?” “Tell Daddy about the pretty butterfly you saw.” Get excited with your grandchildren and they will get excited over simple things, too. Priceless!

In Brief

Check first for poison ivy in the area. Identify it, and then steer clear of any. Look closely for small flowers.

Look for wildlife of any sort.

Name as many plants and trees as you can.

Pick up fallen leaves from different kinds of trees to put in a carry-home bag. Once home, talk about all that you saw.