How to help your child build lasting emotional connections to nature
Trent Haaland, Unsplash.
As parents, we’re rightly concerned about the digital overload, busy schedules and demands of school life on our children. But if we make time to pause and notice the natural world around us, we can find an antidote to the pressures of modern life that’s nurturing, powerful and that costs nothing.
Why emotional connection matters
An emotional bond with nature goes beyond knowing the names of birds or identifying tree species. It’s about feeling a sense of belonging to the world outside ourselves. This connection builds empathy — not just for animals and plants, but for people too. Research shows that children who feel connected to nature are more likely to care for the environment, experience reduced stress, and show greater resilience and emotional regulation. When children understand nature with both their minds and their hearts, they are more likely to grow into adults who protect it. But more than that, they gain a steady source of calm, joy, and inspiration that can support them throughout life.
How to foster that connection
You don’t need access to vast green spaces or structured forest school programmes to build children’s bonds with nature. You just need to help and guide them to notice and to care. When children feel nature is fun, familiar, and important then a deep and lasting connection to it begins to grow.
Slow down and use all the senses
Encouraging children to slow down in nature starts with modeling calm behaviour yourself. Invite them to use their senses—listen to the birds, feel the bark of a tree, smell the rain on the pavement, watch light flicker through leaves, listen to the wind rustling through grass or observe precise insect movements. Turn these ideas of exploration into a game: ‘How many shades of green can you find’ or ‘Let’s sit still and count how many sounds we hear.’ Leave devices behind and allow unstructured time outdoors by providing journals or sketchpads for quiet reflection. Avoid rushing from place to place; instead, focus on staying in one spot longer. By nurturing curiosity and patience, children learn to appreciate the quiet wonders of nature at their own pace which makes their experiences more authentic and memorable.
Tell stories and ask questions
Nature narratives where stories explore relationships between people and the natural world help children form emotional connections to nature by engaging their imagination and empathy. Through tales of animals, trees, or rivers with personalities and challenges, children begin to see nature as alive and meaningful. These stories make abstract concepts tangible and foster a sense of wonder, care, and responsibility. When children hear or create narratives where nature plays a central role, they build emotional attachments, much like friendships. This emotional bond encourages respect, curiosity, and a desire to protect the environment, laying the groundwork for lifelong environmental stewardship and connection.Notable books which celebrate nature include The Promise by Nicola Davies or The Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane). In addition, teachers and students can make up their own nature tales.
Celebrate small wonders
Encouraging children to explore and appreciate the small wonders of nature starts with slowing down and noticing the tiniest details. Notable examples include the invitations to look closely at a snail’s trail, a spider’s web, or the texture of a leaf and use magnifying glasses or nature journals to spark curiosity. Ask open-ended questions like ‘What do you think lives under this rock?’ Create scavenger hunts focused on tiny things such as seed pods, insects on leaves and patterns. Celebrate discoveries, no matter how small to show that you don’t need a dramatic landscape to foster awe, just a shift in perspective. By modelling wonder and paying attention to the little things yourself, you show children that every part of nature has value and a story to tell.
Model wonder and respect
Modelling the wonder of nature to children begins with your own genuine curiosity and enthusiasm. Pausing to marvel at a sunset, examining a bug, or listening to birdsong, and expressing your awe out loud will encourage children to do the same. Use phrases like ‘Isn’t that amazing?’ or ‘I wonder how that works.’ Asking questions which don’t require an immediate answer invites children to explore with you. Share personal stories of nature encounters and point out beauty in everyday natural details. Avoid rushing; let them see you taking time to appreciate the moment. Your excitement and attentiveness show that nature is valuable and fascinating, encouraging them to mirror their own appreciation in the same way.
Create nature rituals
Creating nature rituals with children helps build lasting connections to the outdoors. Begin with simple, consistent activities like morning nature walks, sunset watching, or weekly visits to a favourite tree or park. Make these moments special by including small rituals such as greeting a tree, collecting seasonal treasures, or sitting quietly to observe changes. Mark transitions, like the start of a new season, with nature-based celebrations. Encourage journaling, sketching, or storytelling about what they see and feel. Keep the rituals relaxed and child-led to foster a sense of ownership and joy. Over time, these repeated experiences create meaningful bonds with nature and lasting memories.
More than a moment — a mindset
Helping children build emotional connections to nature isn’t about one-off activities or environmental education units. It’s about nurturing a mindset that sees nature not as ‘other’ or separate, but as part of who we are. When children listen to the wind, they learn to listen inwardly, too. Nature becomes not just a place to visit, but a place to return to, a quiet friend in a noisy world.
To help children become emotionally attached to nature, we must offer them frequent, meaningful, and joyful experiences outdoors. Through storytelling, unstructured play, mindful observation, and shared rituals, children learn to see nature not just as scenery, but as a living, feeling part of their world. Modelling wonder, encouraging curiosity, and creating space for reflection nurtures empathy and a deep-rooted connection. These early bonds are the foundation for lifelong care and stewardship. Let us all commit to guiding children into nature’s embrace, slowly, intentionally, and often—so they grow to love and protect the earth as part of their own story.
