Nature Walk with Kids : Discovering Nature Lessons and Leafy Wonders with My Little Explorer

It started as an ordinary evening — a quiet, golden one — when I decided to take my 5-year-old on a little nature walk🌿. The first hints of fall had begun to whisper through the air, and I wanted her to see what change looks like when nature starts its gentle shift🍂.

We wandered along the lake path, our feet sinking into the soft, damp soil. Every step was a discovery. My daughter bent down to pick up a fallen leaf🍁, holding it up like treasure. “Look, Amma! It’s got holes!” she giggled. That tiny moment became the beginning of our leaf exploration.

We talked about leaf shapes, veins, and colors — how no two are the same, and how each tells its own story of sunlight, rain, and wind. Some had rough edges, some smooth. Some were bright, others already fading to brown. She rubbed one leaf between her fingers and said, “It’s soft like a bunny!”🐰 I couldn’t have explained texture better myself.

A few steps later, we found moss clinging to a tree trunk — soft, cool, and a little magical. We talked about how it loves moisture and shade, quietly thriving even when unnoticed. Then came a curious moment — a tree trunk with natural gum oozing out. “Is the tree hurt?” she asked, her voice full of concern💓. And just like that, our walk turned into a tiny biology lesson beneath the branches.

We soon stumbled upon an old tree stump, its rings perfectly visible. My daughter counted each one carefully — “One, two, three…” — before we lost track somewhere around twenty.

That simple act led to a talk about tree rings and how they tell a story of years gone by — of seasons, growth, and endurance.

By then, the sun had begun its slow descent, casting long, dramatic shadows of trees across the ground. We watched how the shadow stretched and shifted with each minute, and I pointed out the direction of the sunset.

She traced the shadow with her tiny foot, laughing as it moved faster than she could follow. I took a chance to discuss about the exposed roots of the tree!

And because every adventure deserves a little splash — we took off our shoes and dipped our feet in the lake. The water was cool, the ripples soft. It felt like nature’s own way of saying thank you for coming💚.

When we returned home, our hands were full — leaves, pine cones, twigs, and memories.

We turned them into a simple nature-inspired painting — a collage of fall textures and imagination. It wasn’t perfect, but it was ours. Each brushstroke carried a bit of that walk — the laughter, the sunlight, the questions.

 🌸Reflection

That evening reminded me how nature is the best classroom, and curiosity the most beautiful subject.
If you haven’t yet, take your child for a simple nature walk. You don’t need a plan — just open eyes, open hearts, and maybe a small basket for collecting treasures.

Every time we step outside with our children, we’re planting seeds — not in soil, but in their minds. Seeds of wonder, care, and gratitude. 

🌸Related Read

• Brushless Nature Painting for Kids 🌿 | Sensory Art with Leaves & Twigs - similar one which I tried with my LO back in 2017!
•  A Window to Joy — Crafting Nature’s Beauty — simple crafts inspired by the outdoors.

💬What’s one thing your child discovered on your last walk?
Share it in the comments — I’d love to know!

Happy Parenting 😊