How to Foster a Love for Nature Through Educational Games

How to Foster a Love for Nature Through Educational Games

Nature supports and heals us in ways we don’t realise at times. For kids, too, nature can be a great way to boost their physical and cognitive development. In fact, the role of interaction with nature in childhood development is often underappreciated.

Environmental psychological theory suggests that contact with nature promotes a child’s creativity, imagination, intellectual development, and even social relationships. Furthermore, other educational theories propose that interaction with nature enhances a child’s knowledge of wilderness and the understanding of their place in the world. 

In this blog, we are going to explore ideas to help foster a love for nature while educating your children. The good part? It’s all through games! Without further ado, let’s get going! 

Indoor Games 

If you are looking for an indoor game, then you might want to consider board games, puzzles and trump cards. They are great for exploring new topics with children and testing what they know.

Here are some suggestions for you:

A. Piece & Play: Amazing Animals | Floor Puzzle

This fun animal-themed floor puzzle game helps your little bundle of joy learn all about the wonders of the animal kingdom. With the freedom to play in two ways, wild animal puzzles for kids give parents the perfect opportunity to keep children busy at home or on the go.

The cues given in the cards challenge young minds to spot and match clues with their corresponding pictures, honing critical thinking and cognitive development. It's also a great game to instil love and compassion for animals in your child through fun and play.

What's included in the package?

  • 48 Jumbo Puzzle Pieces

  • 30 Double-sided Game Cards

  • Instruction Manual

B. Wild Webs | Animal Learning Board Game

Test your knowledge of the animal kingdom as you race through the Wild Webs! Play cards that describe animals to move forward and be the first to reach your tent to win.

What's included in the package?

  • 100 Game Cards

  • 1 Game Board

  • 4 Game Pieces

  • 1 Instruction Manual

C. Rank Up: Amazing Animals | Trump Card Game

Rank Up is an exciting card game that tests your child’s memory and challenges their knowledge - remember fun facts on your cards and compete to win the round for the animal's fastest speed, lightest weight, longest lifespan, and more!

What's included in the package?

  • 100 Game Cards with 500 Fun Facts and Stats

  • 1 Wooden Die

  • An Instruction Manual

Outdoor Games 

A. Creating a Live Flower Vase

Nature trails are always fun — but creating a live flower vase while exploring is even better! Take your kids to a garden or on a nature trek where they can spot a variety of flowers. Hand them a page with an outline of a flower vase and small holes near the mouth, where they can insert the flowers. While on the trail, ask them to identify different flowers. If they get it right, they earn the flower for their vase.

B. Building Together

There’s something magical about building with your hands when you’re surrounded by nature. Building together is about creativity, teamwork, and a bit of engineering flair. 

Start by collecting natural materials like sticks, leaves, pebbles, flowers, or even bark. Then, decide what you want to build: A fairy house? A tiny bridge? Maybe even a bug hotel?

This activity isn’t just about construction. It teaches kids how to:

  • Work as a team

  • Make decisions on the go

  • Test and adapt their ideas

  • Appreciate how things in nature come together

Encourage them to take the lead while you guide them. Ask questions like, “What do you think will make this structure stronger?” or “What else could we use for the roof?” This way, you're fostering problem-solving and communication while having a blast together.

C.  Nature Bingo

Nature Bingo sits at the sweet spot between chill and educational games. It's perfect for keeping kids engaged while walking through a park, garden, or forest trail. Good part? It is easy to create too. 

Before you step out, create a bingo card with pictures or names of things kids might spot outdoors. For instance, yellow butterfly, 3-point leaf, red flower, ladybird, bird’s nest, etc. You can also include textures, sounds, and smells in it. For example, buzzing bees, chirping birds, smooth stones, or fragrant flowers. You can get as specific as you want. 

Every time they spot something that’s on the bingo, they strike it out. Who’s the winner? That’s for you to decide.

  • First to strike off everything in a row

  • First to strike off 10 items

  • Or the entire board! 

Not only does this game sharpen observation skills, but it also helps kids stay mindful of their surroundings. Plus, it’s a sneaky way to introduce them to different elements of nature without making it feel like a lesson.

D. Cre-ART with Nature

How about combining a picnic with some nature art? Sounds quite fun and engaging! Besides, who needs colour paints when nature has all the colours and textures you need!

What you’ll need:

  • Drawing sheets 

  • Basic stationery

  • Craft glue 

Let your kids wander into the garden with a basket or a tray and collect everything that catches their eye — colourful flowers, oddly shaped leaves, pebbles, grass, twigs, and more. Be sure to set clear boundaries on how far they can roam and be vigilant of what they pick isn’t harmful. 

Next, ask them to take a look at whatever they have collected and think about what they can make with it. The idea is to create something artistic on the spot, like a nature mandala, a leafy animal collage, or even a pattern on the ground.

You may want to guide your child with simple prompts like these:

  • What would a rainbow look like using only flowers?

  • Can you create a garden by sticking everything together?

  • Can you make your favourite animal from leaves, twigs, and stones?

Want to make it competitive? Add a timer!

This game teaches kids to explore different things in the environment and feel their textures. Plus, it pushes them to think outside the box, quite literally! 

PS: If you want to go beyond educational games, try doing some fun learning experiments with your kids. For more ideas, do read our blog on ‘Fun Environmental Science Activities for Children.’

Ready to Watch Your Children Fall in Love with Nature?

Mother Nature is full of surprises, and your children deserve every chance to experience them! With these indoor and outdoor games, they’ll not only learn but also connect deeply with nature and witness its magic first-hand.

Product Links:

https://skillmaticsworld.co.uk/products/piece-play-amazing-animals-floor-puzzle-game-ages-3-7

Wild Webs | Animal Learning Board Game (ages 6+) – Skillmatics UK 

Amazing Animal Trump Cards (Ages 7+) | Skillmatics UK

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