Talk a Walk Through a Book on the Garden’s Pollinator Pathway
School is out for the summer, and caregivers are always looking for fun activities to keep kids happy, busy–and learning. One suggestion from the Garden’s family education team: go on a StoryWalk®. “In a StoryWalk, the pages of a book are placed along a pathway to propel the reader along,” says Early Childhood Program Manager Cheryl Potemkin. “It makes reading an active experience involving movement, attention and reflection.”
Turn to Nature to Support Mental Health in Children
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, when Americans are urged to recognize the toll of mental illness, fight stigma and advocate for better support for the millions of people affected. One increasingly important area of focus: Children. Mental illness among children is caused by a bewildering array of factors, but no matter the exact situation, parents and other caregivers can adopt one simple strategy to buttress the mental health of the children and adolescents they love. They can foster a connection to nature.
Get in the Spirit of Spring by Reading these Books with Your Family
You can teach your children about spring in many ways. You can watch trees and shrubs leaf and bloom, explore patch of bluebonnets and dance in a spring rainstorm. In quiet moments, you can also read some of the great children’s books about the season.
Celebrate Spring Break with Family Workshops that Combine Science and Fun
Spring Break is just around the corner, and now is the time to sign up for the Garden’s Family Workshops. These sessions are a great way to get out of the house, play with your kids and learn something along the way.
Saturday Storytime Welcomes Families with Young Children Starting in February
“Story time” has a magical sound. What can be better than sitting with a favorite adult and hearing a new story read with enthusiasm and love? Fostering this kind of positive experience with books is one of the goals of the new Saturday Storytime program, which will begin in February.
Share the Joy of Reading and Nature with These Recommended Books
Members of the Garden’s education team love nature, love books and love books about nature. Winter is a great time to snuggle down with your kids and a great story–and to look for gifts for the young readers and soon-to-be-readers in your life. We asked our educators for recommendations of new or favorite children’s books, and here’s what they suggested:
Welcome Winter with Festive Snow Globes while Learning about Renewable Energy
Snow globes are so simple but so mesmerizing. Most children love shaking the globes and watching sudden blizzards engulf whatever tiny worlds exist inside. This December, your family can build their own custom snow globes that will not only serve as cheerful outdoor decorations but also introduce the fundamentals of renewable energy.
Girls’ Nature Workshops Share a Love of Nature with the Next Generation of Young Women
Think back to your own childhood: How much time did you spend outside? Now think about how much time the children you know and love spend outside. No matter how much or how little time you enjoyed in nature, it’s likely the kids of today are outside much, much less. The result is an entire generation suffering from what some scholars call “nature deficit disorder.” Education experts at the Garden have been working in partnership with the Fort Worth Garden Club since 2018 to remedy this deficit for as many area girls as possible through the Girls’ Nature Workshop series.
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage with Your Family during a Full Day of Activities at the Garden
Our four-week festival of Hispanic heritage, ¡Celebramos!, begins Sept. 15, and our calendar is packed with events that range from a Quinceañera community celebration to an outdoor market to an art exhibit of depictions of the plants of Latin America. Families looking to celebrate Hispanic Heritage with their children should highlight Saturday, Oct. 1 on their calendars and plan to attend Día de la Familia. The day is packed with educational programs and performances and culminates with movie night at the Garden.
Teach Observation Skills this Summer with Three Simple Prompts: I Notice, I Wonder and This Reminds Me
The scientific method begins with observation, yet observation isn’t often taught. Parents and teachers assume that students know how to observe without explaining that observing isn’t simply looking. It’s a way of engaging with the natural world that employs multiple senses, draws on existing knowledge and raises questions for further discussion. Learn more about how to teach your children how to observe.