Nature journaling is a wonderful activity for families to learn more about nature and to bond together. But how do families or groups, with members that are different ages, embrace the amazing world of nature journaling?

It is important for everyone in a group, regardless of their age, to expand their curiosity and deepen their connection with nature. Nature journaling looks different for adults and children at various stages of development. Here are possible ways to engage in nature journaling in different age groups:

• Toddlers

Children are never too young to explore nature journaling. Between the ages of 0 to 4 years, nature journaling involves observing different shapes and colours and experimenting with mark-making. It is also important for teachers, parents, or caregivers to point out specific things in nature to help toddlers to start identifying objects in nature.

• Primary School-Going Children

In this age group, children have the ability to make more detailed nature observations. They can experiment with drawing and writing in their journals, and at this stage, children can start to go on field trips to explore the natural environments around them. Primary school-going children will also start to ask questions about things they observe in nature. It’s useful to take along books about nature to look for answers or to write down questions and look up the answers later.

• Teenagers 

Teenagers may start to develop deeper connections with nature. This is a great age to incorporate maths and science into nature journaling as teenagers delve deeper into these subjects at school. This is also a good age to introduce poetry and prose to nature journaling, and to encourage teenagers to reflect on their emotional connection with nature.

• Adults 

Adults can explore all aspects of nature journaling. From going on lengthy field trips to doing research and delving into doing science experiments involving different aspects of nature. It’s a great time to develop their observation skills and to explore the bigger ecological patterns observable in nature.

Make nature journaling fun and interesting at every age

Nature is packed with amazing things to discover at every age, and nature journaling is an exciting way to explore all parts of it. However, it is important to make the learning process fun and interesting at every stage, for both adults and children. Keeping it appropriate for specific ages will help to keep everyone engaged and inspired.