Creative ways for children to spend time outdoors and discover nature.

Creative ways for children to spend time outdoors and discover nature.

In an era when the iPad is often more appealing than the park, it can be difficult to encourage kids to get off the couch and go outside. In this inspirational book, with ideas for children of all ages, foraging expert Fiona Bird shows the value of playing outside and discovering nature for children and families alike.

First Fiona teaches children about their environment, including conservation guidelines and tips on how to forecast the weather. Armed with this knowledge, the outside adventure goes Into the Woods, in Chapter 1, with outdoor crafts including making leaf art bunting, a dream catcher, and a woodland broom. In Chapter 2, Meadows, Hedgerows, and Hills, ideas include wild face paints, natural dyeing, and making potpourri. Onward to Chapter 3, Seashore, where children learn how to go beachcombing, identify different seaweeds, play beach hopscotch, and make a mollusk wind chime. In Chapter 4, Water and Wetlands, children learn to make their own charcoal and go on an animal track and poop hunt! For those who don't want to move far from home, there's plenty to do in My Wild Garden and Kitchen, Chapter 5, such as making a snail holiday village and attracting bugs, as well as developing hunting and gathering skills, with seasonal recipes made from natural ingredients.

So let your kids go wild outside, and enjoy watching them learn and blossom.
About the Author: Fiona is a graduate of The University of St Andrews, mother of six, and a former BBC Masterchef finalist. She divides her time between Angus and the Outer Hebridean Isle of South Uist, where her husband is the local doctor. Fiona is often seen on her bicycle with a basket full of seaweed or wild edibles and is unusually late for church. Fiona is the author of Kids' Kitchen (Barefoot Books, 2009), The Forager's Kitchen (Cico Books, 2013), and Seaweed in the Kitchen (Prospect Books, 2015). She is a wild food blogger for The Huffington Post UK. Let Your Kids Go Wild Outside (Cico Books, April 2016) is her fourth book. She is currently writing a book about Christianity and food for Wild Goose Publications.