January Nature Note

I hope that this New Year Nature Note finds you well! 

Many of you have written to me to let me know that you are just starting out with Exploring Nature with Children, and are joining us for the first time this month. Please jump right in, you can begin ENWC at any point in the year, and what better time to get started with the habit of nature study and journaling than in the New Year!

If you began back in 2019, my hope is that you and your child are enjoying your studies, and learning about the natural world around you.

This month, I should like to share this smashing quote from Miss Mason with you:

Meditate on these words of wisdom & remember them as you pursue your nature studies together. Never be afraid to allow your child to just watch, linger, and learn. Your child does not always have to be ‘productive’; whatever that may mean. Allow them to practice the habits of patience, observation, of thinking quietly, and mulling things over. They will make the most unexpected connections! Dare I say: even allow them to get bored. Boredom is an incredible tool to allow the brain to make connections, and digest & form new ideas.

For those of you who are using Exploring Nature With Children, the weeks fall as follows:

6th ~ 12th Week 1: Winter Sky Week

13th ~ 19th Week 2: Moon Study Week  

20th ~ 26th Week 3 Winter Tree Week 

27th ~ 2nd Week 4: Winter Pond Study Week (Please bear in mind Candlemas falls on the 2nd)

There’s a free calendar for the year to download here.

As always, please work the weeks to suit your own circumstances best; these are just my own suggestions!

If you’re over on Instagram, do pop over and say hello! The Instagram page is very much about community; think of it as your virtual home school co op! Our community uses the #exploringnaturewithchildren hashtag, & also specific weekly hashtags to enable you to connect with other families working through ENWC this year

Seasonal notes:

January was named after the Roman god Janus, the god of beginnings, transitions, gates &, doorways. Janus is shown to have two faces, looking both forward to the coming year, and back to the year just passed.

A penumbral lunar eclipse will take place on 10 January 2020

In the garden, you may want to begin making plans. January is the perfect time to peruse seed catalogues, and depending upon where you live, you may even want to begin chitting potatoes.

Wishing you a peaceful & happy New Year.

Happy exploring!