OutGrown Blog

Downloadable PDF with resources for promoting and joining the Spring Sensory Celebration.

Updated for 2025: Spring Sensory Celebration As we step into a new season, we’re refreshing this post with new insights and activities for our Spring Sensory Celebration! This annual initiative encourages families to slow down and experience nature with all five senses. Whether you’re a longtime follower of OutGrown or discovering us for the first time, we hope these ideas inspire fresh ways to explore the outdoors with your little ones. While wandering through nature, we take in our surroundings using our senses. We smell flowers, touch tree bark, listen to bird calls, see details (like an ant trail on a tree), and even taste some of the natural objects we come across (think berries or edible flowers). And, while investigating nature in this way comes naturally to most children, sometimes we forget to allow children the time and space they need to do it. As part of OutGrown’s Spring Sensory Celebration, we’re sharing simple, engaging ways to activate each of the five senses outdoors with young children. Photo Credit: Michelle Pearl Gee Exploring Nature by Touch Touch is one of our most immediate ways of experiencing the world. Every moment outside offers a chance to notice new textures and sensations, from the sun's warmth to the rough bark of a tree under our fingertips. Though we take almost all of our touch sensations for granted and do not think much about them, one minute outside can feel like this: You touch the doorknob to let yourself outside and immediately feel the warm air and a slight breeze on your skin. You step outside, and your bare feet feel the warm cement ground. You walk toward your front yard and brush your arm up against a bush. You touch some flowers right before your feet touch the cooler grass. You take a moment to relish the feeling of the grass before you sit down and feel the soft ground under your body and maybe a slight itchy feeling on your legs. We often take these sensations for granted, but when we slow down and focus, we can turn everyday outdoor moments into a mindful, sensory-rich experience. But, if we slow down outside, practice a little mindfulness, and think about each feeling as it touches our body, it can shift any outdoor experiences greatly. Five ways to slow down and experience the sense of touch in nature: Create a touch box. A touch box is a fun, hands-on guessing game that helps kids explore nature through feel alone. Gather natural objects, such as pinecones, feathers, and smooth stones, place them in a box, and have kids guess each item by touch. You gather some simple natural items and put them inside a box. Don’t let your children see what is in the box and have them guess what nature item it is based on touch alone. You can put one item in at a time (good for younger children) or all at once to make it more challenging. Walk barefoot in nature. Our feet are packed with nerve endings, making them perfect for sensory exploration. Walk barefoot on grass, sand, or dirt, noticing how each surface feels differently. When you intentionally think about each sensation your feet feel, the whole experience of walking barefoot shifts just a bit. Find different textures in nature. Try a texture scavenger hunt! Challenge kids to find something rough, smooth, soft, bumpy, cool, or warm. You can also just have the ideas in your head and have the kids search for one at a time while you meander your favorite trail. Some examples of easy-to-find nature textures are rough, smooth, cold, warm, wet, dry, hard, soft, etc. Hug a tree. Tree-hugging isn’t just for fun; it’s a great way to explore texture and size. Notice whether the bark is rough or smooth, warm or cool, thick or thin.. Are you able to wrap your hands all the way around? Is the bark rough or smooth? Count the skin sensations. Pause for a minute and count all the sensations on your skin, the breeze, the sun, and the feeling of the ground beneath you. You’ll be amazed at how much you notice when you focus! The wind on your skin, the sun's warmth, the feeling of the ground under your body, the fly that landed on your leg, and so much more. It is hard to focus on only the sense of touch, but how many different things our skin can feel in just one minute is fantastic. Ready to explore more? Join our Spring Sensory Celebration! Share your sensory nature experiences with us using #SpringSensory, and check out our other posts on hearing, taste, smell, and sight for more ways to engage with nature.   About OutGrown OutGrown is a national nonprofit working to ensure that every family, especially those with babies and young children, can experience the benefits of time outside. Since our grassroots beginning in 2013, we have supported more than 300,000 families with the help of thousands of volunteers across the country. We believe nature belongs to all of us from the very beginning. That means creating opportunities, removing barriers, and supporting families in finding their way outdoors, whether that starts with a stroller walk, a community outing, or a quiet moment under the sky. You can learn more and explore our programs at WeAreOutGrown.org. Editor’s Note Thank you for reading. At OutGrown, we believe content should offer more than information. It should create a connection, support real-life caregiving, and reflect how families grow together through nature. Everything we share is made with care by our team and volunteer community. If this piece inspired you or helped you feel more confident in your outdoor journey, we invite you to support our work by donating today. Your contributions help us keep resources free and accessible to all families. Please remember that the experiences and tips shared in this article are for general information only. They are not a substitute for professional medical, mental health, or safety advice. Always consult with a qualified provider if you have specific concerns or questions. We are glad you are here. We are growing something meaningful together.

Updated for 2025: Spring Sensory Celebration This year, we’re reintroducing Exploring Nature with Your Senses: Hearing as part of our Spring Sensory Celebration! Throughout the season, we invite families to explore the outdoors using all five senses—starting with sound. Nature is full of melodies, rhythms, and whispers waiting to be heard. Whether it’s the chirp of a bird, the rustle of the wind, or the splash of raindrops, each sound deepens our connection to the world around us. So, let’s slow down, listen closely, and experience the wonders of nature through sound. Exploring Nature Through Hearing Listening to nature can ease the stresses of daily life and help us feel more connected to the outdoors. From the calls of birds to the rustling of wind on a blustery day, the buzzing of cicadas, or the rush of water after a rainstorm—nature is alive with sound. Even in urban settings, if you take a moment to pause, you’ll notice the subtle sounds of nature all around you. So, step outside with your children and explore the soundscape of the natural world together! While wandering through nature, we use our senses to take in our surroundings. We smell flowers, touch tree bark, listen to bird calls, see details (like an ant trail on a tree), and even taste some of the natural objects we encounter (think berries or edible flowers). While investigating nature in this way comes naturally to most children, sometimes we forget to allow them the time and space they need to do it. We share five different ways to explore each of the five senses with your children! So get outside as a family, slow down, and explore nature with your senses together! Photo Credit: Ashley Schneider Five ways to slow down and experience sounds in nature together: Find five sounds. Find a comfy spot, or at least a spot free of sharp rocks and pokey plants, and lie down. Close your eyes and put a fist in the air. Now listen carefully to the nature around you and put a finger up each time you hear a new nature sound. Once all five figures are raised, sit up, wait for everyone else to finish, and then share what you heard.   Listen to bird calls. Listen to the birds around you as you sit for a picnic or hike a favorite trail. If you want, spend time trying to match the bird calls to the bird, or try to count the number of different birds you hear. There is no wrong way to listen to the sounds of birds, even if it is just listening to them and nothing more.   Hear your footsteps. As you walk through nature, listen to the sounds of your footsteps. Do you hear the crackle of dried fall leaves, the snapping of twigs, the splashing of water, or the crunch of snow? There is a different sound for every season or ground cover—and the sounds even change depending on your footwear.   Listen like an animal. Find a quiet place in nature where you won’t be disturbed. Close your eyes and pretend you are an animal listening for survival. Are you a prey animal (rabbit, squirrel, deer) listening for danger? Are you a predator animal (fox, wolf, owl) listening for movement? What do you hear? A human talking? A squirrel chattering? A dog barking? How would your animal react to those sounds? This is a great way to teach kids about how animals use sound in their daily lives. What’s That Sound? For this game, gather some common nature objects—sticks, dried leaves, rocks, sand, water, acorns, pinecones, etc. Please place them in a box or behind your back where your children can’t see them. Can they guess what made the sound? Have your kids close their eyes (or wear a blindfold), then make a noise with one of the objects: Tap two rocks together Crinkle fall leaves Shake a few acorns in your hand Rub two pinecones together This game helps kids develop active listening skills and increases their awareness of the sounds around them. Keep Exploring! Want to engage even more senses? Check out our other posts on exploring nature through smell, taste, touch, and sight!  📢 Join the Spring Sensory Celebration! We’d love to see how your family is exploring nature through sound. Share your outdoor sound adventures using #SpringSensory and tag @WeAreOutGrown! About OutGrown OutGrown is a national nonprofit working to ensure that every family, especially those with babies and young children, can experience the benefits of time outside. Since our grassroots beginning in 2013, we have supported more than 300,000 families with the help of thousands of volunteers across the country. We believe nature belongs to all of us from the very beginning. That means creating opportunities, removing barriers, and supporting families in finding their way outdoors, whether that starts with a stroller walk, a community outing, or a quiet moment under the sky. You can learn more and explore our programs at WeAreOutGrown.org. Editor’s Note Thank you for reading. At OutGrown, we believe content should offer more than information. It should create a connection, support real-life caregiving, and reflect how families grow together through nature. Everything we share is made with care by our team and volunteer community. If this piece inspired you or helped you feel more confident in your outdoor journey, we invite you to support our work by donating today. Your contributions help us keep resources free and accessible to all families. Please remember that the experiences and tips shared in this article are for general information only. They are not a substitute for professional medical, mental health, or safety advice. Always consult with a qualified provider if you have specific concerns or questions. We are glad you are here. We are growing something meaningful together  

Updated for 2025: Spring Sensory Celebration Spring is here, and with it comes OutGrown’s Spring Sensory Celebration! This season, we’re exploring the outdoors using all five senses—starting with smell. While wandering through nature, we take in our surroundings using our senses. We smell flowers, touch tree bark, listen to bird calls, see details like an ant trail on a tree, and even taste some of the natural objects we come across (think berries or edible flowers). This kind of sensory exploration comes naturally to children, yet we often forget to slow down and give them space to experience it fully. From the scent of fresh rain to the crispness of pine needles, nature is filled with smells that help us connect more deeply to the world around us. Let’s slow down, take a deep breath, and experience the outdoors through smell. Photo credit: Kyla Phillips @mirroredmomentsphotography Exploring Nature Through Smell Our sense of smell plays a significant role in our world experience. It helps us identify places, triggers strong memories, and influences our emotions. By encouraging kids to engage with their sense of smell outdoors, we help them develop a deeper appreciation for the environment. Here are five simple ways to slow down and explore nature using smell. 1. Stop and Smell the Roses—Literally! Nature is full of scents, from sweet flowers to earthy tree bark. Encourage your child to take their time and notice different smells as they walk outside. 🌿 Try This: Ask them questions like: Does this smell sweet, earthy, or spicy? Is it strong or faint? Do different flowers have different scents? This activity helps kids develop vocabulary around scents and builds sensory awareness. 2. Smell the Air The air carries a variety of scents depending on the time of day and the weather. Take a moment to stop and breathe deeply—what do you notice? 🌦️ Try This: Step outside in different conditions and compare how the air smells. After a rainstorm: Fresh and earthy In the morning: Crisp and cool On a warm day: Dry and grassy Near water: Fresh and breezy Noticing these subtle differences helps children recognize how nature changes over time. 3. Find a Scent Trail Turn scent exploration into a game! Pick a smell—like pine, lavender, or mint—and challenge your child to follow their nose to find another source of that same scent nearby. 🔍 Try This: In a forest, kids can track the scent of pine needles from trees to the ground. In a garden, they can find different herbs with similar scents. This helps develop observational skills and makes exploring nature more interactive. 4. Create a Smell Collection Collect natural items with strong scents and create a scent jar collection for your child to explore. 🌸 Try This: Gather pine needles, fresh herbs, flower petals, and tree bark. Place them in small jars or bags and have your child identify each scent with their eyes closed! This is a great hands-on way to reinforce learning and encourage sensory exploration. 5. The Scent Memory Game Smells can trigger strong memories—sometimes even more than sight or sound! 🧠 Try This: Ask your child if a particular smell reminds them of something special: The ocean? A beach trip Fresh-cut grass? A Backyard Summer Day Campfire smoke? A family camping trip Encouraging kids to connect smells with memories helps deepen their personal experiences with nature. Keep Exploring! Want to engage all five senses? Join our Spring Sensory Celebration and experience nature in a whole new way! 📢 Share your outdoor smell adventures using #SpringSensory and tag @WeAreOutGrown! Then check out our other sensory guides on taste, hearing, touch, and sight to continue the adventure! About OutGrown OutGrown is a national nonprofit working to ensure that every family, especially those with babies and young children, can experience the benefits of time outside. Since our grassroots beginning in 2013, we have supported more than 300,000 families with the help of thousands of volunteers across the country. We believe nature belongs to all of us from the very beginning. That means creating opportunities, removing barriers, and supporting families in finding their way outdoors, whether that starts with a stroller walk, a community outing, or a quiet moment under the sky. You can learn more and explore our programs at WeAreOutGrown.org. Editor’s Note Thank you for reading. At OutGrown, we believe content should offer more than information. It should create a connection, support real-life caregiving, and reflect how families grow together through nature. Everything we share is made with care by our team and volunteer community. If this piece inspired you or helped you feel more confident in your outdoor journey, we invite you to support our work by donating today. Your contributions help us keep resources free and accessible to all families. Please remember that the experiences and tips shared in this article are for general information only. They are not a substitute for professional medical, mental health, or safety advice. Always consult with a qualified provider if you have specific concerns or questions. We are glad you are here. We are growing something meaningful together

Updated for 2025: Spring Sensory Celebration Spring is here, and with it comes OutGrown’s Spring Sensory Celebration! This season, we’re inviting families to explore the outdoors through all five senses—starting with taste! While we often focus on what we see or hear outside, taste is another way to deepen our connection to nature—when done safely. Whether sampling fresh food at a farmers market, foraging for wild berries, or cooking with edible flowers, there are many ways to experience nature through taste. While wandering through nature, we take in our surroundings using our senses. We smell flowers, touch tree bark, listen to bird calls, see details (like an ant trail on a tree), and even taste some of the natural objects we come across (think berries or edible flowers). While investigating nature in this way comes naturally to most children, sometimes we forget to allow children the time and space they need to do it. We share five ways to explore each of the five senses with children. So get outside as a family, slow down, and explore nature with your senses together!     Photo Credit: Ashley Schneider Exploring Nature Through Taste Taste may not be the first sense that comes to mind when exploring the outdoors, and as parents, we often work hard to keep little ones from putting everything in their mouths. But when done intentionally and safely, tasting nature can be a fun and educational experience. Children as young as 2-3 years old can begin to understand the difference between edible and non-edible plants (though supervision is always essential). Teaching kids about where their food comes from helps them build confidence, curiosity, and a deeper appreciation for the natural world. Five ways to slow down and experience the sense of taste in nature: 1. Taste the Farmers Market Farmers markets are a great place to introduce kids to fresh, local foods. Let them pick a new fruit or veggie to try at each visit—it’s a fun way to connect food with nature and the people who grow it. Encourage kids to compare flavors: Is this apple sweeter or more tart than the one we had last time? How does a fresh tomato taste different from one at the grocery store? Small moments like these build lifelong curiosity about food and nature. 2. Go Foraging (Safely!) Foraging is a fun and educational way to connect children with nature. It teaches them about edible plants, seasonal changes, and responsible harvesting. Wilderchild’s Foraging for Wild Edibles with Kids guide offers practical tips on getting started, safety essentials, and ways to engage young explorers in hands-on learning. From identifying beginner-friendly plants to fostering a sense of stewardship, this resource helps families build confidence in the outdoors while creating meaningful nature experiences. 🌿 Read the full guide here: Foraging for Wild Edibles with Kids – Wilderchild. 3. Cook with Edible Flowers Dandelions, violets, and nasturtiums are edible flowers that can be used in fun recipes, such as cookies, syrups, and salads. Cooking with flowers is a great way to make tasting nature a safe and delicious experience! 4. Visit a U-Pick Farm Foraging isn’t for everyone, but U-pick farms provide a similar experience with less guesswork. Children can pick their berries, apples, or vegetables—tasting them at their absolute freshest. Many kids are likelier to try new foods when they pick them themselves. To explore local options, check out [Find a U-Pick Farm Near You](Here). 5. Play "What’s That Taste?" Turn taste into a fun game! Gather fresh food items—herbs, fruits, veggies, or nuts—and blindfold your child. Give them small bites of each item and let them guess what they’re eating. Mix in familiar flavors with new ones for a fun challenge! Need hints? Try: It grows in the ground! (Carrot) It’s red and juicy! (Strawberry) It smells like pizza! (Basil) This is a great way to encourage kids to try new foods while making taste exploration fun and interactive! Keep Exploring! Want to engage all five senses? Join our Spring Sensory Celebration! 📢 Share your outdoor taste adventures using #SpringSensory and tag @WeAreOutGrown! Then check out our other sensory guides on smelling, hearing, touching, and seeing to keep the exploration going! About OutGrown OutGrown is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to creating a world where every family can enjoy the physical and mental benefits of spending time outside. We work to remove barriers and provide families with babies and young children opportunities to take their first steps into nature. Since our grassroots start in 2013, OutGrown has grown into a thriving community of 280,000 families and over 300 volunteer Community Hub Leaders. Learn more about our programs at WeAreOutGrown.org. Editor’s Note: Help Us Keep This Content Free We hope you enjoyed this post from OutGrown. We work hard to provide families with valuable content, resources, and inspiration to make outdoor exploration easier and more accessible. If you believe in our mission, please consider contributing. Your support helps us create free resources, develop engaging programming, and expand our reach to families everywhere.  

Updated for 2025: Spring Sensory Celebration Spring is here, and with it comes OutGrown’s Spring Sensory Celebration! This season, we’re inviting families to explore the outdoors using all five senses, starting with sight. From the vibrant colors of blooming flowers to the tiny details of an insect’s wings, nature is full of beauty waiting to be discovered. But how often do we slow down and truly see it? Whether watching the clouds drift, spotting hidden patterns in tree bark, or noticing how sunlight filters through the leaves, every outdoor adventure offers something new to observe. Let’s take a closer look and experience the world through fresh eyes! Photo by: Kyla Phillips @mirroredmomentsphotography Five Ways to Slow Down and Experience the Sense of Sight in Nature 1. Find the Colors of Nature  Take a color walk and search for all the rainbow colors in nature! Younger kids can simply point out colors they see, while older kids can try to find the colors in order—red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet. Want to make it hands-on? With permission, collect small nature items of different colors and create your own rainbow collage at home! 2. Nature Scavenger Hunt Adventure  Turn your next walk into a nature scavenger hunt! Make a list of things to find—like a heart-shaped leaf, an insect crawling, a bird flying, or a tree with rough bark—and see how many your family can spot. For extra fun, take photos or draw pictures of your discoveries! 3. Slow Down & See Like an Owl  Owls have incredible vision, allowing them to spot the tiniest movements in nature. Can you see like an owl? Find a quiet spot in your yard, on a trail, or in a park. Sit for 1–5 minutes and observe the world around you. What small details can you notice? A bee hovering over a flower? The way the wind moves the leaves? The patterns in a butterfly’s wings? Take turns describing what you see, then continue your adventure with fresh eyes! 4. Take a Closer Look  We pass by the same trees, flowers, and rocks every day without really noticing them. What if you took a closer look? Choose one object—a tree, a flower, a rock, or even a patch of grass—and observe it for 1-5 minutes. What small details do you notice? Are there tiny bugs crawling on it? Patterns in the bark? A hidden bird’s nest? Looking deeper helps us appreciate the small wonders in nature that we often miss! 5. Nature I-Spy: A Game for Sharp Eyes  Put your observation skills to the test with a Nature I-Spy challenge! 🔎 How to Play: One person picks something in nature and says, ‘I spy something round and green’ or ‘I spy something that flies.’ The others take turns guessing what it is! Try playing this game on a hike, in your backyard, or even on a rainy day by the window. Want an extra challenge? Make your own Nature I-Spy checklist! Keep Exploring! Want to engage all five senses? Join our Spring Sensory Celebration and experience nature in a whole new way! Share your outdoor sight adventures using #SpringSensory and tag @WeAreOutGrown! Then check out our other sensory guides on taste, hearing, touch, and smell to continue the adventure! About OutGrown OutGrown is a national nonprofit working to ensure that every family, especially those with babies and young children, can experience the benefits of time outside. Since our grassroots beginning in 2013, we have supported more than 300,000 families with the help of thousands of volunteers across the country. We believe nature belongs to all of us from the very beginning. That means creating opportunities, removing barriers, and supporting families in finding their way outdoors, whether that starts with a stroller walk, a community outing, or a quiet moment under the sky. You can learn more and explore our programs at WeAreOutGrown.org. Editor’s Note Thank you for reading. At OutGrown, we believe content should offer more than information. It should create a connection, support real-life caregiving, and reflect how families grow together through nature. Everything we share is made with care by our team and volunteer community. If this piece inspired you or helped you feel more confident in your outdoor journey, we invite you to support our work by donating today. Your contributions help us keep resources free and accessible to all families. Please remember that the experiences and tips shared in this article are for general information only. They are not a substitute for professional medical, mental health, or safety advice. Always consult with a qualified provider if you have specific concerns or questions. We are glad you are here. We are growing something meaningful together

Este espacio ofrece ideas simples, consejos prácticos y ánimo para salir con niños pequeños cuando llueve. Desde saltar en charcos hasta paseos con paraguas, aquí encontrarás inspiración para disfrutar del aire libre en cualquier clima.