I Love Dirt!: 52 Activities to Help You and Your Kids Discover the Wonders of Nature

I Love Dirt! presents 52 open-ended activities to help you engage your child in the outdoors. No matter what your location-from a small patch of green in the city to the wide-open meadows of the country-each activity is meant to promote exploration, stimulate imagination, and heighten a child's sense of wonder.

“"Here is the potential for much fun, many meaningful experiences-and a trove of shared stories."-Richard Louv, from the foreword "There may be no better way to ensure the well-being of the natural world tomorrow than to introduce children to its many small wonders today. Through a series of accessible activities designed to engage young minds and all five senses, this book reminds us of-even celebrates-the magic to be found right outside our own back doors."-Todd Christopher, National Wildlife Federation's Green Hour " I Love Dirt! is a perfect book for parents, teachers, or anyone who cares about children and nature. A nature-lover herself, Jennifer Ward has done an excellent job creating a collection of fun, interactive ways for children everywhere to connect with nature and combat the growing negative impact of sedentary, indoor lifestyles on our youth."-David Mizejewski, Naturalist, National Wildlife Federation and Host of Animal Planet's Backyard Habitat "A wonderful resource for parents. This book could be the ticket to many wonderful memories for both parent and child."- Portland Book Review”

“Here is the potential for much fun, many meaningful experiences—and a trove of shared stories.”—Richard Louv, from the foreword

“There may be no better way to ensure the well-being of the natural world tomorrow than to introduce children to its many small wonders today. Through a series of accessible activities designed to engage young minds and all five senses, this book reminds us of—even celebrates—the magic to be found right outside our own back doors.”—Todd Christopher, cofounder of National Wildlife Federation’s Green Hour

“I Love Dirt! is a perfect book for parents, teachers, or anyone who cares about children and nature. A nature-lover herself, Jennifer Ward has done an excellent job creating a collection of fun, interactive ways for children everywhere to connect with nature and combat the growing negative impact of sedentary, indoor lifestyles on our youth.”—David Mizejewski, naturalist, National Wildlife Federation, and host of Animal Planet’s Backyard Habitat

“A perfect companion to your nature center and hiking trail excursions!”—Nashville Parent

“A wonderful resource for parents. This book could be the ticket to many wonderful memories for both parent and child.”—Portland Book Review

Jennifer Ward is the author of numerous children's books, all of which present nature to kids. Her award-winning titles have been featured in magazines such as Ranger Rick, Your Big Backyard, Learning, and Foreword, and she has been interviewed and featured on national television and local radio. She is a regular speaker at conferences and schools across the country, where she instills the importance of literacy and the wonders waiting to be discovered in the natural world.

Oh, what fun a child can have by jumping in mud puddles, collecting bugs, and listening to the birds! And yet, many children today have become so occupied with TV, computers, and video games, that unstructured, outdoor play is sadly becoming a thing of the past. Organized by season, and appropriate for both urban and country settings, each activity is accompanied by a fun fact to help further a child's understanding of the natural world and open up a conversation.

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