As children, nature was not something we scheduled. It was something we lived in. We climbed trees 🍃 chased butterflies 🦋 picked petals 🌸 and sat in the grass just to watch ants go by 🐜
We were present
We were joyful
We were connected
What we thought was play was actually healing in disguise 💫
And the best part is that it still is.
Here are over 12 childlike joys that can gently guide you back to calm, especially outdoors in nature 🌞
🌤 1. Lie on the grass and watch the clouds drift
No phone. No to-do list. Just you and the sky. Let your imagination shape the clouds like you used to ☁️
🍓 2. Pick wild berries or apples and eat as you go
Whether from hedgerows or a local orchard, this hands-on moment brings you straight back into your senses
💦 3. Splash in a stream puddle or the sea
Dip your toes in. Make ripples with your hands. Let the cold water remind you how alive you are
🌬 4. Blow dandelion seeds into the wind
Make a wish and trust it to float where it needs to go. It is still a little piece of magic
🦶 5. Walk barefoot on grass sand or earth
They call it “grounding” now but we called it play. Let your feet remember the feeling of freedom
🐛 6. Watch bugs or butterflies up close
Get low to the ground. Be still. Be curious. This is mindfulness in its most innocent form
🌙 7. Lie on a blanket and stargaze
Wrap up warm and watch the night sky come alive. Bonus: whisper your wishes to the moon and stars ✨
🍁 8. Collect fallen leaves and make nature art
Rub them onto paper with crayons or press them in a journal. Let your creativity run wild with the season
🌼 9. Make a flower bracelet or crown
Stick petals and leaves onto a loop of tape around your wrist and admire the little nature treasure you made
🪨 10. Skip stones on a lake or pond
Feel the rhythm of your breath match the water. There is peace in watching ripples expand and fade
🌻 11. Plant something and check on it daily
It could be a sunflower in a cup or herbs in your window box. Watch life grow because of your care
👂 12. Create a nature sound scavenger hunt
Go for a walk and try to hear:
• A bird chirping 🐦
• Wind in the trees 🌬
• Running water 💧
• Crunchy leaves 🍂
• A distant bark 🐶
Tune in. Nature is speaking to you
🌸 Final Thought
You don’t have to go far to heal
Sometimes all it takes is grass under your fingers or a wildflower in your pocket
Let your inner child lead the way back to peace
They have not forgotten
And neither have you 💕