Celebrating Seasons {Booklist & Calendar of Firsts}

As our calendars were cleared of virtually everything else this past year, we have thoroughly enjoyed observing the changing of seasons. I love the gentleness and predictability, and my kids enjoy the anticipation of what each new season will bring.

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To bring another level to our observations we’ve recently begun keeping a Calendar of Firsts— kicked off last week with the first sightings of robins under our holly bush, red-winged black birds at our feeder, and purple crocus peeping through the ivy. We’re recording these in The Naturalist’s Notebook, but you could certainly record them in any old calendar or even in a nature journal.

It’ll be fun to note the variations from year to year in the 5-year calendar format!

As I shared in a recent post, we are also keeping a visual representation of our nature observations with a Phenology Wheel. (You can read more about that in my post– lots of fun for all ages, and very simple to implement!)

At the start of each season we also enjoy a seasonally themed poetry teatime/storytime. Below are some of our favorite books to celebrate the changing of seasons:

Another fun seasonal activity to build anticipation and recall what each season usually entails for your family is to create a Family Bucket List! We like to do this by looking back at our old scrapbooks and photos of years past. The kids naturally end up noting, “ooh, I can’t wait to do THAT again!”

We also enjoy making some handicrafts to decorate our home.  We usually create a new bunting/banner for our kitchen window and something special to hang on bedroom doors.

I hope these ideas encourage you to enjoy the rhythms of the natural year with your littles!