June has so many fun celebration days…and why not? Doughnut Day (June 7); Iced Tea Day (June 10); Flag Day (June 14); Photography Day (June 15)—these all bring yummy treats, exciting parades, memory making and happiness to mind!
Iced tea picnic
It really feels like summer in June (in the US anyway!) because of the weather, school schedules, vacation planning…they all just sort of relax us and lighten our spirits. My favorite special June day is International Picnic Day on June 18! What better way to celebrate play than to spend time outside with fun food (like doughnuts and sweet tea!), family and good friends and space to play, play, play?
Picnic basics
As you consider a picnic for two or twenty, remember to prepare a few flexible and enjoyable activities. You can bring things to do like kites or bubbles or you can plan to use whatever is around you as in a nature scavenger hunt or exploration of the area. Planning ahead, though, means paper bags for children to collect their treasures or masking tape to make a nature bracelet; plenty of bug spray or sunscreen to keep everyone safe and maybe even paper and pencils to keep a list or draw what you find on your wanderings.
Nature shot—ladybug, leaves, etc.
Being outside for a picnic at any time of day can be a great opportunity to have free and unstructured time as well. Children and nature just automatically go together although sometimes it may take a child a little while to remember that! Screens and lots of indoor time can dull their memories of the joys and independence that being outside can bring. As Richard Louv reminds us in Last Child in the Woods, nature can be a multigenerational enjoyment:
“It’s a good thing to learn more about nature in order to share this knowledge with children; it’s even better if the adult and child learn about nature together. And it’s a lot more fun.”
So I hope that you take some time to plan an outdoor meal or snack and enjoy the natural world around you while you are there. We would love to hear your stories or see pictures of your outdoor adventures!
