Remembrance Day is an opportunity for us to commemorate the end of the First World War. It gives us the chance to pause, remember those who fought and died, and be thankful for the world we live in today.
Most of us are fortunate to live in beautiful and peaceful countries; we get to explore its stunning landscapes and spend time in nature without fear of violent oppression or warfare. This is in no small part due to the fight that our soldiers put up in WWI for our freedoms.
Remembrance Day Nature Activities for Kids
If you would like to commemorate this day with your kids, spending time in nature is an awesome way to do it. Connecting with the natural world reminds us how beautiful life is, and to be thankful for every part of it. Take a look through some of these ideas for nature-filled Remembrance Day nature activities your whole family can enjoy!
1. Plant Poppies
Poppies are widely recognised symbol of both Remembrance Day and Anzac Day, as the flowers were commonly seen covering the landscapes where much of the war took place. So, why not plant some of these gorgeous deep-red flowers with your kids? You can teach them about the significance of poppies and enjoy gardening together at the same time.
2. Make poppies from recycled or natural materials
This is another great way to recognise the poppy symbol. By using painted leaves, recycled tissue paper, and sticks or pipe cleaners, your kids can easily make their own wearable poppies. See this website for more detailed instructions – you can easily substitute any of the store-bought items for recycled or natural products. Check out this gorgeous recycled poppy craft.
3. Enjoy a dawn service
If you aren’t afraid to get up at the crack of dawn, attending a dawn service with your family is an excellent way to mark Remembrance Day. Get outside in the crisp morning air and use the stillness of dawn to remember those who fought. Mornings are beautiful – there are so many sounds and sights to enjoy that you wouldn’t normally see during the day or at night, like the first inch of the sun or the babbling of early birds.
4. Read remembrance books outside
Do your kids enjoy reading? Great! Take a look at these three titles you might like to read with your family under a shady tree:
What Is Peace? by Wallace Edwards
This is an eloquent and beautifully illustrated kids book which prompts questions about peace and what it means to oneself and others. The perfect Remembrance Day book for pre-schoolers, What is Peace? is a great way to start deeper conversations with your little ones.
A Poppy Is To Remember by Heather Patterson
If you are struggling to explain the concept of Remembrance Day to your children, this book will help you to break things down into a kid-friendly way. It includes information like why poppies are significant, and details some of the wartime history in a way that children from grade 1 and up can understand.
Midnight by Mark Greenwood
Kids are often drawn to stories where the main character is an animal, which can help them to stay engaged for longer and retain more information. This book delivers a heartbreaking yet beautiful story about a mare and his soldier who are both sent to war. Accompanied by illustrations that draw the eye, this book appeals to ages 5 and up.
Please note that these books have affiliate links.
5. Make a wreath and take it to a memorial
Lots of people buy paper or plastic wreaths, but there’s nothing wrong with making your own. After all, you’ve got all of nature at your disposal! Collect some leaves and flowers from your garden and make a beautiful wreath – an easy way is to use a wire hoop just like the one here.
6. Create a sidewalk mural
Got some chalk? Awesome. Go for a walk with your kids and find a patch of pathway or sidewalk to use as your canvas, then spend some time planning out a mural to commemorate the day. You could draw inspiration from a chalk picture like this or come up with something completely original.
7. Send a nature care package to a veteran
Lots of people have family members who fought in a war. Remembrance Day is the perfect opportunity to show the veterans in your life that you care about them and feel grateful for their service. Whether they are a friend, acquaintance, or family member, you could show appreciation by putting together a care package with your kids and sending or delivering it in person.
8. Decorate a tree
Celebrate the beauty of the world we get to live in by getting outside with your family and decorating a tree with handmade poppies or other flowers. It’s such a simple activity, but it is a lovely reminder of the freedoms we have today thanks to the efforts that came before us; we can enjoy the wonderful nature around us and delight in the simple joy of adorning trees.
9. Spend a moment of silence outside
If your kids are fairly new to Remembrance Day, a moment of silence spent together with the family is a great way to introduce your young ones to the idea of commemoration. Taking a moment of silence is likely going to raise a lot of questions as they take a minute to ponder why Remembrance Day is important. After the moment is up, you can have a family talk to answer questions and discuss the brave soldiers who fought.
10. Listen to a service
If you’ve got a radio or a device that can stream channels, another idea to commemorate the day is to sit outside under a shady tree and listen to a Remembrance Day service on the radio. You could even enjoy a picnic together too.
Well, there you have it – ten Remembrance Day nature activities to do with your kids!
Whether you get up at the crack of dawn for a crisp morning service or sit by the shade of a tree in the afternoon for a moment of silence, I hope you have a truly wonderful Remembrance Day feeling grateful for your freedoms and commemorating those who fought.
Yours in nature, Penny x
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