If your little one lights up at the sight of a butterfly, insists on rescuing snails from the footpath, or could spend hours digging in the garden, you’re not alone. Many children are naturally drawn to the outdoors - and that beautiful instinct is worth nurturing.
At Milestones, we believe some of the best learning happens outside. When children spend time in nature and learn to care for animals and the environment, they develop empathy, confidence, and a lifelong love of the world around them.
And the best part? You don’t need a big backyard or any special equipment to make a difference. Here are a few simple, fun ways to support local wildlife and explore nature together as a family.
Build a Bee Hotel
Invite gentle native bees into your garden with a cosy homemade bee hotel. All you need is a recycled tin can or jar, some bamboo sticks or paper straws, and a splash of imagination. Let your child decorate the outside with paint or stickers, then find a sunny spot to place it. Watching bees buzz in and out of their new “rooms” is both fascinating and a great conversation starter about pollination and why bees matter.
Plant Native Flowers
Nothing beats the magic of watching a seed turn into a flower - especially when butterflies and bees start to visit. Choose vibrant native plants like grevillea, bottlebrush, or kangaroo paw, and let your child help dig, plant, and water. Talk about how the roots drink water, how sunshine helps them grow, and which creatures might come to say hello. Over time, your garden will become a mini wildlife wonderland.
Make a Lizard Lounge
Lizards love a warm place to stretch out and hide. Stack a few sun-warmed rocks, add some dry leaves and logs, and create a peaceful corner where blue-tongue lizards and skinks might visit. Your child will love tiptoeing over to check for wriggly tails or shiny scales. It’s a calm, quiet activity that helps little ones tune into the rhythms of nature.
Create a Bird Feeder
Sticky fingers and fluttering feathers - what could be better? Make a simple bird feeder by rolling a pinecone in peanut butter or honey, then sprinkling it with bird seed. Hang it from a tree branch and watch together from the window as colourful birds come to snack. You can even start a bird-spotting journal with your child, drawing pictures or writing down the birds you see each day.
Go on a Backyard Safari
Pop on your explorer hats and head outside for a slow, curious adventure. Peek under rocks for beetles, gently brush through bushes to spot tiny spiders, or watch as ants carry crumbs back to their nest. Your child might crouch for minutes, totally absorbed by a fluttering butterfly or the shimmer of a dragonfly’s wings. Take photos, draw what you find, or simply talk about the creatures you see.
Nurturing a Love of Nature That Lasts a Lifetime
These small, simple acts can have a big impact - not only on local wildlife, but on your child’s sense of responsibility, care, and connection to the world around them.
Whether it’s spotting a blue-tongue lizard together, planting a flower that brings butterflies, or hearing your child say, “Mum, the bees are back!” - these are the moments that make memories and nurture a love of nature that lasts a lifetime.
At Milestones, our educators bring this same sense of care and curiosity into every day. Through play-based learning and nature-inspired experiences, we help children explore the world around them - and their role in protecting it.
Want to see how we explore nature and sustainability at Milestones?
Book a tour at your local centre and discover how our learning environments support your child’s love for the outdoors.