Explore Nearby Nature
At Home in
Nature Nearby
S
BY BETH STEIN
TRANGE BIRDS – WHO’S singing that song? Towering trees – sky high, spring green. Weird bugs – whoa! In addition to meeting new people, moving to a new place means meeting new natural neighbors. If you’ve recently relocated to a new community, or if even if you’ve just switched sides of town, take some time to help your kids feel at home in their new natural neighborhood. Who’s that tall tree sheltering you from the rain? And what about that squirrel who just crossed the road? Where does she live? Who are those bugs are burrowing in your garden? And who’s making the air smell so sweet? Kids who are grounded in the place they live are more easily settled in their new environment overall, from their bedroom in the apartment building to their classroom at school. As you wander, remember, just like human neighbors, some of your new natural neighbors will be super welcoming and easy to befriend – shiny red ladybugs, fluffy cottonwood seeds, and wiggly worms.
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O R E G O N F A M I LY . C O M
MARCH 2022
