Now that the colder and wetter weather is upon us, it can be difficult to convince our children to go outside, explore and try new things. And, if you’re like me, it can be hard to convince yourself to do that, because it’s challenging to get everyone bundled up appropriately. But there are so many things we can learn beyond our front doors, and it can be a lot of fun to do so.
To help give you and your kids motivation to head out into the cold rain, here are five books to show you some of the things you might discover while you’re out there.
The first one is Grandfather’s Reminder by Alberta-Rose Bear and Kathleen O’Reilly and illustrated by Lindsey Bear (Your Nickle’s Worth Publishing, 2022). At its heart, this story, which is written in Plains Cree, Saulteaux and English, is about patience and loving yourself. It also teaches us about nature’s signs, for example, how foxtails tell us that the chokecherries Grandfather planted are ready. Maybe after you read the book, you and your children can spend some time researching natural signs that appear around your home at this time of year, and go for a nature walk to see if you can spot them. For ages 4 to 7.
Another book that includes words from a language other than English is Mwâkwa Talks to the Loon, which is written and illustrated by Dale Auger (Heritage Press, 2024). This story includes words and phrases written in Cree and is about a young man named Kayâs. Kayâs is a gifted hunter, but he is also prideful, and he loves to hear the rest of his community praise him and his gifts. In fact, he loves this so much, that he stops hunting so he can listen to them and loses his gift. To get it back, he needs help from the elders, Mwâkwa the Loon and the Beings that swim. For ages 4 to 7.
If your kids are not sure what to do when they are outside, they can flip through Canadian Wildlife Activity Book by Tom Hunter (Heritage, 2024) for some ideas. This book is filled with animal-themed puzzles, games and art projects for all ages and abilities. And while these activities are for indoors, they might inspire your children to head outside and see if they can spot any of the fish, ducks or animal tracks that Hunter’s illustrations show them. For ages 5 to 9.
Or you can be like Gordie Howe’s mother and give your children something new to try. In Gordie’s Skate by Bill Waiser and illustrated by Leanne Franson (Thistledown Press, 2023), we learn how Gordie’s love of skating all started with the single skate he got when his mother bought a bag of stuff from a neighbour. The reason he only had one skate was that he had to share the pair with his sister. That didn’t stop him. He was determined to learn how to skate and play hockey. His goal got much easier when his sister gave up and he got both skates. So, perhaps if you’re looking for ways to encourage your children to spend more time getting fresh air, you can give them something new to try. Even if they must adapt it a bit so it works for them; they may find something they’ll fall in love with. For ages 4 to 7.
The final book isn’t necessarily going to encourage your children to spend time outside, but it might inspire them to go to a museum to learn about history. This story is called Elizabeth Quocksister: Keeper of History by Haley Healey and illustrated by Kimiko Fraser with help from George Quocksister Jr. (Heritage Press, 2024). It is a child-friendly biography about Elizabeth, who was a cultural teacher, community leader, residential school survivor, mother of 10, nurse’s aide and a photographer. Her photographs, which are in the Campbell River Museum, showcase what her life was like during a time when the Canadian government wasn’t keen on letting Indigenous individuals live out their lives and traditions. For ages 4 to 7.
I know these days can seem dreary and cold, but there are always ways for us to get our children out in our communities and surrounding areas so we can watch them learn, grow and discover new things. I hope these stories inspire you to do just that.
