My Friend, the Tree

Tree Appreciation and Gratitude Activity for Kids


Featured in our November Calendar in celebration of Gratitude, ‘My Friend the Tree’ offers kids and families the opportunity to deepen their awareness of, connection to and gratitude or the amazing trees that they see every day. 

If you don't have it yet, download our free monthly calendar full of activities and sweet ways to celebrate nature and play all month long at tinkergarten.com/calendar.


The Guide

If time permits, read about why trees are our greatest teachers in this blog post. It will help to ground you in the activity and give you some really interesting ideas and facts to talk about with your kids.

  1. Head outside: As you walk, hike or even just move from building to car to building, notice and remark on the trees you pass. Talk about their size, shape, color, movement—anything you notice about them.
  2. Find a tree: Pick a special tree and get to know your tree using multiple senses. (Get up close and feel the bark against your face or hands, listen to the leaves rustle or what it sounds like when a stick rubs against it, sniff the tree.)
  3. Give your tree a name: Now that you’ve spent some time observing your tree with all of your senses, focus on your connection to the tree. There are many ways to do this, but a great route to take for kids is to name their tree. Slow down and wonder with kids about what they think the tree’s name is. What are the qualities the tree has that most stand out to kids, and can those maybe inspire a name?
  4. Climb, if you can. If there's a limb low and strong enough to start, climb! Click here for tips on safe climbing for kids.
  5. Enjoy. Other fun things to do with your tree:
    • Measure your tree using a rope or your arms or a tape measure. 
    • Use mud or nature treasures to make a face on your tree or decorate it.
    • Sing songs and tell jokes to your tree.
  6. Again and again. Visit the tree over time and through different seasons to see what stays the same and what changes--both physically with the tree, as well as with your relationship to the tree.
  7. Do some research: Get to know the scientific name for the tree and learn something special about it. Download a free app like LeafSnap or Virginia Tech Tree ID to help you easily identify trees by their leaves, fruits and other features.
  8. Get inspired: If you can carve out an hour or so for grown up time, watch Judy Dench share her passion for trees in this fascinating and inspiring documentary. You will never see trees the same way.

Why is this activity great for kids?

Trees offer ways to climb and build motor skills, persistence, and self reliance. They are often a key part of the setting for our greatest feats of imagination. Observing trees with all of our senses naturally develops curiosity and a base in a wide range of STEM concepts. Finally, once they spend real, quality time with trees, they stand the chance to be more grounded and empathetic as people and certainly more prepared to protect both these amazing plants and the planet that supports us all.

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