Spring is upon us, and with this comes a wave of positive emotions for me. I cannot verbally explain to you my experience, but I feel it in the deepest parts of me. In my formative years, I was primarily raised by my grandparents. They were farmers from Kansas, and moved to California to increase opportunity for our family. They never forgot their farmer roots, and with a small plot of land in Anaheim, they showed me how to tend a garden. With fruit trees, vegetable gardens, and flowers, my grandfather provided the fundamentals of sustaining annual crops. When spring arrives my core memories resurface, and I find a sense of comfort in the warmth of the soil, the sound of the birds chirping, and the taste of freshly picked fruit.
It is important to understand how memories work so you can create moments of connection with your own child. Children store memories differently when they are pre-verbal, and as they get older their later memories can be recalled, whereas their earlier memories cannot. This does not mean, however, that early childhood experiences are not important. Just the opposite, they are incredibly important for development. Children’s brains are becoming wired, they are learning everything around them through sensory experiences and attachment, and how they develop in these early years impacts their future in incredible ways.
With springtime upon us, it creates an opportunity to connect with your child outdoors. Exploration of an environment is important, and using sensory experiences helps children not only regulate, but also connect. Here are some ideas you may consider for spending time with your child:
- Plant a garden together.
- Purchase a mud kitchen for outdoor play and exploration.
- Use a water and sand table together- hide objects in the sand for your child to discover.
- Go to a local nursery and pick out flowers together- smell the lavender, the roses, and select something together to plant.
- Do a Mindful Walk together- using all of your senses, help your child discover the outdoors. This helps foster grounding skills and being mindful in the present moment.
- Pack a wagon with your child and some snacks, and walk to the nearest park for a picnic.
- Choose to not try and create a moment, and just head outside and see what mutual joined activities you can come up with. This moment will be felt forever.
Although these seem like simple suggestions, they facilitate bonding moments. Connection, along with sensory experiences, will create moments of joy that can be felt for a lifetime. As I plant my spring garden now, I can still feel the connection to my grandparents. This generational experience can live on through me, and continue for many lifetimes, as I invite my child to plant our garden together.