How to Nature Journal Like a Kid!

Today, we are going to steal from kids. I know that sounds bad but hear me out. To be more specific we are going to try and steal their learning superpowers.  Everyone knows that kids learn better than adults. We also know that nature journaling is all about learning. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that kids can often nature journal better than adults. However, few people try to emulate kids to improve their learning. That is precisely what we are going to do now. We are going to learn how to nature journal like a kid.

I watched kids for over ten years, I observed them doing lots of things, then yesterday I sat down for several hours trying to come up with all the things I had learned. The following list is based on what I was able to come up with in that hour. There is also a bonus tip for number seven! Be careful for the tips that are double-edged swords though.

How to Nature Journal Like a Kid: Six Tips I Stole From Kids

1. Firstly, draw all the time. The first rule seems obvious but most people stop doing it around age ten and sometimes earlier. Kids can nature journal better than you because they draw more. Almost every kid draws. What happened?
2. Next, follow the fun. When kids are doing something fun they can withstand pain, hunger, and any kind of weather. Finding the fun in your nature journaling can fuel your practice to new heights. Prepare yourself for more flow states. (Two notes about this one: you can not buy fun. Buying art supplies or nature journaling paraphernalia will not work. Second, this tip is a double edged sword if you are not self aware. Comfortable is not the same as fun.)
3. Eat lots of sugar. Nature journaling burns lots of calories so be sure to treat yourself to a brownie or something.
4. Play/Process. Kids are focused on play. There is almost no equivalent in adult life. Play is not about results, it is about process. If you can apply this to nature journaling you will learn so much faster and suffer from fewer creative blocks.
5. Symbols are Powerful. This is also a double edged sword because symbolic drawing is one of the obstacles to observation and realistic drawings. However, many adult nature journalers could benefit from a visual vocabulary with more symbols. You could look at sketchnoting to get more ideas.
6. Don’t Take Yourself Too Seriously. This could be a whole blog post. However, I will try to some it up in these points.
   1. Stay loose.
   2. Get dirty.
   3. Scribble more, filter less.
   4. You have a lot to learn.
   5. Who cares how you look?

Bonus Tip for nature journaling like a kid

Last but not least, don’t believe adults. And yes that includes yourself. Kids keep asking the question why. This one question asked three or four times in succession can bring most adult worldviews crumbling to the ground. Why do kids ask these questions? Because they don’t blindly believe the answers they are given by authorities. As adults we stop asking these questions, we believe authorities and take for granted our own explanations of the world. This inhibits your curiosity and ability to observe in your nature journaling.

But what if I’m completely new to nature journaling?

One of the great things is that you don’t need to be an expert at nature journaling to get started. In fact, there are many benefits of nature journaling while you are a beginner. Nature journaling is focused on learning not knowing. The main enemy of learning is not ignorance but the illusion of knowledge. However, it might take some practice because this is not how most people think. The best place to start is “I notice, I wonder, it reminds me of.” Let et curiosity be your guide.

Regardless of your experience, we got you right here. Below are links to some super resources for beginner nature journalers.

Are you just getting started with Nature Journaling?

Here are tips and motivation for beginners.

Need help choosing supplies?