What do you think?
Rate this book
I Love Dirt! 52 Activities to Help You and Your Kids Discover the Wonders of Nature
I Love Dirt! presents 52 open-ended activities to help you engage your child in the outdoors. No matter what your location—from a small patch of green in the city to the wide-open meadows of the country—each activity is meant to promote exploration, stimulate imagination, and heighten a child's sense of wonder.
Jennifer Ward is the author of numerous acclaimed parenting books and books for children, inspired by nature.
"Jennifer Ward has created a book that will serve to gently introduce parents to nature, even as parents are using it to help guide a child into the natural world. Children—and parents—learn to observe, as well as appreciate, the basic joys of getting their hands dirty and feet wet. Discoveries become shared experience." —From the foreword by Richard Louv.
Jennifer Ward is the author of numerous acclaimed parenting books and books for children, inspired by nature.
"Jennifer Ward has created a book that will serve to gently introduce parents to nature, even as parents are using it to help guide a child into the natural world. Children—and parents—learn to observe, as well as appreciate, the basic joys of getting their hands dirty and feet wet. Discoveries become shared experience." —From the foreword by Richard Louv.
144 pages, Paperback
First published May 13, 2008
59 people are currently reading
2123 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Ward
112 books42 followersJennifer Ward is the author of more than 25 award-winning nonfiction and fiction books for children and adults.
Her books have been translated into many languages and featured in Martha Stewart's Living, Ranger Rick, on NPR, television's Animal Planet network, and on many popular blogs such as Soule Mama.
Most of Jennifer's books are inspired by science and nature and artfully combine elements of STEM & literacy.
She writes full-time from her home in Illinois where she lives with her husband and two dogs and is easily distracted by everything outside of her windows - particularly if it has feathers!
Her books have been translated into many languages and featured in Martha Stewart's Living, Ranger Rick, on NPR, television's Animal Planet network, and on many popular blogs such as Soule Mama.
Most of Jennifer's books are inspired by science and nature and artfully combine elements of STEM & literacy.
She writes full-time from her home in Illinois where she lives with her husband and two dogs and is easily distracted by everything outside of her windows - particularly if it has feathers!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
July 27, 2011
This is one odd little book. If I had bought this book I would have been so upset.
I'm not entirely clear on who the audience is. The subtitle says "your kids"--but the activities are for toddlers. At the end of each activity it tells you its supposed benefits--"Stimulates imagination and relaxation".
However, these activities are things kids do on their own. Looking for spiderwebs, counting ladybugs, watching the clouds, looking for bird nests. Kids don't need to be led to these activities. Kids are naturally curious, naturally imaginative, and naturally playful, they do NOT need to be led to imagination--and if you are leading them, it's not really imagination, is it?
And then there are the warnings: try to designate play clothes that are allowed to get dirty!; Do not hold or handle ants of any size; remember to wear sunscreen and a hat; never try to hold a spider; make sure the sun is not shining directly in anyone's eyes; layer and bundle your kids.
The very simplistic explanations (what a blue moon is, how ants smell, what is wind, what are leaves, etc etc) are at a toddler's level, not the parents. Any parent (or older sibling!) who does not already know these things is not the sort of person who would ever buy this book.
Also--this book is assumes you live in the northeastern US. It rains in spring, snows in winter, you have cardinals and blue jays, birds migrate to warmer areas, there are lots of deciduous trees, and summer is the most comfortable season to be outside.
And, um, it does snow in part of the saguaro's native range.
I'm not entirely clear on who the audience is. The subtitle says "your kids"--but the activities are for toddlers. At the end of each activity it tells you its supposed benefits--"Stimulates imagination and relaxation".
However, these activities are things kids do on their own. Looking for spiderwebs, counting ladybugs, watching the clouds, looking for bird nests. Kids don't need to be led to these activities. Kids are naturally curious, naturally imaginative, and naturally playful, they do NOT need to be led to imagination--and if you are leading them, it's not really imagination, is it?
And then there are the warnings: try to designate play clothes that are allowed to get dirty!; Do not hold or handle ants of any size; remember to wear sunscreen and a hat; never try to hold a spider; make sure the sun is not shining directly in anyone's eyes; layer and bundle your kids.
The very simplistic explanations (what a blue moon is, how ants smell, what is wind, what are leaves, etc etc) are at a toddler's level, not the parents. Any parent (or older sibling!) who does not already know these things is not the sort of person who would ever buy this book.
Also--this book is assumes you live in the northeastern US. It rains in spring, snows in winter, you have cardinals and blue jays, birds migrate to warmer areas, there are lots of deciduous trees, and summer is the most comfortable season to be outside.
And, um, it does snow in part of the saguaro's native range.
September 10, 2010
Many of these activities may seem obvious to science teachers and those who have spent a lot of time outdoors, but this book was really helpful to me as a mom who doesn't have much knowledge of such things myself but wants to encourage reverence/respect for nature in my kids. I thought the activities presented here were the best I have found - very simple and straight forward, requiring no outside materials, and many would be interesting to both my third grader and my preschooler. One example: going on a hike/hunt for birds nests, talking about how they are different/the same, and then trying to make our own bird nest from mud and sticks and such. Another: leaving food for ants on top of sticks or something, watch them collect the food and observe the other ants picking up their scent trail to the food, then remove the sticks etc with the scent trail and watch their confusion. One more: gravity experiments with natural objects of different, sizes, weights, and resistance and seeing which fall fastest. I think this would be a great book to own, and maybe pick one a week to do.
January 4, 2019
Doğayla iç içe büyüyen çocuklar yetiştirmek istiyorsanız içerisindeki etkinliklerin faydalı bir rehber olacağını düşünüyorum.
Bir çoğu birbirine benzer etkinlikler olsa da içlerinde gerçekten çok hoşuma giden etkinlikler de vardı.
Bir çoğu birbirine benzer etkinlikler olsa da içlerinde gerçekten çok hoşuma giden etkinlikler de vardı.
February 27, 2018
Save your time. The whole book can be boiled down to this: "Go outside and look around." Or, alternatively: "Let your kids do what kids do naturally when you don't allow them to sit in front of electronics all day."
One idea (out of 52) that I did like: naming the full moons after something significant/traditional you do as a family that month.
One idea (out of 52) that I did like: naming the full moons after something significant/traditional you do as a family that month.
August 15, 2015
I love nature and tend to spend a great deal of time outdoors. Heck, I'm scrambling to write this review before I am on the dark side of the internet moon while camping later today.
This summer, some friends and I put together a little "nature club" for our kids (ages 1-6). I picked up this little book from the library hoping it would spark some ideas and activities for our little ones. Unfortunately, I wasn't inspired because I think most of the 52 activities have been done naturally with our kids.
Many reviewers have stated that this book is not for the outdoor enthusiast, but rather for families looking to devote more time to the great outdoors. I totally agree. If you're already a nature lover, don't bother reading this book because you could have written it. However, if you haven't spent much time outside with your kiddos, this book will get you off to a great start.
This summer, some friends and I put together a little "nature club" for our kids (ages 1-6). I picked up this little book from the library hoping it would spark some ideas and activities for our little ones. Unfortunately, I wasn't inspired because I think most of the 52 activities have been done naturally with our kids.
Many reviewers have stated that this book is not for the outdoor enthusiast, but rather for families looking to devote more time to the great outdoors. I totally agree. If you're already a nature lover, don't bother reading this book because you could have written it. However, if you haven't spent much time outside with your kiddos, this book will get you off to a great start.
August 4, 2011
A must own for parents! This book is broken down, by season, into short activities with fun facts about animals/insects/weather with each activity. As I was reading I noticed how many things children just do naturally but that as an adult I forget or overlook. The book reminded me how simple it is to discover and observe nature and to appreciate all of the wonder that surrounds us each day! I will definitely keep this book on hand as a reminder that there never has to be a dull moment when you're outside with your kids!
November 25, 2008
the only thing I don't like about this book is how it tells what specific skills your child is "supposed" to be learning with each activity, for example: "stimulates observation skills and awareness of and curiosity about the living world". it feels like this was added by an editor to satisfy all the baby einstein parents, when the whole message of the book is to allow your child to enjoy and discover nature in a joyful way, not to satisfy some lesson plan.
April 28, 2011
As the title suggests, this books provides 52 project ideas to introduce children to nature.
The description does mention the projects are "open-ended", but to me, I found them too vague. The projects included things like searching for rocks of varying shapes and sizes; puddle splashing; and stargazing. These are all worthwhile activites, however I was expecting more detailed projects.
This would be a good book for families who don't get outside much, and want to start with basic activities. It would also be good for slightly older children would be able to better comprehend and understand some of the science-based discussions the book promotes.
If you have young children, it would just as easy to go outside, let something capture their attention, and go from there. Most of the discussions are too advanced for little kids, and the actual actions are things they will likely do on their own without any prompting.
The description does mention the projects are "open-ended", but to me, I found them too vague. The projects included things like searching for rocks of varying shapes and sizes; puddle splashing; and stargazing. These are all worthwhile activites, however I was expecting more detailed projects.
This would be a good book for families who don't get outside much, and want to start with basic activities. It would also be good for slightly older children would be able to better comprehend and understand some of the science-based discussions the book promotes.
If you have young children, it would just as easy to go outside, let something capture their attention, and go from there. Most of the discussions are too advanced for little kids, and the actual actions are things they will likely do on their own without any prompting.
August 17, 2015
Some great activities in here.
May 11, 2022
Full of excellent activities to engage your child in the outdoors. Fun illustrations throughout and written in an approachable manner.
May 13, 2018
This book contains simple and clear instructions for parents or caregivers to enhance the awareness and understanding of the kids about the nature around them by asking engaging questions. It is divided to various chapters on trees, birds, leaves, ..., providing hints on what questions we could ask our kids to enhance their curiosity and attention about a particular phenomenon. For example, when it comes to birds, we can ask our kids to pay attention to the size of the birds, the differences between songs they sing, their colors, or the form of their beaks.
If you are already a conscious human being about the amazing, simple natural phenomena around you, you may already know most of the contents in the book. However, if you need a poke to enhance your awareness, thus your kid’s awareness and curiosity, about nature, this book would be very useful.
If you are already a conscious human being about the amazing, simple natural phenomena around you, you may already know most of the contents in the book. However, if you need a poke to enhance your awareness, thus your kid’s awareness and curiosity, about nature, this book would be very useful.
May 30, 2016
I picked this up seeking inspiration for getting myself and my children into nature. The book is divided into seasonal activities that introduce a variety of topics. Some of the ideas are impractical for California, but for the most part there are great ideas to spring from. This book is aimed for younger children with parent direction.
Read
May 22, 2009The first of a series of books written by Jennifer Ward and illustrated by me, aiming to inspire families to spend more time in nature & the outdoors. The second book (Let's Go Outside) is due out later this year.
January 10, 2017
This is a nice book for parents who want ideas and suggestions for spending time in nature with their kids. Learning made fun.
June 15, 2017
I Love Dirt! would be a great book for a teacher or kid's group leader who wants to lead kids in semi-structured outdoor activities. But what's really important is just to spend time outside. And generally, the more unstructured or child-led that time is, the better.
The book does encourage going outside, observing something, and giving a mini science lesson based on what you and the child you are with have observed. This is good as far as it goes, but again, I think what's even better to strive for is for kids to be outdoors on their own when possible.
The book does encourage going outside, observing something, and giving a mini science lesson based on what you and the child you are with have observed. This is good as far as it goes, but again, I think what's even better to strive for is for kids to be outdoors on their own when possible.
January 15, 2019
Activity ideas separated by season. I think this book would be best with 6-9 year olds. The activities are easy, not much prep, if any, required so I would consider it open and go. A lot of them are things some kids may naturally do in nature if they're used to being outside (which a lot of kids aren't these days so they might need more adult guidance which this book provides) but it's nice to have for when your mind goes blank and the question prompts keep the discussion going.
September 15, 2018
This is a great book for parents and educators of young children. Great ideas organized by season to get kids out and active in nature. Foreward by Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods. My nephew and his partner are celebrating their son's first birthday in October. They are getting this book :)
December 13, 2018
Tanıtım bülteninde yazdığı üzere 4-8 yaş arası çocuklara doğa deneyimi kazandırmak amacıyla hazırlanmış ve bence amacına ulaşmış bir kaynak. Okurken basit izlenimi verse de farkında olmadan ebeveyni de bilgilendiriyor ve farkındalık oluşturuyor. Doğa deneyimleri edinmek için iyi bir başlangıç kaynağı. Öncesinde; Doğadaki Son Çocuk isimli eseri okumanızı öneririm.
October 22, 2020
This is a great book for families with younger children or families who are trying to spend more time outside. I love the variety of activities categorized by season as well as the lists of questions, scavenger hunts, and things to look for. If you’re a family that’s already spending a lot of time outside, this may open up some new ideas if you’re in a rut.
March 28, 2022
A fantastic resource! Full of great ideas for different scavenger hunts and mini experiments for all ages with little to no supplies or set up required. Most of the activities would work best one on one or in an outdoor ed group like a field trip where you can discuss the activities together. Set up by season but some activities could be done year round.
Would love to own a copy.
Would love to own a copy.
June 10, 2022
Some books are just what you would expect, based on the cover. I Love Dirt is a collection of ideas for parents and kids to use as they spend time in nature. It's probably the most useful for those families who aren't already "outdoor people", but has ideas to offer even the most seasoned of nature-study-ers.
September 20, 2023
Consider this more like a reference/ideas book rather than a read-straight-through book. It did have some good ideas. I think it may have been better written to kids than their parents (especially since the age group most likely to appreciate the ideas are also likely to be able to read or at least be read to). But overall, it fulfilled its purpose.
March 9, 2018
I thought I was going to get ideas from this other than- Take your kid outside and hike. We already do this. We already talk about everything we are seeing and play with all the dirt, leaves, and trees.
February 27, 2021
The activities in this book are geared toward younger children. It would have been nice if there was a recommended age range for each activity, or if there had a been a few more activites that older kids would enjoy
October 31, 2021
Misleading title — 52 activities to help you and your kids discover nature…
While the book is informative, the “activities” are loose suggestions based on common sense.
I expected more from this read and it fell short. 3 stars for the effort. Don’t recommend.
While the book is informative, the “activities” are loose suggestions based on common sense.
I expected more from this read and it fell short. 3 stars for the effort. Don’t recommend.
February 7, 2022
I like the first season: Spring the best. While the suggestions are activities to do with your kids, the INTENT behind the activities matters more to me. This author explores those reasons, to give a full description of the experience.
May 31, 2017
3.5 stars
July 14, 2017
Quick and straightforward read with lots of great and realistic ideas for enjoying nature with your little ones. I was able to make a list of things to try.
March 12, 2018
Lots of great ideas to get you and your child(ren) exploring nature.
July 17, 2018
Great ideas for infusing nature inquiry into each day.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews