35 Awesome Gifts for Kids Who Love Nature

Are your kids fascinated by nature? Nature is a great way to get kids away from screens and engaged with the outside world. The best part? They do not have to go far! There are so many things around us that can be explored and appreciated by our little ones. Today we will share some of my favorite nature gifts for kids.

child with butterfly on the finger

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In a Hurry? Check Out Our Top 7 Picks!

Here are our top 7 picks that are sure to delight your young naturalists.

Nature gifts are perfect for kids who love to explore and have a strong connection to the great outdoors.

Scientists have concluded that spending time in nature helps kids grow in many ways—it boosts their creativity, encourages them to explore, and even helps them learn how to solve problems. Learn more here.

That’s why gifts that inspire outdoor exploration—like bug-catching kits, worm farms, or nature journals—are a great way to support kids’ learning and curiosity while keeping them connected to the natural world.”

Our list has everything from board games and activity books to bug boxes and all kinds of outdoor activities!

Indoor Gifts For Kids Who Love Nature:

Sometimes you have to bring nature indoors. Encourage nature exploration with nature-themed toys, including nature puzzles, science kits, crafts, and other nature play products.

These are perfect activities for kids who love nature and want something to do when they cannot go outside!

Activity Books

Kids are all about exploring the world around them. Whether they are curious about nature or want to learn more about a particular animal or habitat, activity books are a great way to bring education into playtime.

I love this series of Nature Activity Books by Olivia Cosneau. Each book tackles a different habitat and is full of interesting facts and activities for children to enjoy.

The books are very inexpensive, so use them as stocking stuffers or combine several with some coloring pencils.

Here are two others

Introduce kids to the wonders of nature with Animal Habitats: A Sticker and Activity Book for Curious Little Explorers. T

his engaging book is packed with fun activities and over 100 stickers.

It helps young animal lovers learn about different ecosystems while fostering creativity, critical thinking, and a deeper appreciation for wildlife.

This interactive activity book is a fun and engaging way for kids to explore different habitats, animals, and plants.

With quizzes, coloring pages, mazes, and spotting challenges, it offers endless hands-on learning for young nature lovers.

Indoor Nature Science Kits

There is nothing like a nature science kit to get kids interested in nature and science. It is hands-on learning at its best.

Science kits are perfect for nature-loving families who want to share a love of nature with their children. Here are a couple I found for kids who love rocks.

The National Geographic Gemstone & Fossil Dig Kit lets kids experience the thrill of discovery with 20 real specimens to uncover.

Complete with digging tools and a full-color learning guide, this kit makes an exciting and educational gift for young explorers.

The National Geographic Break Open Geodes Kit lets kids open real geodes to reveal stunning crystals.

This kit includes a learning guide and offers an exciting way to explore geology and natural wonders. The kit comes with a 16-page learning guide in full color.

My middle child got one of these. He was a rock enthusiastic and loved breaking open the geodes and displayed them proudly.

Crafts for Children Who Love Nature

Gifts that inspire creativity are a great way to encourage a sense of wonder.

Flower presses and rock tumblers, for example, help preserve beautiful natural treasures and inspire creativity. Here are a few ideas that your kids will love.

The Premium Large Flower Press is perfect for preserving flowers and leaves for crafts, scrapbooks, and decorations. The kit has all the necessary materials to get you started.

I loved pressing flowers when I was kid. I would have loved using this press..

The kit also includes access to exclusive tutorials to guide you through the flower-pressing process. This kit makes pressing flowers easy and fun all ages.

My middle son spent hours tumbling rocks with a tumbler just like this. He wasn’t interested in making jewelry but displayed his polished stones proudly.

The Rock Tumbler Kit lets kids transform rough rocks into polished gemstones with an easy-to-use, durable tumbler.

Complete with a variety of gemstones, polishing grit, and a learning guide, kit is a fun and educational gift for young rock enthusiasts.

This set also includes some jewelry findings for children who want to make something special to wear.

There are lots of bird feeder kits available, but many of them look very flimsy. This one looked sturdy, and many reviewers commented on the quality of the finished project.

The DIY Wooden Birdhouse Kit lets kids paint and personalize their own birdhouses. It comes with four paint colors, a brush, and a hanging chain.

Nature Lovers Tip: You can also buy kits for making solitary bees nest. Please do not buy them. Most of these kits use bamboo stems, but the rough edge of the bamboo can shred the wings of young bees as they emerge.

Nature Journals and Coloring Books

Keeping nature journals is a wonderful way of encouraging children to observe nature over time.

Studies indicate that nature journaling helps kids engage with the natural world by using their senses, thoughts, and feelings to record their experiences. It encourages curiosity, strengthens their connection to nature, and fosters a deeper appreciation for the Earth. Learn more here.

Nature journals give kids the chance to learn more about the nature around them and can be filled with drawings, paintings, photographs, and observations.

Learn more about nature journaling with kids.

Our printable nature journal is the perfect way to foster your child’s appreciation of nature!

It contains 27 pages of engaging activities to help children document their observations through art and words. The file includes

  • 4 pages for observation
  • 2 open-ended pages for writing and sketching
  • 5 Activity pages
  • 4 Seasonal pages
  • 4 Nature Study Pages
  • 3 Scavenger Hunts (including an editable one)
  • 1 page of nature journal prompts
  • Front and back covers

Print the pages you want to create a unique journal for your child. Encourage your little adventurer today with our Printable Nature Journal!

Here are a couple more selections.

The Let’s Scribble, Doodle, Color! Activity Book makes drawing fun and accessible for beginners with step-by-step instructions.

Packed with engaging exercises, it helps kids observe, sketch, and color while building confidence in their artistic skills.

The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling is perfect for tweens and teens looking to improve their artistic skills while exploring the natural world.

With clear instructions, step-by-step exercises, and a strong focus on observation, this book is a great introduction to nature journaling for older kids who love animals and the outdoors.

Coloring Books

Coloring books encourage creativity and increase focus. Coloring is the perfect quiet time activity.

You do not have the pressure of drawing something from scratch. All you do is color.

Lots of people are using coloring as a way of relaxing. Here are some beautiful coloring books with a nature theme.

Coloring Books For Kids Cool Nature:
The Wondrous Workings of Science and Nature Coloring Book: 40 Line Drawings to Color
A Walk in the Woods (Dover Nature Coloring Book)
Backyard Nature Coloring Book

Botanical Art Colored Pencil Set

Pair these books with a Premium Colored Pencil Set featuring 24 rich, highly pigmented colors perfect for botanical art.

With velvety cores for smooth blending and layering, these pencils make a fantastic gift for young artists and nature lovers.

Board Games For Families That Love Nature

Nature board games allow families to have fun together and learn about nature.

Enjoy exploring animal habitats and learning more about plants and animals from around the world with this selection of games.

The Wildcraft! Cooperative Board Game is a fun, nature-inspired adventure in which families work together to find medicinal and edible plants.

With beautiful illustrations, extra learning tools, and a focus on teamwork, this eco-friendly game is perfect for young nature lovers eager to explore the world of herbs.

The Ecosystem Board Game lets players build balanced habitats with wild animals while learning about ecology and sustainability.

With strategic yet intuitive gameplay, this quick and engaging science game is perfect for families with older kids who love wildlife.

The Wild Kratts Creature Power Game brings the excitement of the popular PBS series to life as players race to collect Creature Power Suit cards from different habitats.

Perfect for kids ages 5 and up, this fun and educational game encourages a love for animals and adventure.

Outdoor Nature Gifts For Kids

Outdoor nature activities are a great way to help children discover nature on their own terms.

Nature gifts that encourage your children to head outdoors are always a hit, especially if they can learn more about nature in the process.

Every nature-loving kid has their favorite outdoor activities, from nature walks to playing in the dirt.

Get them involved with gifts that keep nature exploration fun! Here are two gifts to help you spend time outside as a family.

The gofindit Scavenger Hunt Game is a fun, sensory-based card game that encourages kids to explore nature using all their senses.

Compact and perfect for outdoor adventures, this engaging game fosters curiosity and makes learning about the natural world exciting for the whole family.

The Forest School Activity Card Deck offers 48 engaging outdoor games, crafts, and survival skills to inspire kids to connect with nature.

Perfect for families, teachers, and forest school leaders, this pocket-sized deck makes outdoor learning fun and hands-on.

Gifts for kids that love nature pin

Outdoor Science Labs and Explorations

Outdoor exploration kits are the perfect introduction to natural science.

They are great for kids who love nature and want to learn more about nature through experience.

We have bug boxes, worm farms, and labs to help your child explore dirt and plants.

The Grow-A-Maze Kit lets kids plant a bean and watch it navigate through a maze, offering a fun, hands-on way to explore plant biology.

Complete with a transparent cover, water pot, and magnifying glass, this engaging science toy sparks curiosity about nature and makes a great educational gift

The Worm Farm Kit lets kids create and observe a real underground worm habitat, sparking curiosity about nature and science.

With hands-on activities and a colorful instruction guide, this engaging kit teaches kids about worm behaviors, movement, and ecology in a fun and interactive way.

The Outdoor Science Exploration Kit includes 17 tools and a 32-page activity book to help kids investigate the great outdoors.

Budding scientists can catch insects, examine plants, and use the macro lens for extreme close-up photos, making outdoor learning exciting and educational.

The Outdoor Science Lab for Kids includes 50 fun experiments that help children explore science while playing outside.

This book uses simple household items to engage hands-on learning by explaining the how and why behind each experiment.

Every nature-loving kid will love their own bug box! They provide the perfect opportunity to learn about nature and insects.

The Complete Bug Catcher Kit makes outdoor exploration fun with a bug vacuum, critter case, butterfly net, magnifying glass, and tweezers.

Kids can safely catch, observe, and release insects, making this a great hands-on learning gift for young nature lovers.

Looking for some inexpensive toys that will entice your kids outside? Check out our list.

Gear To Help Your Child Explore Outdoors

One of the best nature gifts you can give is the gear kids need when you head outdoors and explore nature.

I took a look at some of the all-in-one explorer kits. To be honest, I was not impressed.The items looked to be of poor quality, and I was not sure they would last.

Besides all that plastic! So, I decided to list the few basics I thought would give your kids what they need to get out and explore.

BackPack and Water Bottle

Every young explorer needs a backpack. Look for nature backpacks that are lightweight and sturdy.

You also want something with plenty of pockets and compartments to hold all the treasures they find (and other goodies).

Here is my recommendation.

A water bottle is also a must.

Rain Gear and Hat

A nature gift that keeps on giving! Your kids will love nature, all the more, when they are protected against the elements.

This rain gear is waterproof, wind-resistant, and lightweight. I liked that it is breathable, so your child will not overheat while keeping dry.

Sun Hat

Sun hats are a must in the summer. They protect the head and neck from the sun and help protect against UV damage.

Binoculars

Every child will be thrilled to receive their own set of binoculars. A good pair completes an outdoor adventure kit, and this set is designed specifically for children.

They are lightweight and durable, with a magnification of 8 x 21. Ideal for bird watching, camping, trekking, hunting, spy games, and other outdoor activities.

These beauties will encourage both scientific investigation and creative play.

Magnifying Glass

Watch your child explore the wonders of nature with a magnifying glass!

Magnification makes everything look so different. Watch them discover new things that were previously invisible, like the bugs feeding on flowers or the texture of the fallen log.

A magnifying glass encourages children to explore nature up close and discover all of its intricacies.

Children love pointing out details they spot, from mushrooms sprouting in the undergrowth to a spider’s web in all its glory. Watch their sense of awe and wonder grow in leaps and bounds!

Field Guides

Field guides are the natural gift that kids will use year after year to discover nature on their own terms.

They provide an opportunity for kids to learn more about nature through observation and experience.

They are also wonderful gifts for older nature-lovers. Here are 3 beautiful guides written with children in mind.

Membership to A Local Nature Attraction

I am a huge fan of experience gifts that last all year round. A family membership to a local nature attraction is a wonderful gift.

These would include a local zoo, botanical garden, nature center, or wildlife sanctuary.

Memberships are timely, educational, and fun gifts for nature-loving kids!

Many sites provide special pricing and benefits when you join up, including event tickets, early entry hours, discounts on meals/snacks, and free parking.

A Donation to a Nature-Based Charity

Children care about nature and often want to help. One idea is to donate to a nature charity in your child’s name.

Your nature lover will feel great about making a difference, plus you might even get a tax receipt!

This could include a wildlife sanctuary, local nature association, or wetlands advocacy group. Here are some national charities

nature gifts for kids pin

The Benefits of Giving Nature Gifts

Nature gifts are perfect for children who love to explore the outdoors. Offering them a nature-based present will help with their development in these ways:

  • Promotes curiosity
  • Increase physical activity and self-esteem
  • Entices children outdoors to explore and learn
  • Help develop a sense of wonder
  • Provides the opportunity for play-based learning
  • Encourages family bonding time

So, consider giving one as a gift for your child or someone you know.

child holding a newt

What to Look For in a Nature Gift for Kids

Nature gifts for kids can be a great way to encourage creativity and exploration outside. Here are some things to consider when searching for the perfect nature gift:

  • Does it have limited play value? You will not see things like telescopes or microscopes on our list. Why? Because they are expensive items that will often be put aside after just one or two uses.
  • We wanted gifts that encourage exploration and play. For example, a microscope has limited play value for a child. What do you do with it once you have looked at the prepared slides? Compare that with a magnifying glass. It can be used to examine everything from bugs, to rocks, to deer poop!
  • Does it stimulate a child’s natural sense of curiosity? Getting a child curious about the natural world opens up the whole world.
  • Does it encourage independence discovery? Along with stimulating curiosity, we looked for gifts that encourage children to explore nature on their own. This type of investigation leads to wonderful learning opportunities!

These are just a few things to think about when buying nature gifts for kids.

child looking at dandelion through magnifying glass

In this post, we explored some of the best gifts for nature-loving kids.

If you want to buy a gift for your earth-loving kid this holiday season, these are the perfect choices!

They promote self-esteem through discovery and exploration while providing an opportunity to teach children about their world. We hope that our list has given you some ideas for something special to delight the children in your life.

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