By Angelique Reisch of Tiny Values
The weather is warming up, the flowers are blooming, and spring is springing across the country, which means it’s time to get the kiddos out and walk! But don’t just head out for an ordinary jaunt around the block. Make your spring walk extra special and filled with gratitude by making it a Tiny Perfect Things Gratitude Walk!
This walk was inspired by the adorable children’s book Tiny Perfect Things, written by M.H. Clark and illustrated by Madeline Kloepper. The story is about a little girl and her grandfather going on a walk one day. They slow down and try to find beauty in the ordinary things most people walk past without ever noticing.
Here’s a lovely excerpt from the book. The grandfather wisely tells his granddaughter:
“Today, we keep our eyes open for tiny, perfect things.
Like here, on the ground, a yellow leaf that the wind blew down.
A spider’s web that’s caught the light.
A snail that climbed the fence last night.”
It closes with the granddaughter telling her parents about the walk.
“We found so many things today! A leaf, a snail, a cat, some crows. The world is full of wonders, no matter where we go.
Can we go again tomorrow? I wonder what we’ll see.
The world is full of perfect things when you come look with me.”
The message is simple but powerful: curiosity can turn an ordinary walk into an extraordinary adventure, and there is so much to be grateful for in our wonderful world. It teaches kids to appreciate the beauty in the world around them, no matter how small.
If we can teach our children to appreciate the color of a vivid yellow daffodil, the shape of a statuesque cactus, or the determination of a slug crossing a forest, think how we can impact their appreciation for their toys, homes, and families.
So, take a step back this spring, slow down, and embark on a Tiny Perfect Things Gratitude Walk with your homeschool crew. You will enjoy the physical exercise and fresh air and cultivate a sense of joy and gratitude that will radiate throughout your home.
Here are a few tips below to help you make the most of your gratitude walk this spring:
5 Steps to a Wonderful Tiny Perfect Things Gratitude Walk
1. Slow down
This walk is about something other than seeing who can get the farthest fastest. It’s about going slowly enough to appreciate the small, beautiful things just outside our doorsteps.
2. Use descriptive words
Challenge children to find beautiful words to describe the remarkable treasures they find. For example, “the glistening dew on a leaf,” “the intricate pattern of a flower petal,” or “the iridescent green of a bug’s wings.”
3. Make a record of it
I like to let my daughter, Rose, take photos as she spots lovely little treasures that interest her. When the children return home, you can have the kiddos draw pictures or create clay models of their favorite tiny perfect things.
4. Take only photos, leave only footprints
This is not about collecting the items for ourselves. It’s about appreciating them in their natural element and leaving them for others to enjoy.
5. Talk about gratitude
Talk to your children about how the items they found are unique and special. Have them think about ways people and things in their daily lives are unique and special. How are they unique and special?
As we explore the wonders of nature just outside our doorsteps, we instill in our children a deep appreciation for the world around them.
Through descriptive language and creative expression, we encourage them to see the beauty in every tiny detail.
We capture these moments through photos or drawings to create lasting memories of our gratitude walk.
Most importantly, by discussing gratitude with our children, we help them recognize the uniqueness and specialness of both the world and the people in it.
Tiny Perfect Things Gratitude Walk Journal: This lovely spring walk encourages kiddos to slow down and appreciate the tiny wonderful things just outside their doorsteps. The journal includes: 5 Steps to a Wonderful Tiny Perfect Things Gratitude Walk, a page to record the special treasures your children uncover, a thoughtful worksheet to explore gratitude in their daily lives, Spring counting, coloring pages, and more! FREE download!
