Why you should stargaze with your kids

The mission of Wild Sprouts is to help inspire families and educators to help our next generation to get outside more and to appreciate the world around us. Our goal is to cut down screen time that the modern family consume in today's day and age.

Stargazing has many benefits to help us get outside and create memories with children and the next generation in our life. Keep reading along for some of the benefits why we should bring stargazing back as an experience we share with our families.

1. Helps to be present in the moment

When we are present in the moment, away from our screens and daily tasks, it helps us to slow down and enjoy our life in the present moment. Children, especially when younger, are observing everything we do. So, when we are always showing our children that we live on our screens, they will reflect the same lifestyle and want to be on their tablets/TV more than they should be developmentally. If we start practices like stargazing together, this can help bring families together and teach the next generations to appreciate our natural world.

2. Connecting to nature

Looking into infinity can make you realize how small your problems are and how small you are compared to the universe. Allowing your children to have more experiences outdoors will start to allow them the opportunity to appreciate and grow a love for the nature around them. You can gain a lot of insights and realizations about the life we’re living by staring up at the vast sky and all it's wonders.

3. Boosts imagination

Teaching children about the constellations can help children with visualization and boost imagination. Children can imagine the shapes and images as they connect the dots(stars). They can also come up with creative ideas about space, stars, far away lands ... the sky's the limit!

4. Creates wonder

Imagine the starry sky through a child’s perspective! What a magical experience to share with them. The shooting stars, the satellites, the Milky Way (if your lucky enough to view it without the city lights.) The awe and wonder that children have in nature is inspiring and could teach us a lot too. So many new discoveries and love for our universe can begin when we stare at the starry night sky. Teaching about moon phases and the way the world spins are some ways to start the wonder and curiosity in a child’s world as you star gaze together.

5. Storytelling opportunities

Some constellations have stories that represent how they got the name. Look into some of the stories online and you can let children explore the ideas of the stories and expand their curiosities. Just like watching the clouds and creating images from what we see, we can do the same with stars and listen to what the children see.

6. Creates memories

How special it would be for a child when they grow up, to see the stars and know they will always be there. They can always look up and remember the times their family got to look up and admire them together. You can travel and make memories in places but sometimes we aren't always able to go back and see those places again. The best thing about the starry sky is, it will always be there, no matter where in the world you go, which could become a comfort for your child. Choose a constellation that resonates with your family and talk about it as your family’s special stars. (When they get lonely one day, they can know the constellations are always there with them.)

7. Science concepts

Stargazing can bring the opportunity to learn how to use a telescope. Children love the chance to get to try real life tools rather than plastic toy versions. Depending how old your children are, this could be an amazing opportunity to teach about the solar system and the universe above us (or build on it if your children are in school already learning.) The benefit of learning as you teach, discovering as a team exploring the sky together, will always come back and be a wonderful memory for your family.