Backwoods Mama
  • Home
  • Raising Outdoor Kids
    • Cooking & Crafting

      How to Make Birdseed Ornaments for Wild…

      November 27, 2020

      Raising Outdoor Kids

      Beautiful Spring Picture Books for Children

      March 28, 2020

      Raising Outdoor Kids

      Playing in Nature Protects Our Children During…

      March 17, 2020

      Raising Outdoor Kids

      50+ Spring Nature Activities for Kids of…

      March 3, 2020

      Crafting

      How to Make a Willow Nature Crown…

      July 2, 2019

      Raising Outdoor Kids

      9 Special Ways to Celebrate Summer Solstice…

      June 1, 2019

      Raising Outdoor Kids

      A Beginner’s Guide to Pond Dipping with…

      May 20, 2019

      Raising Outdoor Kids

      How Pokémon Can Get Kids Bird Watching

      April 30, 2019

      Nevada, USA

      Rock Climbing and Hiking Around Las Vegas…

      April 24, 2019

      Raising Outdoor Kids

      Signs of Spring Nature Walk for Kids…

      April 5, 2019

  • Spring Outside 2020
  • My Nature Adventure Journal
  • Printables
  • Canadian Adventures
    • All Alberta British Columbia Lower Mainland Northern Interior Okanagan
      British Columbia

      Hiking and Camping with Kids at Kokanee…

      July 30, 2018

      Okanagan

      More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley:…

      December 1, 2017

      British Columbia

      Family-Friendly Adventures on BC’s Sunshine Coast

      November 8, 2017

      British Columbia

      A National Park Reserve in the South…

      November 3, 2017

      Okanagan

      More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley:…

      November 1, 2017

      Okanagan

      Hiking Spion Kop with Kids in Lake…

      October 10, 2017

      Okanagan

      More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley:…

      September 28, 2017

      British Columbia

      More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley:…

      August 30, 2017

      Alberta

      Rock Climbing with Kids in Jasper National…

      August 8, 2017

      Alberta

      Family Adventures in Jasper National Park: 10…

      July 26, 2017

      Alberta

      Shaw’s Point Resort

      August 6, 2015

      Alberta

      Apiaries in Northern Alberta

      August 5, 2015

      Alberta

      St. Isidore, Alberta

      August 4, 2015

      Alberta

      The Hoodoos

      July 29, 2015

      Alberta

      Royal Tyrrell Museum

      July 28, 2015

      Alberta

      Bow Valley Campground

      July 27, 2015

      British Columbia

      Hiking and Camping with Kids at Kokanee…

      July 30, 2018

      British Columbia

      More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley:…

      December 1, 2017

      British Columbia

      Family-Friendly Adventures on BC’s Sunshine Coast

      November 8, 2017

      British Columbia

      A National Park Reserve in the South…

      November 3, 2017

      British Columbia

      More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley:…

      November 1, 2017

      British Columbia

      Hiking Spion Kop with Kids in Lake…

      October 10, 2017

      British Columbia

      More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley:…

      September 28, 2017

      British Columbia

      More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley:…

      August 30, 2017

      Lower Mainland

      Visiting the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park in…

      March 7, 2017

      Lower Mainland

      Outdoor Family Adventures in Metro Vancouver

      August 2, 2016

      Lower Mainland

      Biking the Stanley Park Seawall

      July 27, 2016

      Lower Mainland

      Exploring Deep Cove and Quarry Rock Trail

      July 25, 2016

      Lower Mainland

      Visiting Queen Elizabeth Park

      July 22, 2016

      Lower Mainland

      Biking Through Pacific Spirit Regional Park

      July 20, 2016

      Lower Mainland

      Exploring Lynn Canyon Park

      July 18, 2016

      Lower Mainland

      1001 Steps to the Beach

      April 19, 2014

      Northern Interior

      Life at Ness Lake

      September 1, 2016

      Northern Interior

      McMillan Creek Regional Park

      October 8, 2015

      Northern Interior

      Ferguson Lake Nature Reserve

      October 6, 2015

      Northern Interior

      Eskers Provincial Park

      October 5, 2015

      Northern Interior

      Autumn in Northern British Columbia

      September 28, 2015

      Northern Interior

      Wildflowers in Northern British Columbia

      June 6, 2015

      Northern Interior

      Visiting Barkerville Historic Town

      June 2, 2015

      Northern Interior

      Travelling North

      June 19, 2013

      Okanagan

      More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley:…

      December 1, 2017

      Okanagan

      A National Park Reserve in the South…

      November 3, 2017

      Okanagan

      More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley:…

      November 1, 2017

      Okanagan

      Hiking Spion Kop with Kids in Lake…

      October 10, 2017

      Okanagan

      More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley:…

      September 28, 2017

      Okanagan

      More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley:…

      August 30, 2017

      Okanagan

      More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley:…

      August 1, 2017

      Okanagan

      5 Tips for Visiting Kangaroo Creek Farm…

      July 18, 2017

  • Okanagan Trail Map
  • About Me
    • Contact Me
    • Partner with Me
  • Home
  • Raising Outdoor Kids
    • Cooking & Crafting

      How to Make Birdseed Ornaments for Wild…

      November 27, 2020

      Raising Outdoor Kids

      Beautiful Spring Picture Books for Children

      March 28, 2020

      Raising Outdoor Kids

      Playing in Nature Protects Our Children During…

      March 17, 2020

      Raising Outdoor Kids

      50+ Spring Nature Activities for Kids of…

      March 3, 2020

      Crafting

      How to Make a Willow Nature Crown…

      July 2, 2019

      Raising Outdoor Kids

      9 Special Ways to Celebrate Summer Solstice…

      June 1, 2019

      Raising Outdoor Kids

      A Beginner’s Guide to Pond Dipping with…

      May 20, 2019

      Raising Outdoor Kids

      How Pokémon Can Get Kids Bird Watching

      April 30, 2019

      Nevada, USA

      Rock Climbing and Hiking Around Las Vegas…

      April 24, 2019

      Raising Outdoor Kids

      Signs of Spring Nature Walk for Kids…

      April 5, 2019

  • Spring Outside 2020
  • My Nature Adventure Journal
  • Printables
  • Canadian Adventures
    • All Alberta British Columbia Lower Mainland Northern Interior Okanagan
      British Columbia

      Hiking and Camping with Kids at Kokanee…

      July 30, 2018

      Okanagan

      More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley:…

      December 1, 2017

      British Columbia

      Family-Friendly Adventures on BC’s Sunshine Coast

      November 8, 2017

      British Columbia

      A National Park Reserve in the South…

      November 3, 2017

      Okanagan

      More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley:…

      November 1, 2017

      Okanagan

      Hiking Spion Kop with Kids in Lake…

      October 10, 2017

      Okanagan

      More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley:…

      September 28, 2017

      British Columbia

      More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley:…

      August 30, 2017

      Alberta

      Rock Climbing with Kids in Jasper National…

      August 8, 2017

      Alberta

      Family Adventures in Jasper National Park: 10…

      July 26, 2017

      Alberta

      Shaw’s Point Resort

      August 6, 2015

      Alberta

      Apiaries in Northern Alberta

      August 5, 2015

      Alberta

      St. Isidore, Alberta

      August 4, 2015

      Alberta

      The Hoodoos

      July 29, 2015

      Alberta

      Royal Tyrrell Museum

      July 28, 2015

      Alberta

      Bow Valley Campground

      July 27, 2015

      British Columbia

      Hiking and Camping with Kids at Kokanee…

      July 30, 2018

      British Columbia

      More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley:…

      December 1, 2017

      British Columbia

      Family-Friendly Adventures on BC’s Sunshine Coast

      November 8, 2017

      British Columbia

      A National Park Reserve in the South…

      November 3, 2017

      British Columbia

      More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley:…

      November 1, 2017

      British Columbia

      Hiking Spion Kop with Kids in Lake…

      October 10, 2017

      British Columbia

      More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley:…

      September 28, 2017

      British Columbia

      More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley:…

      August 30, 2017

      Lower Mainland

      Visiting the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park in…

      March 7, 2017

      Lower Mainland

      Outdoor Family Adventures in Metro Vancouver

      August 2, 2016

      Lower Mainland

      Biking the Stanley Park Seawall

      July 27, 2016

      Lower Mainland

      Exploring Deep Cove and Quarry Rock Trail

      July 25, 2016

      Lower Mainland

      Visiting Queen Elizabeth Park

      July 22, 2016

      Lower Mainland

      Biking Through Pacific Spirit Regional Park

      July 20, 2016

      Lower Mainland

      Exploring Lynn Canyon Park

      July 18, 2016

      Lower Mainland

      1001 Steps to the Beach

      April 19, 2014

      Northern Interior

      Life at Ness Lake

      September 1, 2016

      Northern Interior

      McMillan Creek Regional Park

      October 8, 2015

      Northern Interior

      Ferguson Lake Nature Reserve

      October 6, 2015

      Northern Interior

      Eskers Provincial Park

      October 5, 2015

      Northern Interior

      Autumn in Northern British Columbia

      September 28, 2015

      Northern Interior

      Wildflowers in Northern British Columbia

      June 6, 2015

      Northern Interior

      Visiting Barkerville Historic Town

      June 2, 2015

      Northern Interior

      Travelling North

      June 19, 2013

      Okanagan

      More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley:…

      December 1, 2017

      Okanagan

      A National Park Reserve in the South…

      November 3, 2017

      Okanagan

      More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley:…

      November 1, 2017

      Okanagan

      Hiking Spion Kop with Kids in Lake…

      October 10, 2017

      Okanagan

      More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley:…

      September 28, 2017

      Okanagan

      More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley:…

      August 30, 2017

      Okanagan

      More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley:…

      August 1, 2017

      Okanagan

      5 Tips for Visiting Kangaroo Creek Farm…

      July 18, 2017

  • Okanagan Trail Map
  • About Me
    • Contact Me
    • Partner with Me

Backwoods Mama

Raising Outdoor Kids

Yes! Let Your Child Pick Flowers

April 9, 2018

“Mama look what I found!” my daughter exclaimed as she ran towards me. Her little hands were carefully cupped around something special. She came to a halting stop in front of me and gently opened her hands. My young child had picked a beautiful pink hyacinth from our garden. “Oh!” I blurted out, a mixture of surprise and disappointment whirling inside me. Together we had watched this flower sprout and slowly unfurl. Now the perfect bloom rested in her hands. I quickly tried to school my expression but it was too late. My young child knew that she had done something very wrong. She had picked a flower.

Don’t Pick Flowers Ever!

If every child picks a flower, there will none left to anyone else appreciate!

There’s this belief that children should never pick flowers. That all flowers are sacrosanct, too beautiful for children to touch, pick or handle. Yes, flowers are beautiful and we all want to enjoy them but we’ve forgotten one important fact: children connect with nature when they have the freedom to touch and interact with it. Children need to pick flowers, hold worms, squish mud, catch butterflies, break sticks and smash rocks to learn about how the natural world works. Children will never learn how to care for flowers without having the chance to pick and play with them.

Will children really destroy nature by picking flowers?

It’s painful to see natural areas destroyed, but this destruction isn’t caused by flower picking children. This destruction is the result of adults, young and old, who have never learned how to care for nature. Banning children from picking flowers won’t prevent destruction of nature. In fact, preventing kids from picking flowers and interacting with nature may inadvertently cause children to have no interest in nature at all, or to fear nature, and these children will grow into adults that don’t care about nature. Nature is surprisingly resilient and can handle children picking a handful of flowers, where and when it’s appropriate.

Are all flowers created equal?

“Wow! Look at this flower!” my son exclaimed. He was crouched over a beautiful pink bitteroot bloom, a plant considered by many indigenous tribes as sacred. “That is such a beautiful flower!” I agreed. “We should leave this flower here,” he stated very matter-of-factly.

Some flowers, like the bright yellow dandelion, are very common and children should be encouraged to collect them by armfuls. Other flowers, like the yellow golden paintbrush, are endangered and should be left alone. Not all flowers are created equal but everyone (even kids!) can learn which flowers are good to pick, where to pick them and when to pick them. Learning about flowers and picking them is a wonderful opportunity for you and your child to connect with nature together.

How to learn about flowers:

  • Purchase or borrow a book about flowers native to your area.
  • Download a flower identification phone app.
    • iNaturalist
    • FlowerChecker
    • What’s That Flower
  • Visit an interpretive garden (here’s an example).
  • Learn about flowers from friends, family and experts like gardeners, naturalists and park rangers.

Wait! What about sensitive ecosystems, community parks and public gardens?

The truth is picking flowers is not an all-or-nothing affair. Your neighbour might not be impressed if your kids suddenly started picking all their flowers and the community gardener might get frustrated if all the tulips disappear overnight. There is definitely a time and place to let our kids pick flowers but there are probably more opportunities for flower picking then you might think.

When NOT to pick flowers:

  • Avoid picking flowers in areas with sensitive or vulnerable ecosystems. Most sensitive areas will have signs posted that say “please do not pick flowers”.  This is often the case in provincial, state and national parks. It’s important to respect those signs. If there are no signs and you’re unsure err on the side of caution (don’t pick flowers) until you get more information about the area.
  • Avoid picking flowers from private properties, private gardens or community gardens unless you ask for permission. You may be surprised by how many people are willing to let children pick a few flowers when asked.
  • Avoid picking flowers that are poisonous or have been recently sprayed with herbicide or pesticide.

Yes! Let your child pick flowers

I will never forget the moment my daughter brought me that beautiful pink hyacinth years ago. She was so excited and I shamed her for doing something perfectly normal and natural. If your child inadvertently picks a flower, even if it’s from somewhere they really shouldn’t have, don’t shame or blame them. Instead, share in their joy and excitement, show them how to care for that beautiful flower and gently point out which flowers they can pick instead. Nature is amazing and we should delight in our children’s sense of wonder.

How to encourage kids to pick flowers:

  • Identify flowers that are native and invasive to your area and point out which flowers are best for picking.
  • Plant flowers with your child that they can pick.
  • Teach your child how to cut flowers and place them in a vase so they last longer.
  • If there are no flowers to pick buy some cut flowers for your child to play with.
  • Encourage your child to play with flowers by making:
    • magic flower potions
    • a flower fairy garden
    • flower paintbrushes
    • flower potpourri
    • pressed flowers
    • flower pounding prints

Raising Outdoor Kids Facebook Group

Looking for more ideas, support and inspiration for raising outdoor kids? Come are join our new Facebook community: Raising Outdoor Kids.

Yes! Let Your Child Pick Flowers was last modified: April 9th, 2018 by Josée
children and flowersflower gardenFlowerspicking flowersplanting flowersWildflowers
4 comments
0
Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest
previous post
How Raising Outdoor Kids Has Made Me a Happier Parent
next post
9 Magical Ways to Celebrate May Day with Kids

Related Articles

30+ Inspirational Parenting Books for Raising Outdoor...

December 27, 2018

Beautiful Spring Picture Books for Children

March 28, 2020

Using Loose Parts for Free Play

February 28, 2018

I’m Scared! My Story of Overcoming Fear...

September 13, 2017

How to Make Birdseed Ornaments for Wild...

November 27, 2020

9 Special Ways to Celebrate Summer Solstice...

June 1, 2019

How to Make a Willow Nature Crown...

July 2, 2019

7 Winter Carnival Activities for Kids

January 10, 2018

Becoming Citizen Scientists for Bioblitz Canada 150

June 12, 2017

4 comments

David - Potty Adventures April 9, 2018 at 9:41 am

Great post. As you say, it’s all about education so teaching them about flowers will help in the long term.

Reply
Maurizio April 18, 2018 at 1:46 am

Picking up flowers is the first child step towards pinking up goods by an adult.

Reply
amy May 16, 2018 at 3:32 pm

Totally agree. I was a bit worried about picking flowers when I did a Natures Rainbow (matching flowers with colours of rainbow) with my little boy. But I came to this conclusion in the end! He loved it too!

Reply
Jaqua August 14, 2020 at 11:18 am

Love this article. I like to show my daughter flowers on our walks through the neighborhood, but my husband gets a bit iffy because he assumes many of the flowers MAY be poisonous…. then it got me thinking, im like hmmph yeah you never know haha. Guess i can always do a quick google search on my phone.

Reply

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Recipe Rating




Sign up for the Backwoods Mama Newsletter!

My Nature Adventure Journal

Okanagan Trail Map

© Backwoods Mama 2009-2020. All Rights Reserved.


Back To Top