Lets go seed collecting

This is a post on how something that interested me so much got passed down to my son naturally.

Nature always interested me although staying in Bangalore for a couple of years made it evoke.  I started noticing various fruit trees in my locality like coconut, papaya, jackfruit, pomegranate, fig and banana. It was surprising to me how food was grown in some households. The beauty of various seasons was much prominent in HSR Layout, making me exploring more about other trees and searching them on google.

Few months ago I was much frustrated by my son's rag picking all day. He would stop at various intervals on our way to pick up things like tobacco wrappers or used plastic bottles from the roadside. While in the park he would keep searching for chips packets or used lollipop sticks. I was worried about his health and overall his habit.

I would explain him with logic and multiple repetition, yet no gain. I myself was frustrated with so many NOs to him. I thought there need to be a YES way that favors both. This is when I started saying, "You can only pick nature". It was a great self taught journey from there.

• He learnt to understand differentiation between wooden, plastic and metals things.
• He knows what are the parts of the plants.
• He has started understanding seasonal changes.
• He loves exploring the colors and textures and tries to identify flora
• His interest on insects and birds and their habitats is developing

There are so many learnings on the way that will open up in coming years due to a simple nature walks.

Nature walk collection

Cooper and pine trees are a local to us so their seedpods are always playing in his hands. He loves creating music with the seedpods. He uses the wild almond tree leaves as hand fans in his imaginary plays. His all time favorite prop for his plays are bamboo sticks. Even few stems that can be bend easily are used to create alphabets. Often he would show me, "Look mumma, P... And this is number 4 in Gujarati."

Cassia or the Golden Shower tree seed pod

Kapok Silk Cotton Pod

How difficult it is to break the cassia pod!! How wonderfully the seeds are stacked in compartments!!

We collected all the dry Kapok pod, removed the cotton and used in making a doll for my son. The cotton is so soft and light weight that it is a great alternative to stuff pillows. Will write a full post on the process.

Sweet Tamarind, Star Gooseberry and Aamli

don't they look like water lily? 

We purchased some sour Berries and Tamarind from a local vendor which are found only in Fall. My son was surprised that these seed pods are edible. Enjoy their flesh and then make them pawns in your board games.

Some seed pods are  that are floatin on water was his imagination of boating in a lake
We had collected mahogany tree seed pods found in Bangalore and used them as boats in our nature art.

Mahogany tree seed pod used in nature art

the one on the left is mine and the right one is my sons creation

I would encourage him to make some art on table out of his collection then. Each and everything that is collected by him goes to the coffee table and some imagination is brought to life with a story.

I believed Mother Nature has the power to heal, teach and uplift. During my journey as a homeschooling mother, Nature has helped me in co-teaching my child. I came across this book called "Lets go seed collecting" by Pratham Publication. Its was an absolute hit. My son and his group schooling friends were left with an impact. I have read this book so many times with my child, yet he never gets tired. He is already a part of the character in the book... so its inseparable.

Nature is vast and so is the knowledge it can pass. All I want to give my child is freedom to explore; he is sure to make those discoveries that will help him grow.