The Art of the 'Sit Spot'

A sit spot is exactly what it sounds like: a place in nature where you simply... sit.

No agenda. No checklist. Just you (or your child) and the natural world.

It's a mindful way to press pause, check in with yourself, and be fully present in the moment - letting go of life's stressors as you settle into the rhythm of nature around you.

And trust me, kids need this right now.

How to Create Your Family's Sit Spot

Choose Your Spot

Find a natural area that's easy to access and feels comfortable - somewhere you can visit regularly without it being a big production. This could be:

• A corner of your backyard

• A favorite tree at the local park

• A quiet spot near a creek or beach

• Even a patch of grass in your neighborhood

Look for spots with natural features that draw the eye: trees for backrests, rocks for seats, grasses to run fingers through, water to watch, plants to observe.

Pro tip: Cut up an old yoga mat or camping tarp to create a special sit-spot seat. You can have one big family spot or individual spots for each person - whatever works for you.

When and How Long?

Start small - even just 5 minutes once a week makes a difference. As it becomes part of your rhythm, you might find yourself naturally wanting to stay longer.

The beauty of a sit spot is that there's no "right" amount of time. It's about giving your child (and yourself) permission to simply be.

Settling In

When you arrive, take some deep breaths together. Try this with younger kids: "Smell the flower (breathe in slowly), blow out the candles (breathe out gently)."

Feel your body relax. Notice the ground beneath you. Let your shoulders drop.

What to Do in Your Sit Spot

The answer? Whatever feels right. Here are some ideas:

Sensory Exploration: What can you smell? Hear? See? Feel? What textures are under your fingertips?

Sky Watching: Lie back and watch clouds drift by. What shapes can you find?

Sound Mapping: Close your eyes. What sounds are near? Far away? Draw a map with yourself in the center and note where each sound is coming from.

Story Time: Ask your child to tell you a story about what they see or imagine. Write it down together.

Nature Journaling: Sketch what you notice. It doesn't have to be perfect - just observe and draw.

Creature Watching: Scatter some birdseed nearby or use a magnifying glass to discover tiny worlds in the grass.

Simply Being: Close your eyes and breathe. That's enough. Really.

Why This Matters Right Now

Your child has spent the past 10 months navigating social dynamics, academic pressure, sensory overload in busy classrooms, and the constant "go, go, go" of school routines.

Their nervous system needs time to recalibrate.

Nature provides that reset in ways nothing else can. The research backs this up - children who spend time in natural environments show better emotional regulation, reduced stress, and improved mood.

But beyond the science, you know this intuitively. You've seen it happen at our nature play sessions: the way a child's shoulders drop when they start building with sticks, the focus that comes over them when whittling their first wand, the pure joy when they finally get their raft to float.

The holidays don't have to be a race from one activity to the next. They can be a chance to exhale. To explore. To simply exist in nature's rhythm.

Our December and January school holiday programs are designed exactly for this - immersive, full-day experiences where children can disconnect from the outside world and reconnect with nature.

In our programs, children learn to use whittling knives, hand saws, drills, and hammers - real skills, real confidence, real connection.

The forest is a gentle landing where overstimulated kids find their center again.

Where the end-of-year balloon slowly deflates with a gentle sigh.

School holiday spaces are limited.