By Bridget Shirvell
In the first instalment of our new series, Advice and ideas on raising kids in the climate crisis, the author of Parenting in a Climate Crisis, Bridget Shirvell, explains the benefits of creating a sit-spot.
Glass bottles filled with magical, colourful liquids sit under the maple tree in our backyard.
They are my daughter’s potions, whipped up using whatever random household ingredients she could find, along with some flowers and plants from the yard. I’ve been told they have to rest under the tree to gain more magic, so they sit there. In the sit-spot, we inadvertently created when she was a toddler.
What is a sit-spot?
A sit-spot is a designated place in nature that a child returns to regularly to observe, reflect, and connect. It doesn’t require a forest or a mountain, just a patch of grass, a backyard corner, or a quiet spot in a local park.
In the face of climate change, we often focus on big-picture actions, such as reducing emissions, supporting clean energy, or advocating for policy changes. However vital those are, small, consistent actions can set the foundation for long-term environmental stewardship and resilience. A sit-spot is one of those practices.
I say I inadvertently created it because I did. One day, when my child was about 18 months old, I set up a blanket under the maple tree for my daughter and dog to play on while I deadheaded the hydrangeas. That spot became a place to sit and read, have a tea party, a home base for tag, to look at blades of grass under her microscope, simply a place to be. These days, her fort sits under one side, potions on the other.
Creating a sit-spot isn’t just about giving kids a break from screens or structured activities, although for us, it is that, too. However, it’s really about nurturing a connection and awe for the natural world.
Things that make people care enough about nature to protect it. When kids get to know one small piece of nature intimately —how the light changes through the seasons, which birds return in spring, and which flowers the bees love —they build a foundation of empathy and stewardship. It’s one part of building long-term climate resilience.
Here’s how to make a sit-spot part of your family’s routine
Choose the Right Spot
The best sit-spot is accessible, safe, and quiet enough for observation. It could be under a tree in the backyard, on a boulder at the edge of a playground, or tucked into the bushes at a favourite park. Ideally, the spot features at least a few natural elements, such as dirt, plants, bugs, or birds. It should be easy to return to again and again, regardless of the weather and seasons.
Let your child help choose the location. Giving them ownership of the space boosts their sense of responsibility and investment. Ask them what they notice in the space, what draws their attention, and where they feel most comfortable sitting still.
Making it a habit
The benefits of a sit-spot evolve over time. The more frequently kids return to the same place, the more they notice it and develop an attachment to it. If you don’t have a sit-spot in your backyard, still try to return to it once or twice a week, even if it’s just for a few minutes. Consistency matters more than duration. If you’re having trouble getting your kids out of the door to the sit-spot, entice them with some questions: ‘Let’s see if we can find three things that have changed since the last time we visited,’ for instance? Or ‘let’s see if we can spot new animals or plants?’
Encourage your child to return in different weather conditions: after a rain (or during if it’s safe), on a windy day, or during a snowstorm. Experiencing nature’s variability builds resilience and comfort outdoors.
Lose the stuff
Okay, don’t really lose it, but you don’t need special gear for a sit spot. You don’t need anything at all. Still, if you’d like a towel or blanket to sit on, or a notebook and pencil can be helpful, especially if your child likes to draw or write, that’s fine too. A magnifying glass might be fun, but the point is simply to spend time in nature. Less is more.
Support their observations
As your child grows, you can start asking them more questions to help them connect and spark their observations. For instance: ‘Let’s see how many sounds we can hear?’
You’re working to get them to pay attention to the world around them. It’s also OK if they seem bored sometimes. Boredom can be magic. It’ll force them to notice things they’d otherwise miss.
After leaving the sit-spot, you can also prompt them with open-ended questions, such as ‘What did you see?’ or ‘What surprised you?’ or ‘How do you feel?’ Don’t turn it into a quiz. Just listen.
Connect the dots (gently)
Over time, a sit-spot can help children understand ecological principles: cycles, interdependence, change, and resilience. Without needing formal lessons, they begin to grasp that they are part of nature, not separate from it.
This connection can become the foundation for future climate action. When a child has watched bees visit the same flowers week after week, they care more about pollinator health. They become more curious about climate impacts when they notice they’ve drought-stressed plants or shifting bird migrations.
You don’t need to spell this out every time. Time in nature will lay the groundwork all by itself. But when they ask questions like: ‘Why are there fewer bees this year?’ or ‘Why do the trees lose their leaves?’, you can use those questions to talk about environmental change in age-appropriate ways.
A sit-spot doesn’t require any special knowledge or background. You don’t have to be a scientist or a nature person. All you need is a willingness to pause, observe, and return. In doing so, you model a relationship with the planet based on presence and respect.
In the end, we protect what we love. And we love what we know. A sit-spot helps kids know nature.
Bridget Shirvell is a freelance journalist and the author of Parenting in a Climate Crisis. A handbook that explores the challenges and opportunities of raising children in an era of climate change. Her work has been featured in various publications, including The New York Times, Grist, and Fast Company, where she combines personal insights with expert perspectives to inspire and inform readers. Bridget is passionate about raising awareness and sparking meaningful conversations around climate action and the future of the next generation. You can follow her Substack here.
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Categories: climate change, education, explainer, Lifestyle, localism, Parenting, Sofie’s World