Do you recall laying on the grass and staring at the sky?
As you look up, you see the clouds slowly moving across a bright blue sky. Your mind starts to imagine and the rest is…
Between you and the clouds.
Cloud watching with Kids
Cloud watching can be enjoyed almost anywhere and go for as long as you and your child’s imagination allows.
The benefits are certainly worth taking the time to try this outdoor activity. Cloud watching:
- encourages creativity
- provides a slow, calming activity of rest
- connects your children with the natural world
- Promotes good eye sight (kids spent too much time looking at tablets close to their face, they need to have both short and long distance eye practice).
What’s the best weather for cloud watching?
Look for a sunny day and check the sky for cumulus clouds, with their ever changing fluffy cotton wool appearance. They are the best clouds for shape finds.
How to enjoy cloud watching together?
I would encourage you to begin the activity by laying with your child on the ground, looking up and take a good few minutes to enjoy watching. It helps you all to relax and spark the imagination.
You see a shape:
- Explain what you see (or encourage your child to explain what they see)
- Describe where the cloud is and what it looks like
- Take turns explaining something you see in the clouds
If the clouds are moving slowly, you could draw them on a visual diary, or take photos of them like we did.
Here’s what we discovered in the clouds
When my girls and I were lying on our new veranda, gazing at the clouds slowly moving high above us, my eldest daughter spotted an elephant in one of them.
It really did look like an elephant in the sky!
I spotted one close by and we sat there explaining what our imaginations were forming as each new cloud blew in our direction.
We had to explain which cloud it was and where the parts of the animal’s body were to fully see what the other was seeing. It was lovely.
Can you see the elephant? How about the elephants mother too?
Can you see a snake?
It didn’t take long for a rather heavy cloud to wash us inside though. Still watching clouds, even dark ones, makes you feel you’re one with the earth. Get out there!
Extended Learning Activities
- Learn about different types of clouds
- Find about out how clouds are formed
- Find our more about an a animal you saw formed by a cloud
- Search the sky for real animals
When have you last looked to the sky?
Oh wow. This takes me back to being a kid. I used to love lying back on the sweet smelling grass and having my own ‘cloud’ movie roll on by. I have done this with my kids, but only once or twice….Thanks for the gorgeous reminder.
LOVE the way you put this post together – the photos with animals etched on – so clever!
Thanks much Kirri! Love those cloud movies. 🙂
I thought I better draw the outlines of the animals we could see in the clouds just in case some of you couldn’t make them out.
Love this so much Penny! It makes me want to head outside and take pictures of the clouds with the kids…and then draw the outlines. Thanks for being so inspirational x
Thanks so much for taking the time to comment Kell. I love when you do. I couldn’t help but draw the outlines. It might be a good follow up post to look at clouds, get your children to take photos of the one’s they see animals ( or any shapes) in, print them out and then get them to draw the outline! How cool would that be!
I used to do this all the time as a kid but I haven’t done it with my girls – thanks for the reminder that we need to look up more!
You welcome Jody! We need to do this more often too!
An amazing playing process! I’ve never tried such creative way to find animals in clouds but seems like it’s worth trying. It’s fun and those images are absolutely inspiring. Black sketches really helps me to understand what’s those animals hiding behind clouds. Thanks mate.
I love this! That elephant cloud is pretty amazing. I can’t remember the last time I looked for things in the clouds or ever just laying on our backs doing this with my boys – so thank you for the inspiration!
Thanks Ellie! I thought that cloud was pretty amazing too. I couldn’t believe it looked so life like! I think we’ll be doing this more often. It was so calming almost our form of relaxation). I just need to get the 2 year old twins to sit still for five minutes!