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Nature Study: Why Skunks Are Good For Gardens!

As parents, we often teach our children to avoid certain creatures in the garden, like skunks, due to their pungent odor and reputation for mischief. However, what if I told you that these striped critters are actually unsung heroes in the garden ecosystem?  In this blog, we'll explore why skunks are beneficial for your garden and why they deserve our appreciation. Skunks as Gardeners 1. Natural Pest Control Skunks have a voracious appetite for many garden pests that can wreak havoc on your plants. They are especially fond of insects like beetles, grubs, caterpillars, and even small rodents like mice and voles. By preying on these pests, skunks help keep their populations in check, reducing the need for harmful chemical pesticides. 2. Soil Aeration Believe it or not, skunks are great gardeners! Their habit of digging for food helps aerate the soil, allowing oxygen and nutrients to penetrate deeper, which promotes healthier plant growth. Additionally, their digging can help expose a
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48 Life Experiences to Have at 4 yrs old



  1. Go to Summer camp virtual or in person
  2. Create digital art on a tablet (try out the free Khan Academy Kids App) or computer 
  3. Create a humongous Birthday calendar with pictures of different family members and friends they know. Kids love birthdays and this is a practical way to teach or reinforce the Months of the Year.  
  4. Find and name various backyard bugs 
  5. Rescue an animal or insect in need of help.
  6. Pet some animals at a petting farm
  7. Day Trip to a nearby town
  8. Plant something & watch it grow.
  9. Have a Floor Puzzle Tournament where each family member gets their own puzzle and competes to see who finishes first. Winner gets bragging rights and to help someone finish theirs.
  10. Have a Family Sports Day
  11. Have an Indoor PicnIc
  12. Have an outdoor movie night
  13. Get a taste of several real world professions. Be intentional about pointing out the different work people are doing wherever they go... There’s the Doctor’s office with a receptionist...There’s the cashier...There’s the construction worker...There’s the Dentist...There’s the Optometrist...There’s the Delivery man...There’s the post man... You get the point. You can borrow books from the library about different professions (and be sure to point out the Librarian). You can let them watch educational general audience  or kids videos showcasing various professions. You will know what professions your kids are excited about when they role play during play time. My almost 4 year old role played being a pilot for days after meeting the pilots while exiting our flight and being shown the flight controls. 👨🏽‍✈️✈️
  14. Visit a Railroad Museum 
  15. Visit a castle and roam through the dungeon
  16. Visit a Bone Museum
  17. Visit an Airplane Museum 
  18. Make paper planes and fly them around the house 
  19. Make a small kite and use a big fan to fly them inside if outside is not windy enough 
  20. Have a camp night indoors in the living room or basement. Sing camp songs, tell stories and watch a spooky movie. 
  21. Take a day trip to a nearby town (take an extra suit of clothing for everyone in case you need to over night) 
  22. Visit a Drive-Through movie (check in advance for kid friendly showings)
  23. Have a movie night outdoors 
  24. Visit your Capital city and the President/Prime Minister office. Get a tour if that’s available. 
  25. Have a family board game night. There are so many kid friendly board games for 3+ that adults can also play and enjoy 
  26. Take a ferry or boat to an Island close to home 
  27. Make items from their favourite stories. Ooblek anyone? Or maybe Owl Ice Cream?
  28. Donate toys or books to your local library or someone in need 
  29. Make a list of all the cool playgrounds/splash pads in your area and visit a different one each time. 
  30. Make pizza from scratch 
  31. Create a kid friendly signature dish for e.g a sandwich lunch or rainbow lettuce
  32. Have a toy car wash on a rainy day 
  33. Have a dress up tea party(great for practicing etiquette and turn taking)
  34. Have a costume dress up virtual play date (pandemic style with fun music, story time, favourite toy show and tell, snacks etc.) 
  35. Race up and down a small hill
  36. Go Tobogganing or for a sleigh ride
  37. Build an indoor fort
  38. Visit an arboretum and try to identify different trees
  39. Visit a Christmas tree farm
  40. Visit a pumpkin patch/corn maze
  41. Visit an old family home in person or virtually- talk about where you grew up or a grandparent etc. then make a family tree. 
  42. Make up a song together, record it and have various family members practice it.
  43. Make a Dance or exercise routine 
  44. Start a piggy bank or open a kiddy bank account. Talk about the importance of saving and investing.
  45. Get a personal library card and borrow some books.
  46. Visit a factory or Plant and talk about how things are made
  47. Construct simple items for use at home. Free Home Depot takeaway workshops for the win. 
  48. Watch a sunset & a sunrise together.
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