As part of Junior Explorers’ Club, we are actively encouraging your little ones to get outdoors! After all, it’s a club that’s all about adventuring, creating and exploring.
Let’s go back to a simpler time when spare moments equated to adventure by way of imagination. Do you remember running through greenfields and loving every moment of your new world? Can you feel the windless air, gently filling your diaphragm? Maybe you were fond of the tiny kisses from the grass blades against your skin. Or maybe, after a chaotic game of tag, you looked forward to looking up at a serene blue sky filled with clouds of all shapes and sizes.
What Is Cloud Watching?
You may not have known it back then, but this hobby is called cloud spotting or cloud watching. It's the act of lying down and watching the clouds to see if any of those fluffy forms above resemble things in real life. It may seem like a plain activity, but it's a great way to get your little ones more engaged with nature! In fact, cloud watching only gets as complicated as knowing the four most common types of clouds.
Types of Clouds
The first is the Cirrus clouds, which are described as thin, feathery, wispy, and hair-like. Second on the list are the Nimbostratus clouds, the presence of these clouds can be felt with their dark grey and featureless layers. Thick enough to block out the sun, they are often associated with producing rain.
Perhaps most commonly appreciated are the Cumulus clouds, shaped like cauliflowers and spotted in fair weather conditions; they shine a bright white when illuminated by the sun. Lastly, we have Stratus clouds, which hang low in a fairly uniform grey or white colour and can be mistaken as fog. You would usually see these on a dull, overcast day.
The Benefits of Cloud Watching
Besides being a nostalgic activity you can share with your children, cloud watching boosts valuable mental benefits such as increased mindfulness and relief from stress and anxiety. Did you know that 1 in 6 children between the ages of 5-16 is likely to experience mental health problems?
Additionally, physically soaking up the sun aids in boosting your vitamin D levels and cloud spotting increases blood flow. Focusing on something peaceful and calm relaxes blood vessels allowing blood flow to circulate.
In a digital-first world, connecting to those closest to us becomes increasingly harder and when everything carries a hefty price tag, this free activity perfectly bridges generational gaps and allows the whole family to flex those creative muscles.
How to Cloud Watch
So how do you get started? Well, first it's important to check the weather, don't be deterred if it's a grey day! Although not ideal, you still have an opportunity to spot a few Nimbostratus or Stratus clouds. Next, pick a day where you know you’ll have plenty of time. Clouds generally move at a gradual pace, this isn't to say that you need to spend the whole day looking up but an hour or two will do just fine. Ensure that you find a comfortable spot with a clear view of the sky. Most importantly, do not stare at the sun.
As part of our Junior Explorers' club, we have created printable worksheets to help your little ones identify the clouds better, click above to download them. If you enjoy this activity, follow our socials and tag us with your best cloud watching finds!
