Go Hug a Tree Together

A 5 Minute Commune with Nature and Each Other

Here’s a simple parent-child activity that will show how even a few moments in time can really ground us.

Discover your inner child with your child.

Open your heart to wonder and be awed by nature.

For more special one-on-one activities for you to bond with your child, see our parent-child activities page!

Activity: Go hug a tree!

Description: Take off your shoes. Walk around the ground in dirt or grass with your bare feet for a few minutes and then literally spend a minute hugging a tree!
Standing on opposite sides of the tree, see if you and your child can surround the tree with your arms and touch hands.

  • Time yourself for one minute.
    • Does the time pass by slowly or quickly? Now do the opposite. Set a timer and see how long you and your child can just forget about time and focus on the tree and each other.
  • Creative visualization
    • Can you imagine grounding your feet down into the earth?
    • Can you feel your body drawing up minerals, nutrients & electrical charges from the earth?
  • How does this make you feel, physically?
    • What sensations are you noticing in your body?
    • How smooth or rough is the bark?
    • How does the tree smell?
  • How does this make you feel inside?
    • If you’re out in a public space, are there strangers walking by wondering what you’re doing?
    • If this makes you feel a little awkward, how does it feel to get out of your comfort zone and to be carefree like a young child?
  • What do you see in front of you?
    • Are there tiny insects working away right under your noses, busy with their important tasks and completely oblivious to your reality?
  • Look up and marvel!
    • What do you see under the canopy of branches?
    • Are there leaves blowing or are the branches bare waiting for blooming season? Can you see any nests?

Additional Thoughts: Emerging evidence shows that contact with the Earth – whether being outside barefoot or indoors connected to grounded conductive systems – may be a simple, natural, and yet profoundly effective environmental strategy against chronic stress, inflammation, pain, poor sleep, and many common health disorders, including cardiovascular disease.
Mounting evidence suggests that the Earth’s negative potential can create a stable internal bioelectrical environment for the normal functioning of all body systems.

To read more: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3265077/

So, get out of your comfort zone and do something a little silly! Notice the dirt between your toes, feel the coarseness of the bark on your face, laugh together and hug that tree!

Duration: 2 minutes

Location:
– Outside
This is a fun little activity you can do anytime you’re near a tree. Even better if you’re out in public and random people are walking by.

Materials:
 A big tree

How did you do?
Please let us know how your mini-date went in the comments section below.