Hello friends!

reflective post + a fun exercise to do with little earthlings

What a week. Launching Hello Earthling has been a mix of excitement, nerves, and honestly relief. Relief that after sitting on this idea for months, it’s finally out in the world. I’ve loved hearing from so many of you already, it feels like a real conversation is starting here, which is exactly what I was hoping for.

If you’re new, let me quickly share what Hello Earthling is about:
Hello Earthling is here to help families raise curious, grounded kids by weaving nature into daily life. Our goal is simple but powerful, to nurture children who grow up feeling that the Earth isn’t something “out there” or separate from them, but their home.

That all sounds nice and polished but the truth is, most days I’m just muddling through like you. Parenting is beautiful and brutal in equal measure. Some mornings, I imagine us joyfully heading outside, collecting leaves, and having profound conversations under a tree… and then five minutes later it’s a struggle to just get my son dressed.

It’s in these messy moments that I remind myself: nature doesn’t have to be another “to-do” or a perfectly planned activity. It doesn’t have to be a pristine hike or an Instagram-worthy craft. It can be as small as noticing the wind on our face when we step outside, or looking closely at the patterns on a rock.

Here’s what I’ve realized with Elio: kids don’t make the same separation between “inside” and “outside” that we adults do. To him, mud is as fascinating as a toy car, and a bee buzzing past is as worthy of attention as a book character. What matters most is how I react in those moments—whether I say “don’t touch that” or whether I lean into his curiosity. My words will shape his relationship with the world more than the sting of a bee ever could.

I used to think connecting with nature meant going somewhere special, somewhere beautiful. Now I know it’s about keeping alive a cord of connection that our children are born with. We don’t have to manufacture it. We just have to notice it, protect it, and keep making space for it.

And that’s really what Hello Earthling is here for. To offer reminders, little practices, and tangible tools that help us keep that connection alive in everyday family life.

Here’s a simple activity you can try with your kids. Give it a fun name or call it ‘The Earthling Game’ if you like! You can play this anywhere, anytime: whether you’re in the car, around the table, stuck in a line - the game being simply a question that gets them to think about nature in a new way. They can then ask you the question back, and so on. Ideas:

• Where do you think the sun goes at night?

• What do you think the rain says when it hits the ground?

• How do you think worms feel when they wiggle in the soil?

• What’s your favorite thing your body can do—run, jump, dance, hug?

• What’s the weirdest animal noise you can make?

• What’s the funniest animal move you can do? (this gets pretty funny when you have to do it back)

And so on. Associating nature with being cool and weird and wonderful.

I’d love to hear what comes up for your family if you try one of these. And if you have your own questions you’ve asked your little earthlings, please share. I’d love to gather and reshare them here, so Earthling becomes a true resource bank built by all of us.

We don’t need perfection. We just need presence. And that’s more than enough.

Today I also shared this on Instagram about making a little nature box of treasures to inspire indoor activities.

Big love,
Bonnie