Episode Details

Recently, on my Instagram stories I asked other Muslim Homeschooling mums a simple question: Do your children keep a nature journal? When the results came in, I was absolutely shocked. 50% of the homeschooling mums who responded said NO. We’ve been homeschooling our own children for more than ten years now, and in all that time, we have always prioritized nature study for kids. But knowing what I know about the incredible developmental and spiritual benefits, it made me realise something: either the sisters on Instagram don’t know how to do it, or they aren’t sure why it matters so much. Today, we are going to address both: the how and the why of nature study in Muslim homeschooling. Important Links:  ⭐️Click Here to join the WAITING LIST for Launch Your Homeschool:⭐️  https://ourmuslimhomeschool.com/waiting-list  JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST: https://ourmuslimhomeschool.com/newsletter for weekly encouragement and tips. HOMESCHOOLING COURSES: https://ourmuslimhomeschool.com/courses to help you simplify your education journey.  START A PODCAST with Blubrry: https://ourmuslimhomeschool.com/startyourpodcast . Get your first month of Blubrry podcasting hosting FREE with the affiliate code RaisingMums  Intro Music – by PEARLS OF ISLAM: https://www.pearlsofislam.co.uk (Bismillah from the album “Love is My Foundation”) Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ourmuslimhomeschool/ Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ourmuslimhomeschool Useful Resources to Get You Started If you want to dive deeper into these methods, here are a few incredible resources I highly recommend checking out: Pocketful of Pinecones by Karen Andreola (A beautiful, story-based look at how nature study plays out in a homeschool family). Nature and the Divine Names by Farrah Iftikhar (An excellent resource for tying observations directly back to Islamic values). https://beaconbooks.net Exploring Nature with Children (A fantastic weekly curriculum framework to follow). https://raisinglittleshoots.com/buy-exploring-nature-with-children/ Sabbath Mood Homeschool (Great online guides on the practicalities of lessons). https://sabbathmoodhomeschool.com/how-to-do-nature-study/ The Illusion of the "Perfect" Homeschool Aesthetic If you spend any time scrolling through homeschool spaces on Instagram or Pinterest, you’ve definitely seen the gorgeous flat-lays. The perfectly staged wooden tables, the linen clothing, the pristine watercolor paintings of mushrooms or oak leaves, and the carefully placed pinecones. It is beautiful. But if we aren’t careful, it’s easy to look at all of that and think: “Well, that looks lovely for families who live in a cottage in the countryside. But we live in the suburbs. We’re in a city. I don’t have time for that. We need to prioritize other things that are more important. Maybe nature study just isn't for us.” Today, I want to shatter that myth. Nature study is not an aesthetic. It is not a prop for social media, and it is definitely not a luxury "add-on" for your homeschool day. It is a vital, missing piece in modern education. It is not just about pretty photos and flawless watercolors. No! It is the intentional training of a child to look, to reflect, to question, and—most importantly for us as Muslim parents—to form the lifelong habit of seeing the Ayaat, the signs of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, all around them. It is a profound form of worship. And it lays the ultimate foundation for scientific thinking, without killing your child’s sense of awe, wonder, and love. The Core Problem: Science Without the Creator We are living in an era where there is an explosion of gorgeous children's books, online resources, and documentaries about the natural world. There is so much out there! But if you open those books or click those links, you will notice something fundamental is missing. They rarely, if ever, mention the Creator سبحانه وتعالى. Secular modern education treats science as a purely utilitarian subject. When something is utilitar