Our weather today sure isn’t indicating it’s the first day of summer since it is cold and rainy, but a recent article on Forest Schools and Nature Kindergartens says yucky weather would not keep kids indoors. Instead they spend most of every day outside, even in winter! (Early Education: this is not a field trip, Maclean’s, June 18, 2013) Forest schools began in Europe in the 1950’s and have spread to China, Japan, the U.S., and Canada. They are part of a “quiet revolution” that features free-play and a connection to nature. With the increased level of physical activity, there are benefits for motor skills and for regulating emotions, important factors in kindergarten readiness.
Not all children will be able to go to a forest school or nature preschool, but they can all benefit from time outdoors. No matter what the weather, it’s a great time to go outside and check what is happening in nature. Kids may either notice on their own or we can ask them questions. What’s happening to the grass, trees, and other plants? What colors do we see? Any animals? What kind of clothes are people wearing when it’s summer?
An afternoon in the park will give a child lots of opportunities to connect to nature, but kids can also see what summer looks like on a short walk or in a small pocket of nature in the neighborhood, or even at home on the deck. What does rain feel like on bare feet? The water makes feet wet and wood too. What does your first day of summer look like where you are? Is it as much fun as these kids are having?