Nature's Gift Preschool
Nature's Gift Preschool - Outdoor activities for children and ideas for using natural materials in childcare settings. Children and nature have always been connected. We are all connected to the natural world. The natural world is one of the best environments for children to explore, absorb and enjoy. As caregivers of young children, are we supporting the connection children need to have with nature?
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Nature's Gift Preschool
Some researchers suggest that children seem to be less and less exposed to the open invitations of nature. Today's children have a busy schedule, babysitting, school and extracurricular activities. Although the children are outside, the activity is usually structured and not a free adventure and immersion in nature.
Experiences in nature are often only for a short time. As adults working with young children, we must look for ways to support not only our own relationship with nature, but also the relationship of the children. When young children are exposed to nature, they see beauty just as we see it;
but more importantly, they will start engaging with your offers. Children automatically become practical in nature. Just think back to when you were out in nature with your kids: Did you see kids jumping in puddles, climbing rocks, swinging from trees and picking things up?
Nature’s Invitations
Children start to wonder in nature. Natural materials such as pineapple, grass, rocks, leaves, rain, webs, sticks, frogs, fossils, clay, shells, pebbles and sand provide endless possibilities for play and imagination. These materials do not come with instructions: children have ideas on how to use them.
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What are they? What can they do? How do you feel? How they look? How does it move? How does it grow? What can I do about it? Nature forces children to think, act and formulate their own thoughts. When children are involved in nature experiences, they are absorbed and fully attentive to what is at hand.
This exposure to nature can simply be going for a walk, playing in the garden or walking in the woods. All types of exposure to nature have many benefits. Adults can help children by providing natural environments for them to explore and adding tools to enhance exploration, such as shovels, magnifying glasses, pencils and paper, cameras, and related resources.
It is important to observe where and what children are interested in and encourage these interests by asking open-ended questions. what did you discover How does it feel? How it looks? How does it move? What should we do? Ask questions that encourage children to observe and describe their observations.
Nature’s Invitations
It is vital that adults share the natural world with children by planning related activities, but it is important that children have the opportunity to explore nature on their own. As children connect with nature and freely explore its components, they develop their own personal relationship with nature.
It is this relationship that will bring meaning to your understanding of nature. Nature can also be brought back into our homes or classrooms. Some early childhood educators use many components of nature in their indoor environment. Stumps are used for seating or a block.
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Water, sand and earth are explored, measured and poured. Tree branches with children's artwork are hung from the ceiling. Loose materials such as pine cones, rocks, shells, leaves and twigs are displayed in baskets for children's imaginations to provide insight. Artifacts from nature such as feathers, insect shells, fossils or bird nests are used for exploration.
Bringing nature into the classroom reinforces its beauty, purpose, and gifts. Open the door to the outside and encourage a wonderful connection with nature! Children need constant contact with nature and enough time to explore and get to know each other. Nature inspires physical challenges: climbing a rock, walking up a hill, rolling down a hill, hanging from a branch, jogging or scooping and digging dirt.
How Can Adults Help?
With childhood obesity on the rise, nature is a positive booster for physical well-being. Nature also gives us a sense of calm and visual images of beauty. Children become observant and use their senses, for example listening to leaves in the wind, looking at fictitiously woven webs or listening to birdsong.
Although open spaces in nature encourage children to run, jump and climb beautifully, they also invite children to slow down. Providing opportunities for children to care for nature, such as watering plants, feeding animals, picking up litter, and treating "animals" with care, promotes a sense of respect for nature and the development of empathy.
It also creates opportunities for children to work together. Experiences like these help build lifelong skills and provide children with connections that can help them care for their environment and others in the future. To print a two-page brochure with enhanced graphics, click the PDF icon at the top of the page.
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This publication is available in alternative media upon request. The Pennsylvania State University, 323 Agricultural Administration Building, University Park, PA 16802 Description: Nature's Gift Preschool began when Mrs. Yinyin (owner, director and teacher) was looking for a balanced preschool program for her two daughters. During her search, she found several faith-based preschool programs, play-based programs, and highly academic programs.
How Can Adults Help?
Very few preschools offered a balance between traditional structured instruction and open-ended play. After visiting several preschools, Ms. Yinyin finally decided to start her own unique program that offers a good balance between the two teaching styles and creates an optimal environment for nurturing young minds.
At Nature's Gift Preschools, we believe that young children learn best when they actively explore their environment and practice newly acquired skills. As a private kindergarten, we create our own educational program. Our goal is to balance academics, social/emotional development and free play in a child's life.
We also emphasize character building elements such as manners, respect and love. We believe in diversity and our team of teachers help children to better understand our culturally diverse world. However, we never forget the importance of fun, laughter and play! Whenever possible, ChildcareCenter provides inspection reports as a service to families.
This information is believed to be reliable but cannot be guaranteed. We encourage families to contact the nursery provider directly with any questions or concerns as the provider has already addressed some or all of the issues. Reports can also be verified with your local day care licensing office.
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