Myself as a Nature Based Early Learning Advocate

“The greatest thing you can do for a child is teach them to love learning, and teach them to love the world” ~Myself Over the last 13 weeks, I have expanded my knowledge about nature based learning.  I have dedicated my time over the last 13 weeks to reading research articles about the benefits of…

Importance of Outdoor Play (According to Research)

“Growing up, many of us have been told to go outside and find something to do.  Today, especially in a school setting, it seems children are being told less and less to go outside and are encouraged to stay inside and study more” ~The Importance of Outdoor Play and its impact on Brain Development In…

Nature-Based Learning Philosophy Statement

“My philosophy is: if you can’t have fun, there’s no sense in doing it” ~Paul Walker View of the Child I believe in the perspective of Loris Malaguzzi that every child is competent, capable, curious and rich in potential.  I value the role of nature-based learning to encourage competence, capability, and curiosity.  I believe nature-based…

Risky Play and Mental Health

“Being well played, while seeming frivolous, is in fact quite vital to a happy and healthy physical, emotional, and mental state” ~Meredith Sinclair Risky play is a thrilling and exciting experience that also involves some type of a risk of injury.  Many educators are uncomfortable with forms of risky play, including rough and tumble play,…

Being a Play Worker

The profession of playwork, does not remove the role of the adult in children’s play, rather it changes it, and for the better ~ Brian Sutton-Smith Playworkers are advocates for play in the UK.  Many north american educators would also consider themselves play advocates.  Playworkers differ from child care workers because they indirectly enhance play. …

Tree Climbing

“To climb a tree is for a child to discover a new world” ~Friedrich Froebel I am constantly looking for different ways I can explore nature to strengthen my own ecological identity.  One way I had never explored nature before is through climbing trees. Most children climb trees in their school-age years and if the…

Fabrics Outside?

“Let’s cozy up under a blanket” ~Loveable Quote Have you ever attempted to bring fabric outdoors?  What is it like?  Does it get wet and dirty?  Do you have specific fabrics to bring outside?  What do you do with them?  Do you use them in your early learning practice? When we know the value of…

Place-Based Learning

“I like to sit in my backyard. I go out and  sit in silence and meditate. Nature is calming and I like to go out there and clear my head” ~Devon Werkheiser Place-based learning is an important pedagogical practice educators may consciously and unconsciously consider.  Place-based learning is present in the importance of our learning…

Loose Parts!!

“In any environment, both the degree of inventiveness and creativity, and the possibility of discovery, are directly proportional to the number and kind of loose parts in it” ~Simon Nicholson As a new early childhood educator, loose parts are very important to my practice.  I have implemented various loose parts with various groups of children…

Looking Closely in Nature

“Look deep into nature and then you will discover everything better” ~Albert Einstein When we spend time in nature, how often do we look closely at our surroundings?  How often are we analyzing what we see? How often do we pick up a leaf and observe it?  Do we think about where it comes from?…