What are your favorite memories of childhood play? Chances
are those memories happened outdoors and included a lot of nature-based
activities like digging holes, chasing fireflies, building stick forts or sand
castles, jumping in big piles of leaves, or just fooling around with dirt or
water. Mud pies, anyone?
Is it possible to form those kinds of memories today?
Childhood has changed. With all the screen time, the lack of access to green
space, and the emphasis on direct instruction and increased academic focus in early childhood programs and preschools, it
can be hard to squeeze in unstructured outdoor play. We need to remember the importance of play in
the child’s physical, emotional, and intellectual development.
Play is how children understand each other and make sense of
their world. They learn so much from
play that it’s often called the “work” of childhood. Studies show that children
learn best in an environment that allows them to explore, discover, and play.
Outdoor play in nature has a powerful impact on a child’s
development. Research shows that school playgrounds
with trees, fields, shrubs, and vegetated edges encourage creative play and
build skills that will be valuable in academic learning too.
There are entire preschools centered on nature play. One of
the first in New England was established in 2006 at the Denison Pequotsepos
Nature Center in Connecticut. Several
Massachusetts Audubon sanctuaries offer preschool programs. However, nature play can be designed
into the playground of your preschool using equipment designed specifically
for early childhood outdoor play. Nature of Early Play
products, available through Premier
Park & Play, reconnect children with the natural world through
interactions with dirt, sand, water, animals, music, and plants. Products like the Outdoor Classroom, Nature
Bowl, and Garden Roof House provide hands-on opportunities for
exploration.
