Children and Nature
The Children and Nature Network has some excellent research about children's exposure to nature and how it can benefit them physically, emotionally and cognitively. Please check out the article referenced below to learn about the movement to put nature and outside play back into our children's lives. The entire website is full of amazing articles and research about this topic. If you do not have alot of time to read this full of article of research, make sure to at least read pages 21-31. These pages are full of what the research says about children who do not have nature and physical outdoor activity and also what the research states about the benefits of nature exposure and physical activity can have on children and our outside environments.
I was excited to discover this website and research as I have been pushing for an outdoor environment for the preschool program that I teach in. It is unsettling to me that children and their families do not feel safe to play outdoors as much as they should. I expose my preschool children to growing plants and food but have limited space indoors. I have hit alot of brick walls, so to speak, with the school district but I am determined to continue to get something at our school. Other schools in our school district have a courtyard where there is an active garden and landscaping of nature indigenous to natural plants and grasses in our area. I am working with a company that will come out to look at our space and see what can be done to not only beautify our school grounds but also provide a natural learning environment for children. The benefits of children being exposed to nature are definitely something that can have a positive impact on the whole well-being of a child.
I hope you will check it out!
References
Charles, C., Louv, R., Bodner, L., Guns, B., and Stahl, D. (2009). A report on the
movement to reconnect children to the natural world. Children and Nature
Network. Retrieved from
http://www.childrenandnature.org/downloads/CNNMovement2009.pdf
Nicolette,
ReplyDeleteYour story about children and nature is a great idea. Children need to start playing outside again because they are so involved with video games and playing with other computer games they are becoming overweight. The countries health problems is becoming hazards to our society. The article appears to focus on children and the environment. Great Post!
Yvette
Nicolette, what an wonderful and informational post. I enjoyed reading it. I also think children should play out doors as much as possible, it is good for them. So many children spend their time in doors watching television, and playing video games. This causes so many of them to become lazy and causes obesity. Thanks for sharing your topic of interest.
ReplyDeleteNicolette, I totally agree. It is so sad that our children do not feel safe playing outside. I can honestly say that I am one parent that doesn't let my child out as much because I live in South Philadelphia. Playing outside today is not the same as it used to be. It would be great if schools had some sort of outside playground or grassy area that gives children the feeling of being in a warm loving environment. Children love to grow plants. They also love bugs and nature and watching the beauty of nature unfold before there very own eyes. I wish you a lot luck with your outdoor area. Thanks so much for sharing your story.
ReplyDeleteI think that this it a very interesting topic. I was just talking to another teacher about this the other day. She teaches the special education pre-k and they are requesting that she uses nature baskets to put her manipulatives in for the children and also use more nature materials in her everyday classroom activities. I live in Las Vegas and so my children do not get out as much as we did when I lived in Indiana, I wish that there was more i could do as a teacher and after looking at this website I am going to try to incorporate more nature in my classroom.
ReplyDelete