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Education · November 19, 2019

How Nature-Based Preschool Help Your Kid To Grow

We all want our children to grow with nature, learning processes, while getting an education and growing with textures, light and fresh air. The sedentary lifestyle of this generation is affecting the new generation, for they learn what they see. The current environment of millennial parents is of a routine job, laptop screens and surfing Instagram in spare time. The child grows up while learning to instruct Alexa or talking to Siri, and a continuous batter-ied companion with an LED screen. The time spent on their education is the most crucial period, for they learn new theories and practices by classroom teachings, activities and interactions with their fellow mates.

The regular practice of classroom teaching has been modified with naturals to introduce nature’s elements in the approach to children’s education. Nature-based Preschool has an entirely different and unique approach to educating children. Their programs and course structures are meticulously planned, giving detailed insights to parents on each step’s effect on the child’s growth and development.

Elements nature-based Preschool is one such institution which is based on this learning methodology, offering high-quality care and progressive education. Their programs and teaching methods are different from conventional classroom’s atmosphere. For example, their programs include morning activities in the garden for the children to learn of nature’s elements. Then there are sessions of nature exploration where the children get to select their activity of interest. 

Choices include individual or small group reading, music, movement, art, nature exploration, gardening, insect observation, manipulating and constructing using loose parts, fine motor development through manipulatives and puzzles, dramatic play, sensory activities, cooking, and yoga. The teachers are well trained in risk assessment and handling outdoor children’s activities. 

Every day involves prospects in learning consisting of both structured and unstructured play. This includes lessons in exploration, touch and sound lessons to improve their sensory and motor development, lessons in dramatics, simulations and art forms. The aim is to create a continuous learning atmosphere in theory and practice with opportunities in exploration and interactions along with fellow students to develop community skills and upbringing in social synchronization.

Physical activity is very important in a child’s development. Children need to be physically active for fitting progress and development. This is possible with outdoor learning concept, compared to the academic classroom teaching. The fresh air reduces stress, elevates mood and helps in emotional development. Performing activities like gardening or such, and being in the continuous company of the texture of soil, sand, flowers and plants, the child learns to live in harmony in natural surroundings. They’ll explore new areas and replicate in their own surroundings. Identifying ant and grass will help them relate theory with reality. 

The programs and curriculum are so structured as to provide a whole package of education in the development of children by providing them with a blank page outlined in principles and teachings that will evolve them as better humans and help them live a life understanding nature and growing with it. The blank page although formulated by educators, it is the child who’ll be filling their own lines and structures of colourful skies. 

With learning experiences from activities while playing outdoors, the child learns responses and inquisitive thinking on interactions with various objects. There are numerous situations where working on the activity, the child gets to learn problem-solving approaches. The exposure to nature and fresh air stimulates nerve conductions and proper reasoning. A group activity would involve five children playing together. Now, this activity will help each one of them understand the other’s responses and reactions to stimulus thus helping them develop coordination and understanding of a team activity.

The activities outdoors, playing on the swing sets or slides, involves certain risks of fall and chances of 

getting hurt, but these results in increasing the child’s confidence and self-awareness. They’ll learn to live in harmony with nature and its elements, developing awareness and the entire process will increase their self-confidence. This leads to the development of personal responsibility and social mannerisms. Playing outdoors has resulted in the release of happy hormones, decreasing stress and the feeling of sadness. A happy child will grow to be a better human. Thus, nature-based learning is helpful in not only the child’s physical but in their mental growth as well. 

The exposure to the green grass, prickly thorn and the colourful flowers will help them explore nature’s myriad gifts to humans. They’ll understand the softness in the petal, the harsh texture of the stone or the softer pebble’s layer. This learning couldn’t possibly come from a classroom environment. Taking care of the environment should be a basic structure in the child’s education from their pre-schools, for they have to understand and love mother nature.