We’re looking for ideas of how to reconnect children with the natural world. This is the space to leave your ideas and suggestions (please include website links where relevant). These will then be fed into a summit taking place in the summer.
-
Tweets
- Interesting and sad story from the Sunday Express today relating to kids climbing trees express.co.uk/news/uk/400698… #naturalchildhood 21 hours ago
- Why learning in the outdoors should be a key experience in all schools > bit.ly/10HJKBE < #naturalchildhood 4 days ago
- Impressive! RT @NTExtAffairs: We've been celebrating #NationalChildrensDay by building a den! bit.ly/16z7Zcl http://t.co/8fRMKbaXaY 5 days ago
- Today is National Children's Day! How are you celebrating? bit.ly/16tO2DN< @hattiegarlick says let kids be kids #naturalchildhood 5 days ago
- Are we afraid of the outdoors? > bit.ly/17Z03PA< Interesting post by David Bond @wearewildthing #naturalchildhood 6 days ago
-
Follow us
30 Comments
I am an Early Years Adviser for Surrey and am working on ways to support Early Years setting to take their children out to the woods on a regular basis and to invite the parents to join them. One of the setting that I support had a day in the woods followed by the parents joining them at the end of the session, pitching their tent and camping overnight.
Another day nursery will be taking the children on the bus to Alice Holt woods and a pre-school has aranged for the children to be dropped off and picked up by the parents, from the woods.
The support involves videos of other setting in the woods, support with finding a suitable site, lists of activites, and support with risk assessments.
Hi Helen, being in Guildford it’s great to hear you are having some success in surrey getting children outdoors
We’ve got lots of ideas over at http://loveoutdoorplay.net/, including a recent post on tree climbing and one on 5 ways to show you love outdoor play this Easter.
For me, now my nieces are in that brilliant 10 – 13 bracket, a favourite weekend activity is to use Play England’s Nature Play Map (http://www.playengland.org.uk/nature-play-map.aspx), find a park we don’t normally go to, a bit further away than normal, and make it an adventure to get there. They are in charge of finding our way there and any little playgrounds we find on the way we mark on the DoSomeGood Love Outdoor Play Ap (http://dosomegood.orange.co.uk/). The 13 year old niece can now use this to find (and map) new places to go with her friends with no help at all from her parents.
To see my thoughts on ‘laying down memories’ – how my brother and I have created the opportunities for his children to have experiences that mean that now at age 13, 15 and 20 all three love nature and exploring – please see my post from a couple of weeks ago: http://loveoutdoorplay.net/2012/03/16/layingdownmemories/.
Right back to packing, taking the 13 year old camping in NW Scotland tomorrow, she did Ben Nevis last year, am hoping Stack Polly will still seem a challenge!
There is a project in Bristol where residents can apply to the council to close their street to trafic for a couple of hours after school so that the children can ‘play out’. The project has been very successful. It is not nature but it is a start.
Lunch cooked over a camp fire
Kids are fascinated by fire yet nowadays have little if any access to it. So they don’t know how to strike matches safely, lay and light a camp fire, the rate at which fire burns and how to control it. I suspect that some arson may arise simply because kids are so desperate to experiment with fire. When I was a kid we went out on our bikes with Mum for picnics in the countryside and lit a little fire to cook sausages, heat up baked beans and brew tea, and made sure the fire was out afterwards and dismantled. With my own kids I did this in the back garden when they were quite small and they learned how to lay and light a small campfire and cook over it, and enjoyed it terrifically. It’s actually quite a slow process so there’s plenty of time to explain and discuss.
Could the same be done for city kids in urban parks? It would be good to have ‘campfire’ days during the holidays, where kids can bring things to cook and be taught how to build, light and manage a small campfire. One fire to each of 2 or 3 kids so they can get really involved in doing, not just watching. In my view, this would have several benefits: demystify fires so they are no longer a source of fascination and potential arson; teach how to manage a fire and stop it getting out of control; show them which natural materials burn well and which less so, and why; how to put a fire out and dismantle it. All of this would bring urban kids closer to the basic elements of nature (earth, air, fire, water), provide excitement, increase interest in natural materials (different types of wood, twigs, grass, alive and dried out) and develop knowledge and respect for fire.
I can imagine people wincing – oooh, dangerous! – but the whole point is, it’s not if kids learn how to manage matches and fire safely from an early age, and it brings them closer to nature.
I regularly have fires with either the 1:1 pupils I work with therapeutically or with groups and yes there is a real fascination, initially. However once they realise how much work is needed to get a fire going well and we have spent time discussing the risks they become much more respectful. There is also a real sense of mastery and achievement when you eat something you have cooked over a fire you have created which can provide real boost to an individuals self esteem.
I think by having fires, or using knives and tools with young children, it opens a door to discussions which ultimately help to keep children and young people safe.
there are many adventure playgrounds in london, which are supervised play settings, some of which include the opportunity for children to have fires – Crumble’s Castle,Islington, the Calthorpe Project, Camden, previously the Battersea adventure playground, but sadly this has recently been closed to be replaced with a ‘safe’ unsupervised facility : (,
Open Air Laboratories (OPAL) has been getting many thousands of people of all ages to take part in outdoor environmental science projects, with many excellent downloadable project packs and ideas:
http://www.opalexplorenature.org/
The part of OPAL that I’m involved with is iSpot, a website developed by the Open University that aims to help people learn about wildlife identification:
http://www.ispot.org.uk/
What good is a website when we’re talking about getting kids outside? Well, iSpot encourages people to go out and look for wild plants and animals, posting photos and details of what they’ve seen on to the website, where experts from a wide range of natural history societies and organisations can help confirm identifications and provide other information (iSpot is very much dependent on the goodwill of all its participants, to whom much thanks are due).
The site has been specifically designed to be safe for children (and all ages) to use, and has a ‘reputation system’ that encourages people to develop their skills and look for more wildlife. But in order to do that you have to go outside and find the wildlife itself, and we know from feedback that many of the site’s users do find that iSpot has helped develop or rekindle their interest in nature, e.g. this from an iSpot user:
“Thanks for those IDs – that’s great – Turns out to be the first sighting in Epping Forest and one of only a very few in Essex – Epping Forest staff very happy and my daughter gets an entry on NBN database! She is delighted! Since then she has found several other interesting beetles, including a Wasp Beetle, various unusual shield bugs and a scarce cardinal beetle… Thanks all! I think you have a coleopterist in the making!”
Make a boat out of whatever you can find and sail it somewhere.
Me and my 8yo made a great raft out of flotsam on Charmouth beach – bits of wood and reed speared through a lump of expanding foam, with a mast and seaweed rigging. Tied together with scraps of fishing net found on the strand line and sailed down the stream and out to see. Great fun.
I agree with Christine about fire. Teach kids to respect and use fire and knives as tools and they’ll learn to use them wisely. I had my first knife at 9 and I’ve never stabbed anyone.
Make a boat out of whatever you can find and sail it somewhere.
Me and my 8yo made a great raft out of flotsam on Charmouth beach – bits of wood and reed speared through a lump of expanding foam, with a mast and seaweed rigging. Tied together with scraps of fishing net found on the strand line and sailed down the stream and out to see. Great fun.
I agree with Christine about fire. Teach kids to respect and use fire and knives as tools and they’ll learn to use them wisely. I had my first knife at 9 and I’ve never stabbed anyone.
Hi
I would like to try out this idea, to encourage families rather than professionals, to support each other and get kids in to their green spaces after school. This idea tries to tackle the fear of traffic cited by parents as the main reason why they won’t let their kids play out. It will also make children and young people more visible in local green spaces more regularly and build community cohesion. Check out this video explaining the idea, Leonie https://vimeo.com/user8869048/videos
How can we reconnect children with nature? What a challenge…
It starts in the early years of a child’s life. Parents, nurseries and schools must embrace greater relations with nature otherwise the child will not get near nature no matter how much the rest of us promote it.
There are various organisations who promote outdoor classrooms and a strong connection with nature such as http://www.forestschools.com and http://www.sightlines.com there are many excellent preschools that showcase the kind of work with children outdoors that all nurseries and schools should be doing where possible. The preschools of Reggio Emilio in Italy have a fantastic philosophy- its founder Loris Malaguzzi has much to say about our environment and the child’s relationship with nature.Our nursery has a great outdoors space that is used in all weathers and we visit the woods to make mudpies and stick men, we would be more than happy to let you have a peep, we employ an artist who comes in each week to develop projects both outdoors and inside- artists are able to often find new and creative ways to extend the curriculum or learning environment.
Adults need to take the lead and so perhaps support and opportunities for adults too would all help get kids back to nature and the outdoors- what incentives could employers and the goverment introduce? are there any already? and how can we reduce the computer/ screen addiction too? a big subject that is perhaps one big cog in the ideas generator to make the outdoor machine get going!
I have been working this year with teachers and their classes taking them out into the school woods every week, whatever the weather. The sessions are non directed and child led with adults there to support and help as the children require. We have done everything from den building to art but actually the most enjoyed exerience is just being outside.
The children choose what tools to take and apart from some string and the occasional trowel the children need very little equipment. This has surprised some of the staff who are used to providing lots of resources for other more traditional sessions.
Staff have commented on how well they get to know their pupils, having time to observe and converse with them without the pressures inside school. Learning and postive relationships from the woods are transferred back to school and the children will take ideas from their lessons and utilise them in their play in the woods. It has proved especially useful for the year 6 class as a space and time to discuss difficult emotions and their feelings towards transition to secondary school.
The head and governing body have been incredibly supportive and positive feedback from pupils and parents has helped to ensure these sessions are an important part of the school week.
Nature needs to be valued by senior educators within schools to ensure it is high on the agenda as a means of delivering education and emotional support to our children. This means showing them how it can be done well, sharing best practice and demonstrating with hard data the positive impact nature can have on behaviour, relationships, attainment and emotional development.
If you are in the Greater Manchester area give Lilian and her team a visit at WAC http://www.wateradventurecentre.org.uk/ visit it a safe and fun project to give C & YP the opportunity to experience water based activities.
Lime park along with other local parks have several orienteering course over different levels of difficulty which are great fun for team work. They also have a nature trail.
The country wardens will also come and work with groups of C&YP. http://www.tameside.gov.uk/pressreleases/wildthing or http://www.manchester2002-uk.com/daytrips/out/countryside.html
Linnet Clough in Marple http://www.linnetclough.co.uk/ is a good place to go for a weekend camp (it is a cubs and scouts site but you can book it if not in use it also has in door dorms if needed).
The crocky Trail outdoor adventure trail in Waverton Chester is a good day out for children to experience and explore the outdoors http://www.crockytrail.co.uk/index.php.
A simple walk and picnic if you have a local woods or canal the children love it.
Ormside Mill in Cumbria is a wonderful self catering place for a residential weekend you have to book through boys and girls clubs greater Manchester http://www.crockytrail.co.uk/index.php
This year I have taken my class out into the local woods as part of my Forest School training. The children benefit greatly from learning skills such as fire lighting and whittling wood. Their fine motor skills and gross motor skills are improved as well as their emotional and social development. Visiting the woods regularly allows the children to see the changes of the seasons from snowdrops to bluebells to the canopy gradually filling in.
My only concern is that it can often be seen as an early years initative and not for the older children as they are ‘too busy’ doing paper orientated exercises in class. Regular contact with nature is essential for children of all ages and should not be ‘ticked off’ with just one or two outdoor visits each year. Business leaders have recently stated they want young people to be able to take risks, work as part of a team and have excellent communication and language skills. Being outside in a natural dynamic environment develops these essential life skills. I agree with the comment about senior leaders needing to take on these challenges and realise the potential for outdoor learning.
I really agree Peter that sessions shouldn’t be seen as something only suitable for KS1. You might be interested in the comments below from pupils who took part in weekly non directive woodland sessions for a term:
WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED IN THE WOODLAND-YEAR 6 EVALUATION
Boys and girls can work together
I’m a nature lover
When I’m in the trees I feel calm
I feel confident and happy now because before I used to go in the woodland I wasn’t but through working with people I’ve learned to be confident
I can get on with people I don’t always get on with
I can persevere better now because when the fire didn’t work I kept going and it worked and now I know that if I keep going I can learn lots
Some people annoy me and now I can deal with my anger
I have a short temper with people and I get angry and now I can go to the woodland and punch the punch bag
You can be alone and feel sad and it feels peaceful and it helps you
You don’t need to have technology to have fun
I have learned to look at people’s faces and know when they are sad
I was scared of the woodland but now I’m not so I know you don’t have to be scared of new and strange things
You don’t need to have tools to make things but they make it easier
I really enjoy teamwork
The class teacher was so impressed that she has continued to take them every week, even in this term which is the main testing time. She recently sais she would actually be taking the pupils more frequently in the run up to the exams as she had found it so beneficial to the class.
It’s great that professionals are taking the lead, however I really believe the real learning is for parents. If kids don’t see their parents outdoors having fun and encouraging them to join in then they won’t do it themselves.
Kids need to see parents enjoying being outside without making a special thing of it.
I completely agree that parents engaging with nature are important but sadly there is a whole generation out there who are not only disconnected from nature but are even scared of it-they are not good role models for their children.
I have noticed that some pupils that become engaged in nature are taking their enthusiasm and motivation home with them and inspiring their parents or other adults in their lives to get out into nature with them. The ripples may be travelling in a different direction but they are still reaching out to inspire!
It is so rewarding to me, a published author of more than two decades, to see a site which illustrates the link between nature and life benefits for children and adults.
After years of fiction and non-fiction for adults, I now devote my writing to stories about the natural world and science concepts presented in colorful, entertaining ways for children. My first non-fiction interactive e-book, LEMON TREES AND BUMBLEBEES, The Magic of Pollination, is available on Apple devices such as the iPad, iPod Touch, iPhone, and others; and is being used in school districts over the U. S., as well as endorsed by parents, educators, authors, and scientists. Please visit my website, http://www.thereadingroad.com, and see the Nov., 2011 blog “Crossing the Bridge” to read about the inspiration for the book as well as how I met the scientist who helped me illustrate it.
We have the same mission! Thank you for your inspiring site.
I run a non-profit wild play provider, setting up temporary play installations in trees using safety nets and ropes. The health and safety issues around this type of activity can be daunting, but putting up rope swings in trees is one thing that almost anyone working with kids outdoors ought to be able to do, given access to the right information.
To this end, we got together with London Play a couple of years ago to produce the only (as far as we can find) good practice guide to installing temporary rope swings in trees. The guidance covers everything you need to know to install safe, fun rope swings without harming the host tree (or having to climb it!), and how best to manage the risks this type of activity entails.
You can download a free pdf of the guidance here:
http://monkey-do.net/content/tree-swings
get swinging!
(ps we also run training sessions for anyone who wants more hands-on instruction, please just get in touch)
Hi There, I’m a parent of a three year old and a two year old. I started a blog a few months ago as a diary of our adventures, but I also hope it will be of some use to parents in the area. I too find many parents don’t get out and about as much as they could, sometimes they find it hard to think of inspiring places, sometimes they are just worried because it is a new place and they don’t know what they’ll find there, sometimes they assume it’s going to cost a lot. All of these things I hope my blog will help with, any advice on how I could reach more parents would be greatly appreciated.
http://notimeforironing.wordpress.com/
GEOCACHING! Accessible to all!
Build “folkewalls” and vertical gardens!
I’m building some in my garden now – I’d love to spread the good word to others, but sadly I don’t have much time to spare. It’s not really getting kids outdoors per se (into the garden but that’s about it), but it’s a great way to bring some dense greenery to your garden for kids to learn from.
It can be done suprisingly cheaply, just with garden-centre baskets and pots, and some outside-the-box thinking!
My personal one will be fed with collected rainwater, and a gutter fitted to the bottom will feed the water into a marsh/pond area. Going to look wonderful!
National Trust land should be more amenable to other companies running camps and events on their land. We’re setting up yurt based children’s activity and nature education centre next door to National Trust’s Dunsland Park in Devon. We’d love to work with N.T. to get more children involved at Dunsland Park.
Thanks
Phil
Hi Phil,
I’m the visitor services manager for the NT in North Devon, and work closely with our local Ranger team. Please drop me a line on hannah.jefferson@nationaltrust.org.uk and I will put you in touch with the local ranger team.
Thanks Hannah
Good to see so many great ideas – At the Scouts offering adventure and participation in the outdoors are key to how we deiliver our programmes and work with young people.
Check out how to get involved locally at:
http://scouts.org.uk/getinvolved
We also have a number of outdoor centres that offer a wide range of outdoor activities, events and programmes for young people. They are also open to other youuth organisations, schools and childrens groups.
http://www.scoutactivitycentres.org.uk
Nick
I’m Jenny from Let the Children Play and I’m an advocate for outdoor play from Sydney. As part of my blog I set up a data base of outdoor play ideas for the early years age group. If you would like to have a look:
http://theplayfiles.blogspot.com.au/
My husband and I go geocaching – an outdoor treasure hunt where people place containers outdoors in all types of places for others to find and sign the logbook inside of them. There is over 2 million geocaches worldwide to find! All you need is a gps-enabled device. Hubby and I use our iPhone with the Geocaching app. We don’t have children (yet!) but we know that a fair chunk of the geocaching community do, and they seem to love it! It gets the whole family out and about, you can often bring the dog along too, and before you know it you’ve walked miles and are having a whale of a time! The website with info is http://www.geocaching.com
We are the writers of a series of books called Adventure Walks written to entice and inspire children and their families to get off the sofa/computer and explore the world around them. We live in London and soon discovered that our kids were missing out on what we considered to be the essence of a good childhood. We wanted our kids to learn how to play outdoors, get muddy, run wild, climb hills and recognise the birds, bugs, flowers and trees of the countryside, the question is, how to get them out there – especially if you live in the city? We found one way of doing it is to turn a walk into an outdoor adventure by picking up on child-centred themes: children’s favourite stories, castles, knights, legends etc etc and creating a day out or a walk inspired by them. To keep them all amused along the way, we dipped into our own childhoods to find fun and diverting things to do: telling stories, singing songs, scavenger hunts, tracking and trail finding, building shelters, setting up ambushes etc. No matter how reluctant everyone was to go, as soon as you open the car door and let the children out, they will run off like caged birds given their freedom. With a few strategic ice-creams and snacks along the way (and perhaps a good pub lunch) you can bet that by the end of the day, everyone will be glowing and happy. There is no better quality time.
I was really inspired by a comment I read on this site about “taking a practical step and help reconnect children with the natural world and spend time outdoors”.
So I have set up a company
http://www.naturalexplorers.co.uk
to provide outdoor activities for under 4′s and their parents/carers.
So far we have watched tadpoles grow, looked at twigs and watched them sprout leaves and blossom, explored seasonal foods using our senses, planted seeds, played with natural materials – logs, sand, water, compost, stones. Next month we shall be continuing our discoveries and searching out mini beasts and their world and making mud pies in our mud kitchens.