Outdoor, Nature-Based Play and Preschool
If you’re not already a nature preschool, think about ways to expand and enhance your children’s time in nature!
Background
What are the benefits and considerations to be considered when taking children outside?
Why should we provide access to nature during the early childhood years? Engaging with the natural world can help in all areas of growth and development. Studies have shown that participating in a nature-based preschool program can lower a child’s stress level and improve prosocial behavior. Other positive outcomes of spending time in nature include improved motor development, language skills, and social and emotional development.
Free play in nature with loose parts can be associated with higher levels of play involvement and conversely a lessening of play disruption.
Nature-based play and nature-based preschools prepare children for Kindergarten equally as traditional preschools.
Read more on the KinderNature website here (opens in new tab).
Suggested Books to Explore this Topic!
- Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder. Louv, R. 2008. Algonquin Books
- Naturally Inclusive: Engaging Children of All Abilities Outdoors. Ruth Wilson, 2022, Gryphon House
- Loose Parts Alive: Inspiring Child-Led Nature Explorations. Laura Wilhelm, 2024, Gryphon House
- Preschool Beyond Walls: Blending Early Childhood Education and Nature-Based Learning. Rachel A. Larimore, 2019, Gryphon House
- Nature Preschools and Forest Kindergartens: The Handbook for Outdoor Learning. David Sobel, 2015, Redleaf Press
- Nature-Based Preschool Professional Practice Guidebook. Christy Merrick, 2019, North American Association for Environmental Education
Related KinderNature Activities
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Use the KinderNature Activity Search (opens in new tab) to find something on your favorite topic for this back to school time! Start with this list of fall related!
Family Connection
- Featured Resources for getting outside as a family (opens in new tab) from Children and Nature Network
- Subscribe (opens in new tab) to the Children and Nature Network’s Families Together in Nature email
Celebrations and important dates upcoming
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National S’mores Day – every August 10
Helpful Links
- Nature play in early childhood education: A systematic review and meta ethnography of qualitative research (opens in new tab)
- Nature Play Spaces (opens in new tab)
- From Head Start
- Benefits of Engaging Children with Nature (opens in new tab) – (PDF, English), NC State Natural Learning Initiative
Upcoming Events!
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Blank Park Zoo (opens in new tab), Biomimicry and Inspiration – October 2 and 3 at The Blank Park Zoo.
Celebrations
- National Toasted Marshmallow Day (opens in new tab) – August 30 — S’mores anyone?
- National Wildlife Day (opens in new tab) – September 4
- National Ants on a Log Day (opens in new tab) – 2nd Tuesday in September