|
"Forest kindergarten lets children explore "
There is no such thing as bad weather,
just the wrong clothing, comedian Billy Connolly once said.
That's also the motto of a type of kindergarten quite common in Europe, but less known here.
Where I am from, in southern Germany, "forest" kindergartens are very popular. The idea is that children should play, eat and be taught outside, in all but the most extreme weather conditions.
In winter, children build snowmen; in spring they watch the flowers and lambs and have picnics; in summer they swim in lakes and in autumn they make collages out of colourful leaves.
They observe the seasons and are taught to be responsible for the environment and nature.
When I arrived in New Zealand and joined The Aucklander as an intern a month ago, I got blank looks when I asked: "where are all the forest kindergartens?"
I know New Zealand is renowned for its nature and outdoor lifestyle, but no one seemed to know about the outdoor kindergartens I'd grown up with. I searched and finally found one, in Swanson, set up by early shildhood educator Lucinda Murch about 15 years ago. Farm Friends is a privately owned, licensed pre-school on 4ha of Lucinda's and her husband's property in the Waitakere Ranges. They employ seven other teachers who oversee 30 children.
Farm Friends has the usual playground, albeit a "natural" looking one, and a little
woodland and paddock with sheep, kune kune pigs and dogs.
"Most kindergartens are built in industrial areas in the city," says Lucinda. "Many of the parents bringing their children to our centre drive long distances because they dont't want their children playing next to a busy road."
She says despite New Zealand's reputation, there isn't enough emphasis on children exploring nature."I can't believe that where we aresurrounded by the ocean and forests, so much beautiful nature, nature itself, spending time in it dosen't seem to be a central topic in ECE (early childhood education)."
She says many of the parents who leave their children in her hands, experienced wonderful nature stories when they were children. They're worried their children won;t have the same experiences.
"But you can't expect the next generation to love nature without letting them experience
it."
She believes overprotectiveness is a prevailing mentality among modern parents.
When parents are scared, children get scared too, but many things aren't dangerous when you know about them. Children carry an inner connection to nature.
"Children have moved from 'green play' on to 'screen play',"she says, referring to TV
and computers.
"Thats why its so important for them to really sense things; to feel, smell, touch and taste
the earth. Outside they become such independent exploring beings, developing a sense of wonder. "
The children at Farm Friends play with branches, watch little insects and mess around in old-fashioned mud.
Lucinda tells us about the team-building that nature encourages and we see it ourselves
while visting.
The children are in the forest, ona sloping hill. One boy asks: "How do I get down there?"
Another little boy says: "I'll show you" and slides down on his bottom.
Lucinda says the children are interested
in "real stuff". They even designed their new treehouse, which will be built soon. They're also growing strawberries and veges.
"It really helps we have pets here. They can see how a calf grows to a cow, and where
the milk comes from."
When one of the animals dies, they also begin to understand the circle of life, she says.
There are other forest kinderhartens with similar philosophies in Auckland, and Lucinda is
glad about that.
"Education used to mean sit down and be quiet - we're not representing that.
"Education also used to be learning about nature, then went to learning alongside
nature, and now we are learning in nature."
By Sarah Haeckel
- The Aucklander January 29 2012
Link to Orginal - Forest kindergarten lets children explore
|
