Why children should learn more in and from nature

Why children should learn more in and from nature

The WWF encourages people to be outside again and learn in nature. This helps children to develop their creativity and learn sustainably. A guest contribution by Astrid Paschkowski and Bastian Barucker. Plus: game and learning ideas from the scoyo editorial team.

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1. Nature as a source of inspiration for young and old

Imagine what it feels like to stroll through a spring forest, and as the eye is flattered by the awakening of the trees and shrubs, the ear receives the chants of the recently returned songbirds. At the same time, you can feel the wind on your skin and your nose is overwhelmed by all the scents of wild herbs that venture out of the protective soil. Life in nature begins again and the insects, birds and mammals become active. There is something to discover on every tree and shrub, all the senses are on reception.

How are you doing with this performance? Are you relaxed and ready for enjoyment? This is normal because we People part of nature are and basically have a deep connection to it.

Children can learn independently in nature

Children in particular usually bloom in nature. They are in motion, all their senses are addressed subtly and they are allowed to discover according to their own curiosity. Bit by bit, nature captivates you. The children learn independently and have existential experiences. Imagination and creativity are stimulated and design skills are trained.

"The more Senses involved in learning are, the better the new knowledge is memorized in a child. Nature offers the best game material. For example, when children play with leaves, they do so with multiple senses at the same time. They perceive the resinous smell, feel the leaf veins, differentiate between different colors, change the shape of the leaf by tearing or folding. So children learn through direct experience. ”Prof. Dr. Gerald Hüther

Early and personal contact with nature can set the course for a child’s life: a deeply felt connection with nature is the basis for a positive basic trust in life and arouses the desire to protect the earth and to live sustainably as an adult.

Status quo – too little is learned in nature

The reality is often different. The title "nature deficit-disorder" (title: nature deficit syndrome), which was so titled by the author Richard Louv in 2008, is not a clinical diagnosis, but a trend that is also advancing here in Germany: the Decoupling life from natural rhythms.

Our highly structured and digitized everyday life creates one artificially clocked world. The desire for shared experiences in nature is often there, but with all the appointments and learning goals it is placed in the back of the priority list of many parents and educational institutions. More and more children are spending a lot of time with digital media, often without acquiring knowledge and skills. In addition, children’s range of motion has narrowed in recent years, making them less able to play outside without parental supervision.

“The old people knew that the heart of a person who estranged himself from nature becomes hard. They knew that a lack of awe, appreciation of everything living and everything that grows there, will soon also cause awe and appreciation of people to die. That is why the influence of nature, which made young people sensitive, was an important part of their upbringing. ”Luther Standing Bear

2. Why it is important for children to move freely outdoors – the great importance of playing

Playing is an existential need for children. In game and especially in free play, they prepare for their lives and try out everything they will need in life. Parents want the best for their children. They are concerned about their well-being, their success and their satisfaction. And that’s just as well. This care often results in the parents’ endeavor that their children should learn a great deal.

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