Why Nature is So Important to Our Children
There are several reasons why children should be out in nature more; a lot of it has to do with building a strong and resilient child. Let's look at some of the reasons it is important to get your child outside.
- In
the Moment - Being outside can slow your
mind down, it helps us to breathe and relax and just be in the moment.
Learning this lesson early on can help keep that childlike wonder in your
child's life.
- Discovering
the Senses - When a child is outside they
are touching different objects, smelling the wonderful fresh smells,
hearing the leaves rustle and the wind blow and feeling the sunshine on
their face. Being outdoors can help them learn about their senses in the
best way possible.
- Learning
to be out of Control - Your child learning that
they are not always in control is a wonderful lesson and will help your
child be more resilient as they grow up and face the world. In nature, you
can't control if a bug crawls on you or if the sun shines too bright. When
your child is indoors all the time they are in a controlled environment
and too much of this can cause anxiety and fear when they leave that
controlled environment.
- Building
Connections - When your child is outside
with other children, connections happen. There are no faces in front of
screens ignoring each other - you are outside learning and exploring
together. As adults we understand how this works, it's like magic when all
devices are left behind and you spend time face to face with another.
Nature ramps this up as there are no rooms to escape too and no virtual
realities to get lost in.
- Learning
to Meet Challenges Head On - When your child is outside,
challenges are sure to be thrown at them. If there is a big rock in the
way, how will they get to the other side? If the only way to get down is
to get down a steep hill, how will they do that? Being outside presents
obstacles that your child needs to navigate. Learning the skills to
navigate these obstacles will help your child grow up to be a problem
solver, which is never a bad thing.
At Montessori Children's Center, we believe being out in nature is an integral part of your child's learning experience. If you would like to learn more on how we incorporate nature into our program, contact our school today to schedule a tour.
