Outdoors for Expansive Minds - Nurturing nature at Learning Tree

With summer on the horizon, Learning Tree Childcare in Auckland is excited about donning hats and sunblock and embracing the Great Outdoors. Encouraging our children to get up-close-and-personal with Mother Nature and bring the outdoors in is essential for children’s development of responsible environmental behaviour and appreciation.

The concept of fostering a biophilic connection is not new. The biophilic theory that humans naturally seek connections with nature and other life forms was brought to the fore in 1973 by German-born American psychoanalyst Erich Fromm, who described biophilia as “the passionate love of life and of all that is alive.”

However, in a fast-paced world with technology seeping into every aspect of our lives, it is getting harder and harder for parents and children to forge uninterrupted connections with our natural environment. Disconnecting from the screen can be difficult, however, by creating opportunities for direct experiences with nature we ensure greater cognitive development, improved concentration and greater physical, emotional and mental health.

However, nurturing nature isn’t about planning one-time activities, it’s about long-term commitment. Crafting ideas and concepts children can put into play at our Auckland child care centres and at home. And, whilst the weather doesn’t always play ball, at Learning Tree Childcare we are dedicated to promoting unique and developmental outdoor experiences for our young learners.

From our summertime garden planting, to erecting tents and our outdoor pursuits – building, constructing and designing – our daycare teachers are creating greener pathways and encouraging our kids to be hands-on and in tune with their surroundings.

Embracing the outdoors doesn’t have to mean going ‘all out’ and creating your own Forest school – unlike the growing number in Western European countries like Germany and in Scandinavia (Cedarsong school for example) who are devoted to bringing the outdoors in and getting kids outside.

Here are a few Kiwi summertime activities to get all ages out into the open:
- Build a worm farm
- Get composting
- Draw on the concrete with chalk and play hop-scotch
- Create an in-the-garden scavenger hunt
- Make a pine cone birdfeeder
- Set up a campfire
- Sleep under the stars or in make-shift tents
- Find interesting leaves and flowers use for picture rubbings.