The idea of forest schools is growing very fast in Spain. More and more parents are falling in love with schools in nature. And it is normal for them to do so. They are open, flexible and active schools that offer new experiences and discoveries to children every day. In addition, they are based on three pillars that for me should be more important in childhood: nature, free play and respect for children.
They are schools in nature that move away from the concept "Four walls to teach" and the activities conducted each day. The teachers and educators of the schools in the nature propose to the children various activities, workshops and games. And they are the ones who choose what they want to do (always keeping in mind their safety and parental support).
Schools in nature: nature is the classroom
Children who attend schools in nature, learn from it and all that it can offer. They are the protagonists of their own learning. They investigate, run, experiment and discover fascinating things. Nature develops your imagination, your creativity and it awakens in them an interest in everything that surrounds them.
Beyond learning to write, read and add
Schools in nature focus not only on children's intellectual ability but also on human. Schools that adapt to the rhythm of children without forcing them to learn content that is not yet prepared. For the teachers who are in these schools, it is important to develop and encourage the expression of emotions and values. If there are children who show interest in reading and writing, educators organize activities and playful workshops to promote these skills.
Free play: very important in children's development
Through free time children develop active and meaningful learning. They feel free to imagine, to investigate, to run, to search, to ask, and to experiment. Free play encourages creativity, initiative and conflict resolution. Schools in nature recover the true meaning of the game: movement, expression, freedom and learning.
Freedom, experimentation and discovery
In schools in nature, children can explore everything. Innate curiosity and autonomy are respected. A few days ago a mother told me that her first child went to a traditional nursery school from the age of three. And the second is attending a school in nature. She has noticed a big difference between the two: the days of the eldest son were very similar to each other while the second learns new things every day.
Diversity: children are not separated by age
In most nature schools there is no age separation. In the groups there are mixed children of four, five, three and six years. In this way, active learning, social skills and motivation are favored. So all the children They learn from everyone without distinction of age or level. It is important that they learn to live with different people (because society is made up of children, adults, the elderly ...)
What role do teachers and educators have?
Teachers and educators accompany children in their learning without directing any activities. They give the children the opportunity to choose, to experiment and discover for themselves. Observation is very important in these educational projects. Therefore, educators learn how children act. What are your compartments and how is your attitude in the face of an obstacle or a conflict. It should be noted that there are no evaluations or ratings or judgments.
There are many benefits of growing in nature
Being in contact with nature every day takes children away from stress and anxiety. They learn to be autonomous, to explore and to respect the environment from a young age. They are more motivated, more excited and They discover that consoles and video games are not the only fun activities. And we also have to talk about the importance of breathing fresh air, being in motion, running and walking.
What do you think of schools in nature? Do you or would you take your children to one? Ah, I almost forgot. To expand the information on these educational projects, shortly you can have an interview to the school team in nature Hopefully Leaf. I encourage you to be attentive to the blog!