Natural World

Children are born with an innate desire to find out about the world around them. From a very young age, they use their senses to explore different objects, touching everything and putting things in their mouths to discover the taste and texture. Often, we forget about the magic in children experiencing something for the first time as we see it through our own eyes, rather than that of a young child’s. Being out in the rain and splashing in puddles brings so much excitement and many learning opportunities, yet as adults we worry about getting wet and dirty. Nature brings a wealth of opportunities and is proven to have a positive impact on a child’s wellbeing.

When playing in the outdoor area, the children in Reception C noticed a frog hiding in the corner. They looked at it for some time, observing its features and movements. It caused a little panic when it began jumping! The children instantly made links to their previous learning about life cycles and habitats. They went to the water play area and fetched some water to pour around the frog. Realising that the playground was not the best place, they created a plan to take the frog to the school garden where there is a pond. The children showed care and concern as we attempted to get the frog into a bucket. Once secure in the bucket, more children came to take a look. The frog was safely released in the school garden, as I had the pleasure of observing an entire class fascinated, focused and engaged in the experience.

Real life experiences like this are so important and support children’s cognitive development by strengthening connections in the brain. At BSC we strongly encourage parents to take time to nurture children’s curiosity with nature. Take a slow stroll, looking at and listening to nature and explore the meaning of new vocabulary linked with all that belongs to the outdoors. Perhaps even collect objects of interest and allow children to use them in their play.

Some children in Early Years at BSC have been using leaves, twigs and flowers to decorate models. They enjoyed spending time in the garden collecting different resources. The picture below shows an aquarium made using playdough. Other children have been mark making on leaves. The picture shows children’s creations of a ladybird and a stingray. These things are easy for you to enjoy recreating with your child at home! There are endless opportunities when using natural objects in play as children use their imagination and creativity to transform the objects into something new.