Whether you follow Montessori method or not, nature plays a crucial role in a child’s overall development. If it’s something this Covid lockdown has reinforced, it’s my lil E’s love for the outdoors. Did you catch my zen rant on the Quarantine and Lockdown cleaning yet? Watching his blooming love for nature, water and all things outside, my oh-so-UNGREEN thumb wonders where he got it from. Given a choice he would probably spend the night in the garden and I would so allow him to do so, if not for the mutant mosquitoes we have.
This brings me to how I like to incorporate some subtle lessons while we take out walks everyday. It’s only natural that my Montessori doppelganger kicks in and Mammadoo ends up being on a secret mission – To Teach E numbers while we throw pebbles into the muddy puddle. Here are some more ideas that will work wonders with your child too.
Children today spend a considerable amount of time indoors and they get accustomed to the same sensory input day in and day out. Nature is one of the biggest resources to intrigues a child’s curiosity and sense of exploration. Taking a child outdoors can make them appreciate nature and all that it has to offer. Learning becomes intrinsic and when the child enjoys it too, it’s a win win situation there if any.
MONTESSORI AND NATURE
Dr. Montessori’s first ‘House of Children’ also had a garden and outdoor space, which acted as an extended part of the indoor environment. The Montessori pedagogy focuses on development of the whole child and this lays a lot of emphasis on nature. According to the method, nature enriches the life of each child by supporting
- physical
- social
- emotional and
- cognitive development.
When children come into contact with nature, they reveal their true strength. Well nourished children, can walk for miles even when they are less than two years old. Their tireless little legs will climb long steep slopes in the sunshine. Spending more time in nature will also influence the child to lead an environmentally responsible lifestyle throughout childhood and into adulthood, as well. In today’s day and age this can also translate into teaching the child good values like recycling and not using plastic and how it can save nature and the repercussions.
HOW NATURE CAN HELP A CHILD’S SENSES
“The senses, being the explorers of the world, open the way to knowledge.”
Dr. Maria Montessori
Sensory integration is very crucial in children below the age of 6 and nature is God’s playground for this to happen. A child first develops through his senses and this plays a crucial role in achieving all his/her milestones.
Dr. Montessori was very intuitive when she was quoted saying, “Let children be free; encourage them; let them run outside when it is raining; let them remove their shoes when they find a puddle of water; and when the grass of the meadows is wet with dew, let them run on it and trample it with their bare feet; let them rest peacefully when a tree invites them to sleep beneath its shade; let them shout and laugh when the sun awakens them in the morning.”
Through these activities, your child will become more connected with nature, and begin to understand their own individual place in the universe. It is no wonder that nature plays a key role in a child’s education – not matter what the pedagogy is.
“When children come into contact with nature, they reveal their strength.”
Dr. Maria Montessori
What do your kids do when they are being one with nature? Do they love it as much as Lil E does? Do let me know.
