Why Nature Play School?
Olivia and Deirdre work together on free painting during a session of Nature Play
Some of you may not know it, but aside from running my medical practice, I also organize a year round outdoor school called Northside Nature Play. We offer children the opportunity to adventure and explore nature under the guidance of a wise and compassionate leader. Kids get muddy, climb trees, jump in puddles, catch frogs and snails and practice smart risk taking.
I started bringing my oldest child, Diarmuid, to nature play when he was nine months old. I fell in love with the idea when I met a Waldorf Mom and her daughter after coming back from a day of playing in the snow, together with other kids and families, one winter day in Chicago. It made me think of the stories of Scandinavian kids being raised with full access to the wilderness and its elements all year round. It also reminded me of growing up in Ireland. My parents were born and raised in Ireland and I spent every summer since I could remember, trapsing around the countryside of N. Ireland, along the coast of the North Sea. My siblings and I would chase sheep, hide from cows and bulls, and suck the nectar from honeysuckles all day long. I still have the fondest memories of those wild, unstructured days in nature. So I signed right up for Forest Play School and we began our journey in Nature School. After a couple of years, that program ended so I began my own Nature Play School so that my son could continue. Now Deirdre has been in the forest since she was born too!
I see such incredible strengths and growth develop in them during their time in the woods. First of all, they love to play outside! This in itself feels like such a gift for urban kids. Secondly, they feel so confidant in all season weather outside! Deirdre, my almost three year old, loves to splash in rain puddles. She relishes a rainy day, wearing her rain coat and making sounds and movement in the puddles. It is amazing to see her joy in such simple sensory play. They also love to suck on icicles and rather than dreading the cold winter season, they can’t wait for it to arrive. It helps them to se the beauty in all nature, rather than focus on any discomfort it might bring. And they KNOW to bundle up. It’s harder to warm up than to stay warm, so they gladly wear their long underwear all through late Fall, Winter, and early Spring so they can be free to play outside anytime they want. They get creative outside! A hill transforms into a battle station or a bakery. A pinecone becomes money at pretend grocery store and pine needles are ingredients for dirt muffins. I know this ability to create will translate later in life to forging their own paths in life, listening to their inner guide, and never being afraid to try something new.
Finally, we all see the changes happening in our society from the overuse and abuse of technology. We all know the harms that it causes both physically, psychologically, and emotionally and those suffering the most are children. I see Nature Play School as an antidote to this trend and a chance to let kids be kids again. When I picked Deirdre up yesterday from Nature Play, she told me a great story about school!
Deirdre: Mom, today at Nature Play, we saw a mole!
Mom: Wow! That must have been really interesting. I haven’t seen a mole in a long time.
Deirdre: Yes, the mole was coming out of a hole and we watched it and looked at it. Then it came out again, and we watched it and looked at it. Then it came out again but a hawk flew by and snatched it up and took it away. Then we didn’t see it again. I guess the hawk wanted to eat it.
Science! Laws of Nature! Cause and Effect! So many lessons she learned here, but I especially loved her observations of the creatures in the wild, the patience and curiosity it took, as well as generated to make such observations, and her thinking about what she witnessed and the meaning behind it. I honestly think for her age, there is no better place to be for learning. I feel the same for the older children as well, but that’s a whole other topic and newsletter- UNSCHOOL!
If you have questions about Nature play, please feel free to email me or contact us from our website, Woodpecker Play.