An insight into the importance of the environment in early childhood development and education
Close your eyes and think of your childhood. What did it look like? What did it sound like? What did it smell like? Were you one of those children that spent long summer days playing outdoors with your friends until finally at dusk you were called in for dinner? Perhaps you spent weekends building bush cubbies or digging in the dirt?
The majority of parents today are from a generation where kids were encouraged to get outdoors and simply PLAY! Yet somehow many of us seem to have forgotten the joy of being outside, with children spending more and more time in front of the television, computer and game consoles. I think it’s about time that we bring the past into the present and get back to enjoying our amazing natural world.
Sometimes, in an attempt to ensure that children learn everything that we feel they should learn, we find ourselves drawn to the latest toy that claims to “make your baby smarter”. The market is filled with expensive, plastic pieces of equipment that pop, bang and whistle and we often feel pressure to buy them for our children. I have taken a stand (although I’m sure it isn’t yet having a huge impact on the likes of Fisher Price!) and refuse to buy plastic, non-essential toys for my child. Instead I want my child to have the opportunity to explore and engage in authentic experiences. I believe that by encouraging children to use their natural curiosity, it is possible for them to not only gain skills and knowledge, but to develop a life-long love of learning and a sense of wonder and delight.
For the last four years I have been the Director of a beautiful, non-profit long day care centre. This has given me a great opportunity to watch countless children explore their natural world and every day I find myself amazed at their ideas, skills and knowledge. During daily bushwalks there have been opportunities for children to use their problem solving and mathematical skills while building bridges out of sticks to cross puddles. They have measured the depth of puddles to be sure they are safe to walk through; have discussed the social and environmental impact of people dumping rubbish in the bush and have collected flowers, gum nuts, sticks and the like and used them to create artworks, added them to their block play, counted them and even used them to build cubbies!
I look forward to many years spent exploring the natural world with my beautiful 4month old son Bodhi. I can’t wait to see him make meaning and connections, to hear his ideas and see him learn new skills. And to think…he can do all of that without me spending a fortune on toys!
Article written by Nicole Sheehan, Early Childhood Teacher/Director and an eco mum passionate about all things natural. Nicole has recently started her own ecoblog http://the-eco-mumma.blogspot.com/
Posted in 
Thanks for sharing the article Juliet, it definitely makes interesting reading and re-confirms that play and creativity are important in childhood and adulthood.
By the way, your blog looks fantastic, what a wonderful job you have!
I think the issue of the value of outdoor play in childhood is a hot topic. Yesterday I read this article about declining levels of creativity in US.http://www.newsweek.com/2010/07/10/the-creativity-crisis.html#
It flags up the need for free play in early childhood. I would argue this need extends right through childhood and even into adulthood.
Thanks to you and Nicole for a lovely blog post.