Plugging Back into Nature

Plugging back into nature

Nature-based play is such an important part of childhood. With countries such as Denmark and Iceland inspiring us with their approach to outdoor learning. Rhiannon Scott is passionate about nature play. She has 15 years experience in early years, and works as the head of outdoor learning for Kids Planet. She is also a member of the Udeskole tribe. This will be explored further on as she shares her thoughts on outdoor play.

There is only one rule… there are no rules

Close your eyes, think of your happiest childhood memory. Where were you? Who were you with? How did it make you feel?

I have asked this question many times. I am still to come across an adult who closes their eyes and recalls their most favourite day on an iPad or the time they were given phonics for homework.

What do we remember? It’s easy, we remember the most magical of all things…play…and where? You’ve guessed it, outdoors! Nature, risk, freedom, connection, imagination, a classroom without walls. All the good stuff that makes a full childhood.

Kids Planet are on a mission to give this gift back to our children, families and the local communities we work with.

But this is not a mission we can embark on alone. We need a tribe, after all it takes a village to raise a child.

Inspired by cultures all around the world, Denmark and most recently Iceland, we have created an approach to nature-based play that provokes a journey. Udeskole, meaning outdoor school, requires practitioners to step back, reflect and embrace a child’s pace.

Udeskole

With 5 modules (or footsteps to flourish), practitioners embarking on this approach will journey through all aspects of outdoor education. From breaking boundaries, a vision for the outdoors, to becoming a pedagogue, able to deliver practical skills such as fire lighting, shelter building and tool use.

Udeskole isn’t about giving one practitioner a qualification. It’s about transforming the day-to-day culture of the wider community, putting nature-based play at the heart of all we do. Unstructured, freely offered and not just once a week, or for a couple of hours each day but every day, no matter the weather.

Children’s wellbeing

Amongst the many benefits of being immersed in nature, the positive effects on children’s and adults’ health and wellbeing have to be amongst the greatest. The approach is about trusting the children, respecting their ability to lead their own learning and allowing them to take risks, knowing we are close by when needed.

In the UK we have become a risk adverse society and as a result our children are losing valuable characteristics, such as persistence, resilience and problem solving. Childhood has changed dramatically over the past decade, but children have not. Their very spirits crave what nature has to offer and it’s important we give this back to them.

Nature has created the perfect classroom

During the Udeskole journey, adults will dive into challenging play. They will learn about why we must allow children to take risks, to make mistakes and to share in their successes. We recognise that we are not attempting to create ‘school ready’ children. Our job is to support these little humans in becoming confident, self-assured, caring, compassionate and above all curious.

Nature has created the perfect classroom, why not use it? A drop of rain creating ripples in a puddle, the feeling of grass between your toes, a gentle summers breeze brushing against your cheek. these are the moments of wonder that create a childhood.

Children know what they need to do, play is their work and nature is their workshop. If there’s one thing places like Denmark and Iceland have taught us, it’s about how capable our little people are. We are merely allies to learning, we must wonder and ponder with children, delight in their discoveries.

As the gatekeepers to the outdoors, it is our responsibility to keep the gate open and unlock the potentials of the awe and wonder of nature but to also step back, to trust, respect and wait to be invited into the magical world of a wild child.