The introduction of ‘enabling environments’ as a key principle in providing effective early childhood education and care (ECEC) has itself enabled a great leap forward in thinking and practice. As someone who is fascinated by the relationship between organisms (children especially) and their surroundings, I’ve long witnessed that the environment is in fact the first …
I recently enjoyed exploring some local residential streets with the team at Growing Wild Outdoor Nursery in Barnsley, and was reminded about the incredible treasury of fascinating and important things to be found in the ordinary, everyday places where people live their lives. These are places we tend to overlook in providing high quality Early …
Earlier this month we introduced a new stream of this blog aiming to bring to attention to some of the longer, more in-depth, sometimes freely available, materials being produced that support outdoor- and nature-based practices, starting with the special issue of Barnardo’s free to download Childlinks magazine focusing on nature-based preschools. This week we want …
Over the lifetime of this blog, we have been able to point people to a wide range of relevant and useful resources, carrying out the aspiration for Early Childhood Outdoors to act as a resource directory: Acting as a source directory, Early Childhood Outdoors helps to share resources that support the mission of “more children …
Helpful Resources: A focus on nature-based preschools from Barnardos in Ireland Read More »
I have just finished reading the very interesting paper published (open access online on 28th May 2021) by Nicola Kemp and Jo Josephidou in the journal Early Years, titled Babies and toddlers outdoors: a narrative review of the literature on provision for under twos in ECEC settings. This is from the first phase of their Froebel Trust funded …
We all know that feeling and showing gratitude is both good for you and motivates positive action, and that regularly noticing and being thankful for small things is just as good – quite likely better – than less frequent larger scale events. Daily experience of gratefulness for what you have can generate wonderful feelings of …
This week completes 30 Days Wild 2021 and a wonderful June filled with random acts of wildness. And our final weekly selection of children’s picture book recommendations completes this year’s library for stimulating or responding to young children’s fascination with the natural world, and encouraging and enhancing play in and with nature: On Monday our Creatures …
A book a day for nature play – week 5 of 30 Days Wild Read More »
This week of 30 Days Wild coincides with National Picnic Week, running from 19th – 27th June this year. Picnics bring together everything about enjoying and appreciating being outdoors, and can be a marvellous way to spend time with others – both human and non-human! This week’s contribution for our Nature Play library collection might …
A book a day for nature play – week 4 of 30 Days Wild Read More »
What a Wonderful World is most certainly the theme in nature right now! Spring is close to turning into summer; the longest day is less than two weeks away; and it is so lovely to watch parent birds feeding their fluffy fledglings. This week’s collection of recommended picture books takes us past the halfway mark …
A book a day for nature play – and a global Play Summit! Read More »
Tomorrow (5th of June), World Environment Day falls within the second week of 30 Days Wild, the Wildlife Trust’s challenge for everyone to partake in 30 simple, fun and exciting Random Acts of Wildness across the month of June. The compelling theme of World Environment Day this year is Reimagine: Recreate: Restore – let’s get …
A book a day for nature play – week 2 of 30 Days Wild Read More »
