Nature's Kids Educational Child Care
What is a Nature Based Child Care Center?
A nature based child care centre takes the children outside every day to enjoy loosely-structured explorations and play in natural settings. We may even take our classroom outside!
We believe that children need to connect to nature and explore their suroundings. We teach children to love the earth where they live and all the creatures that inhabit this planet. As well, we teach them respect for their natural surroundings and how to take care of what we have.
In todays society where technology has taken over a child's outdoor time, we as the adults in their lives need to make sure they have the same fun memories that we had as children. Recent studies (2013) in early child brain growth developement are showing very concerning results of children who are interacting with technology for more than an hour a day. In most cases, some young (3 - 5 age) children are interacting with their devices for up to 5 hours a day! The following are just a few of the problem's that are arising due to this activity.
- Depression
- Feelings of loneliness
- Lack of social developement skills
- Delayed speach
- Behavior disorders
- Obesity
- Developmental delays
- Lack of impulse control
Young children require 2-3 hours per day of active play to achieve adequate sensory stimulation, which plays a huge part in their brain growth development! Here at Nature's Kids, your child will have the opportunity to play outside and explore their surroundings each and every day!
What Else Do We Do Here?
About Us
For more information regarding nature based child care, please check out 'Last Child in the Woods,' by Author Richard Louv. This book describes the disconnect that the children of this generation are experiencing and the ill effects that go along with it.
Another really interesting book written by Jennifer Ward, is I Love Dirt! With 52 activities that you and your child can do in nature.
Children should experience wiggling their toes in the grass, or squishing them in mud. They should be allowed to dig in the dirt and find some worms.
Why read a story inside when it is sunny and beautiful outside?
We take trips to local orchards and learn where our fruit comes from
We plant our own garden growing vegetables and learn about the growing process
We take frequent trips to places like Kangaroo Creek Farm, which is a very short walk from our centre.
Also in our area and very close to home is a nature preserve, filled with lots of different types of wildlife and wonderful natural things to explore.
We believe that if children are immersed into an educational environment filled with natural spaces, fun and wonder, then they will welcome learning with fun and wonder.
