Tracie’s Treasures, a childminder service in Liverpool, explains the benefits and opportunities of their Garden Classroom approach to learning, and the positive effects of enabling the children to experience the wonders of the changing seasons.
The Garden Classroom is a space where children can learn and grow, connecting to nature and the world around them. Outdoor exploration not only connects toddlers and babies with the seasons and ever-changing weather, but also promotes physical activity, a sense of wonder, and an appreciation for the natural environment. Providing gardening activities for children has proven to be a great way to engage them with hands-on learning, including growing food from seed to plate, food sensory education, pond-dipping and lifecycles, and practising sustainability through composting and recycling.
To support the children’s cognitive skills, we provide activities to observe and understand nature through investigation. The children’s favourite activities are pond dipping and growing and harvesting flowers, fruit, and vegetables. Some of the learning objectives within these activities are linked to lifecycles, categorising, comparison, and pattern recognition in nature.
Supporting the children to experience the wonders of changing seasons has a positive effect on their emotional well-being. The children take naps outside and participate in meditation while the birds are singing away.
These activities provide opportunities for relaxation and promote a sense of calm and happiness. It has been shown that spending time in nature has mental health benefits as well as emotional and physical benefits.
Every season and even every different day outdoors, brings a new set of sensory stimulation by exploring the sights, textures, aromas, even the noises of the natural world. The experiences are endless. The children love finding the strawberries and munching away, and there is no better taste than a sun-ripened cherry tomato!
Unfolding the characteristics of seasonal vocabulary during activities also contributes to early language and provides children with the skills to articulate their observations and experiences. Whether its playing in the muddy puddles, counting the frogs or learning to sow seeds, the language opportunities are endless.
The seasons are also a way to promote cultural celebrations and traditions. We love the harvest festival where we like to gather our produce and share with our families, or Diwali where we cover the garden with lights and have a magical Diwali feast. There are many ways to weave cultural traditions into your very own Garden Classroom.
By incorporating a Garden Classroom into your setting, your children can foster environmental awareness, develop a sense of responsibility and appreciation of the natural world, which in turn lays the groundwork for their future environmental consciousness. Seasonal changes spark natural curiosity and wonder within the children, giving them the opportunity for questioning and exploration, cultivating a mind-set of inquiry and lifelong learning.
October 2024