THE KIDS LOVE NATURE APPROACH...
We all want our children to be confident, have great language and communication skills, be emotionally secure, sociable, happy, resilient, be willing to try new things and take risks, be caring and develop a love for learning and the natural world. We do this through being completely child centred in everything we do. The beautiful nursery spaces are designed and organised so children can be independent and lead their own learning, making choices about the resources they want to use, whether to be inside or outside and when to stop for a snack. Through observation, considered and sensitive adults decide when it is best to support children, when to teach them a new skill or when it is best to stand back. No adult ever dominates the learning environment and as a result, children are continuously engaged and following their interests. We allow children the time and space to become absorbed into their learning. Time and space to think, to be and to grow. THE CREATION OF KIDS LOVE NATURE…
Alex and Ben met in 2009 while on a study trip to Denmark to visit the Forest Kindergartens. They both new that the traditional view of nursery education was falling far short of the experiences children should be receiving during their informative years. How could small rooms with limited access to uninspiring outdoor spaces be right? Together, drawing on their inspiration from the Danish Forest Kindergartens, Montessori and Reggio Emilia, plus their belief that children should learn in beautifully considered indoor and outdoor spaces, the Kids Love Nature Approach was born. Their experience in Denmark showed how daily nature based experiences greatly enhanced children’s development through taking risk, exploring, investigating, being physical, respecting and being fascinated in the natural world. Alex brought his extensive knowledge of Montessori, a child-centred pedagogy that promotes independence, self-development, and a love of learning. Montessori is a method that is applied all over the world using specialised didactic materials and is guided by Montessori-trained practitioners. The Reggio Emilia influence was brought by Ben. In Reggio, they recognise each child to be wonderfully creative with flourishing imaginations. They foster and nurture this through the use of artists to teach children artistic skills. They also use children’s interests and fascinations as the starting point for projects that encourage children to think critically, solve problems, share their understanding of concepts, all captured through children’s words and art work. The Kids Love Nature Approach brings together the best elements from each of these approaches, creating a unique and high quality experience for children. Ben and Alex’s shared vision for what early years practice could be was conceptualised over three and a half years and first put into practice following the opening of the first Children’s Nature Nursery at Avon Heath Country Park in 2012. Since its opening, they have received unprecedented attention from practitioners, early years experts and university professors.
