07/05/2026
At Lynda’s Littlies, nature play and learning through the natural world has become a weekly — and often daily — focus within our programme. While we have allocated days dedicated to nature exploration, so much of the wonder, discovery, and meaningful learning has been beautifully child-led, growing from the children’s own interests, passions, questions, and desire to extend on previous outings and experiences. 🪻🐜🪵
From forest exploration adventures, examining bark textures, discovering the ecosystems within rivers, observing bugs, eels and insects, and admiring the incredible architecture of a spider’s web, to celebrating the changing seasons through natural art experiences — every moment has provided opportunities for curiosity and connection. 🐛🪺🌳
The Littlies have also developed stronger physical confidence and independence through climbing, balancing, exploring, and collaborating alongside their friends from Sharyn and Mel’s In-Home Care, proving that learning becomes even richer when shared together. We have carefully adapted these experiences for all ages and stages, from our youngest tamariki at few months old through to our confident 4 to nearly 5-year-olds. 🧡🍃
Because of the depth of engagement and the “big questions” our children bring, our term plans are often joyfully turned upside down so we can extend and enrich the learning that is happening naturally in the moment. Magnifying glasses, insect houses, stick building, counting the rings on fallen tree trunks, constructing hedgehog homes from autumn leaves, and creating imaginative structures from treasures found beneath beautiful trees have all become valuable tools within our explorations.🍁🦔🍂🍄
“There is no Wi-Fi in the forest, but I promise you will find a better connection.”
This philosophy aligns beautifully with Te Whāriki, which reminds us that children learn through responsive relationships, exploration, and meaningful connection with their environment. Nature provides endless opportunities for problem solving, creativity, risk-taking, communication, scientific thinking, and awe. Most importantly, this journey has been just as enriching for us as educators, as we have loved sharing our own passions, strengths, and curiosity with the children while exploring the natural world together. 🍃🍁🐞
Here's a sprinkle of some of the moments in time we froze 🪻
