Katie’s Educational Center’s philosophy and methods are always evolving, the needs of children, parents and childcare centers are always changing and our goal is to try our best to make sure everyone gets what they need. In short, this means we will be outside as long as the weather allows. Children in nature-based early learning programs learn their letters and numbers, like in any early childhoo
d education program. But by spending time outside every day, they’re also growing more confident, more independent, and developing a relationship with the natural world. Since moving our classroom outside this May 2020, we have noticed that the children are healthier, more cooperative with teachers and students, are more creative, and can focus better. A great example of what nature has provided a learning environment is with our gardens. The children have learned to plant, tend and harvest for food they eat. They understand that just like themselves, plants need food, water, air, space, sunshine and care to help them grow. They are able to use their big muscles to help dig the garden beds and their gentle touches to plant, w**d and harvest the vegetables and fruits. To take this care and knowledge into the world, they are being set up for success. They need to be both strong and gentle. As Nel Noddings (2002) writes in her book Teaching Children to Care, “The time spent on learning to care is not wasted; it is not time taken away from academic instruction. Kids who are friendly, happy and cooperative, tackle their academic work with more confidence and both teachers and students enjoy greater success. They are not adversaries but partners in caring and learning”
Katie’s Educational Center knows how important it is to set all of our children up with a passion for lifelong learning. We use everyday items we find outside like sticks and leaves, rocks and dirt to count, make patterns, letters and numbers. Mistakes are a vital part in learning, through trial and error children explore their surroundings and come up with solutions on their own or help with a peer. When children learn to help friends and learn to ask help from friends, they are learning a very empowering skill. Teacher’s continually model and support children in all aspects of their day. “The best teachers are those who show you where to look, but don’t tell you what to see (Alexandra K. At Katie’s Educational Center, we encourage individuality but also teamwork and believe that together we can help each child grow and learn to their greatest potential. Children learn cause and effect as well as become excellent creative problem solvers. Children learn what their bodies need when they feel uneasy. Being outside, we have more opportunities to help children understand what their minds and bodies need. Children have the option to lift heavy rocks, ride bikes, and climb trees if children feel that is what their body needs to regulate their energy and their emotions. We also have books, swings and a comfy hammock outside to offer some quiet time. With this variety of materials and guidance from the teachers, children can assess their needs and figure out how to center themselves. When it comes to behavioral guidelines, we set reachable expectations and assist children to achieve them to their best ability. If we see a situation starting to arise, we have the children pause to discuss what might happen if the child were to follow through and an incident were to happen. We often ask children if they feel safe and if they think their friends feel safe and if they don’t, what we can do to make sure we all feel safe. If we find a child is having a hard time, we ask them what they need to calm down, which could be flipping tires to watching glitter fall through our sensory bottles. Once they are ready to have a conversation we talk about what happened and how we could work together to make a positive outcome next time.
