feeling to have in regard to the chaos tegrating and accepting of the entirety and upheaval and the sudden changeability that are integral aspects of it . things . It is the integrity of the whole
of oneself and others and the nature of
It is those elements of chance and of whom and what we love that calls danger and mutability that make the us to love more fully and completely . natural world the dynamic setting for
When we define the importance transformative play that it uniquely is . of play in a young person ’ s life by considering only benefits of exercise and
Learning to accept and respect nature ’ s dichotomies is part of the process of in- physical fitness , fresh air , and coopera-
Let nature be their guide ...
Children ’ s curiosity about the natural world is a powerful catalyst for their work and play . Research findings confirm the power of children ’ s thinking and learning potential is greater than previously known , as is their need for rich and challenging environments . Young children are most inspired by direct and interactive learning experiences in which they can make sense of what they can touch , smell , see , feel , taste , and imagine . The natural world around them is the premier learning environment for the child .
There is consensus among educators and researchers in early child development over the importance of developmentally appropriate practice in teaching children . Honoring the sequence of the child ’ s development means holding space for the child ’ s need for discovery and engagement , and teaching with empathy and respect for the child ’ s need to interact with real objects and real environments . When appropriately guided , the child ’ s curiosity becomes the foundation for developing skills and exploring the basic phenomena and materials of the world around them .
When introduced to formal instruction and abstract concepts too soon , children may acquire the knowledge and skills presented , but at the expense of the disposition to use them . The child who is introduced to environmental issues such as global warming , scarcity of natural resources , threatened species , and extinction of species and their natural habitat , may experience premature worry , anxiety , and an overwhelming responsibility to solve these too-big problems . When given appropriate guidance during the early stages of learning , children turn their natural proclivity to learn , experiment , and explore to the world around them .
The child who is introduced to causes , issues , and big picture concerns , before he or she is introduced to the earth worm , how seeds grow , and what mud is all about , is in a real sense , being coerced into an abstract ‘ understanding ’ that research findings show can prove alienating . Children thrive on authenticity , hands-on learning and make meaning through the questions they themselves are inspired to ask . A helpful guide encourages such questioning and engages the child in relevant inquiry by modeling and reflecting the child ’ s own sense of wonder . The best guide trusts that time and natural , developmental growth will lead children to greater discoveries and more sophisticated connections and associations — and all in the child ’ s own time .
tion learned through shared activity , we are missing the point by much more than a mile . The playground , with its man-made boundaries and features , is only , at best , a simulacrum of the natural environment . The natural environment is a living , breathing world of reality for which there is no substitute or remotely equivalent alternative . It is the testing ground that nurtures and challenges , the realm of trees and rocks and wild creatures that beckons us to become part of it and competent to belong in it .
Never forget : We are alive within mysteries .
— Wendell Berry
When children and youth lose connection with nature and the natural environment , they literally lose a world , and all of the depth and vast richness of experience and self-discovery it contains . We most effectively heal the natural environment by healing ourselves , and the natural world is an inestimably powerful healing force and source . In the words of Joseph Campbell : “ We ’ re not on our journey to save the world but to save ourselves . But in doing that you save the world .”
Michelle Easson is an educator , activist , archaeologist , cultural anthropologist , and child and mental health advocate . She holds advanced degrees in education and psychology and undergraduate degrees in anthropology and theatre arts . Easson was selected as United Nations Special Envoy in Education and traveled to Cuba with a coalition to participate in a cultural exchange seminar . She is currently a freelance assistant and contributor in social science research and works with minority women teaching life skills and career development in the Coaching for Change outreach program she founded .
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