Summer offers preschool children a chance to deeply engage with nature, fostering curiosity, creativity, and growth. Through activities like exploring forests, observing wildlife, and creating art with natural materials, children not only experience the season’s beauty but also develop fine motor skills, problem-solving abilities, and a respect for life. Their connection with nature enhances both their cognitive and emotional development, forming positive childhood memories and laying a foundation for their mental well-being.
Summer is the season when we can experience nature in the most diverse ways. Preschool children, embracing the arrival of summer, are spending special times by fully immersing themselves in the rich and varied nature around them.
Walking through the lush, green forests with friends and educators, they closely observe nature, and engage in various activities using materials found in the environment, fully experiencing the beauty of the season. These experiences make the children's summer richer and more meaningful, fostering learning and growth through a deep connection with nature.
The children held hands and walked side by side into the forest. The green woods and small animals sparked their curiosity, drawing them deeper into the wonders of nature. As they walked, they noticed a squirrel and a snail, watching them intently, and asked endless questions while enjoying lively conversations with their friends.
Later, the children continued their creative activities using materials from nature. They made faces with green leaves, rose petals, and small stones, feeling and recreating the beauty and sensations of nature with their hands. Each child's creation was filled with unique personality and imagination.
Additionally, they used salt dough to create little flower pots, expressing their creativity in a new form. By shaping and molding, the children fine-tuned their hand movements, naturally promoting the development of fine motor skills. Working with irregular natural materials, they were also able to enhance their problem-solving abilities and creative thinking.
These diverse activities provided not just play, but sensory experiences that fostered growth. The joy of learning from nature truly has no end!
A few days later, while spending time observing bugs at the playground, the children discovered a small frog. They couldn’t contain their excitement and rushed over to observe it closely. They marveled at the frog's tiny movements, continuously asking the educator questions:
"Why is the frog here?” “Is the frog okay without water?"
The children's eyes were filled with curiosity about the frog. At that moment, Mia suggested that they help the frog safely return to its home. The children all nodded in agreement, and together, we created a path for the frog to make its way back to the bushes.
Through this experience, the children not only nurtured their curiosity about nature but also developed a sense of respect for all living creatures. These precious moments in nature offered more than just fascinating experiences; they provided opportunities to instill respect for life and a sense of responsibility.
Nature plays an essential role in leaving positive memories of childhood, offering various developmental stimuli necessary for growth during that time. Moreover, children who build a close relationship with nature do not just shape their identities, but also establish the foundation for their mental health, highlighting the significant role nature plays in their development. We wonder what other learning we will experieince as we see summer begin to fade and experience all that the fall season has to offer.
