Nature Play Installation at Communities

Author:
Shilpi Shukla
July 20, 2021

It is imperative that we must reinforce children’s sense of belonging through a conducive environment that should be beautiful, soothing, full of wonder and discovery, so that children feel intrigued, respected, and eager to learn in it. Nature is a great teacher and has bestowed us with ample of loose materials for children to play with and learn from. There are various open-ended resources like leaves, petals, twigs, and pebbles, to aid a child’s physical, social, emotional and cognitive development.  

Taking learning outdoors and creating dedicated spaces for children of different age groups

(2 years- 4 years & 5 years- 7 years)

1. Paint alphabet rocks

Gather up some rocks or pebbles from around the neighborhood and set of alphabet rocks by painting letters on each rock with acrylic paint. Choose a variety of colors or make a set of capital letters in one color, lowercase letters in another.

The older children can make words out of these letters (word game).

2. Number learning in nature

Encourage the younger ones to count items like trees, flowers, birds.

Complicate this for the older ones by asking them to find the ratio of trees to residents living in your community or by asking them to measure the cricket ground or badminton court using their feet.

3. Outdoor Music Corner

You might consider a permanent fixture such as a music wall with old pots and pans.

4. Art & Craft Space

Allow children a space to get creative to make a mural or use recycled materials to create a art piece.

5. Grow Your Space

Assign a small patch for children to grow their own herbs.

Interesting Activities

  1. Digging for buried treasure- bury treasure (pebbles, marbles, shells, large seed pods).
  1. Identifying different items in nature.
  1. Encourage community children to dedicate a day to help your gardener to clean the weeds in the garden.
  1. Sunday- teach children on waste segregation.  
  1. Show children the process of composting (complete cycle).
  1. Encourage older children to create their nature journal.  
  1. Do a real tree instead of the artificial tree for Christmas Celebration (like a Thuja tree)
  1. Read outside- bring along a mat to sit and some cushions to make you comfortable, find a safe place to lean up against. Read together or allow your child to read, whichever feels appropriate.

If you are keen to join our cause and to know more about our workshops on sustainable living, please connect to us at 9154100775 or mail us at oes@organo.co.in

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