What is
Nature Play?
Nature Play is… A platform for child-led play
‘Child-led’ is a term wide enough to encompass a range of adult-infant play dynamics, from the first steps of ‘unstructured’ play time to ‘uninterrupted’ play. Child-led play is about letting children 'go' to do what they need to do to learn and to grow. In child-led play children take the lead following the play urges genetically coded into their developing bodies and brains. Whether they are deeply engrossed in their own world, or interacting and playing with other children, this type of play is a requirement to unfolding and developing human beings as ‘designed’. As the adults and guardians of these young 'learning sponges', it is our job to support them when required - or requested - and to sit back to watch and wait as they discover, invent and explore.
Nature Play is… For all ages
During the first six years your child's brain operates in a pure download
state. In these formative learning years they will be downloading EVERYTHING at forty million bits per second. Simply by being out in Nature in all weathers and all seasons babies are amassing sensory-rich information about being a child in this place, on this earth. Toddlers use their environment to evolve their imagination and creativity, and these essential building blocks for each child's future can only be gained through play. Nothing else can do it.
Written by Clare Caro for the Nature Play blog:
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