Talking to one of my colleagues at my school, she expressed how more and more children in schools are sitting in classrooms for longer periods of time. School districts are eliminating recess times for children in kindergarten through fifth grade while junior high and high school students do not even have opportunities to engage in outdoor environments unless they participate in extracurricular sports. The colleague indicated to me that she has noticed more that while we decrease children's time outside, we are contributing to increasing children's aggressive behaviors. Time outside is time well spent to get fresh air, clear our minds, and exercise our bodies (Bailie, 2010).
This summer, my family and I went to Okoboje, Iowa and found peace and tranquility being surrounded by lakes, beaches, and an outdoor music park. The outdoor environment provided so many opportunities for us to bond as a family and commune with nature. My husband and I were able to enjoy our children knowing that we were getting ready to send our oldest off to college and the dynamics in our house would drastically change. The outdoors provided a stress reliever for all of us breathing in fresh air, feeling sand between our toes, and engaging in music.
It is time to bring nature back into our classrooms and inspire children to use the outdoor world to engage their brains, exercise their bodies, and inspire creativity.
References
Dowdell, K., Gray, T., & Malone, K. (2011). Nature and it's influence on children's outdoor play.
Australian Journal of Outdoor Education, 15(2), pp. 24-35. Retrieved
from http://www.researchgate.net/publication/262180932_Nature_and_its_Influence_on_Children%2
7s_Outdoor_Play
Bailie, P. (2010, July). From the one-hour field trip to a nature preschool: Partnering with
environmental organizations. Young Children, 65(4), pp. 76-82. Retrieved from
file:///C:/Users/Nicolette/Documents/Walden%20ED.%20S%20assignments/nature%20education.pdf
Hello Nicolette,
ReplyDeleteI loved your article about children becoming one with nature. It really saddens me that children do not partake in as much outdoor activities as we use to when we were growing up. As a child, I remembered my family always telling me to go outside and they would even join us in outdoor activities such as hide and go seek as well as relay races to promote positive competition. Children today need outside time not only for physical and mental well being but to also engage in socialization with other children in the neighborhood. Most children get their outside time participating in a structured sport and not just freely enjoying the benefits of nature. Alan Henry, 2013, stated the studies have shown spending time with nature can boost creativity and cognitive development.
Dawn
Reference:
Henry, A., 2013. Science explains why spending time outside is important for your health. Retrieved October 19, 2015 from lifehacker.com
Thank you Dawn for your response! I wholeheartedly agree with your point that indicates that most children are getting their nature time from outside organized sports. I tell my children that are high school age that they need to participate in at least one sport and/or physical activity each season during the school year but that is for their physical development. Nature and outside environment experiences are so different from sports activities.
DeleteI know for myself that if I do not get outside daily, I do not feel as productive. It becomes difficult at times when the weather is sub zero temperatures in the winter. But I have found that going outside just to take my dog for a walk strengthens my mental health and acuity.
Nicki
Hi Nicolette,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your post. As it relates to "Play" and early childhood, you are correct. Students are currently choosing to stay indoors to watch television instead of playing outside. I just mentioned to one of our classmates in the Discussion Board that I am concerned that in the next few years, technology will begin to override the the "Old Fashioned Recess." Soon our society will have class sets of I-pads beginning as a pre k student (and they would work on those throughout the day). Nicolette, it is considered unfortunate but on the other hand it is a reality. We as educators must advocate and intervene and find avenues to keep the "Old Fashioned Play" alive. Self motivating, freely chosen and engaging are components of the benefits of play among our students (Early Childhood News, 2015).
http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlychildhood/article_view.aspx?ArticleID=240
I teach 4 year old kindergarten and play is the most important part of our day!! Children need to know how to work with each other and solve problems. The Whole Child Initiative focuses on building up the child and focusing on health, emotional development, and physical. We as educators must remember the importance of going outside! As a child I have the best memories of playing outside. We must embrace initiatives such as the Whole Child in order to place simple but very important things at the top. I hope you continue to push for children to play outside!!
ReplyDeleteCheck out some of these references:
Action For Healthy Kids (n.d). Rob Bisceglie, M.A. Retrieved May 25, 2015 from http://www.actionforhealthykids.org/about-us/our-team/staff/482-rob-bisceglie-ma
Alliance for Childhood. (n.d). Retrieved May 25, 2015 from http://www.allianceforchildhood.org/about_us
The Whole Child (n.d). The Whole Child Approach to Education. Retrieved May 25, 2015 from http://www.wholechildeducation.org/about
Playground Professionals (n.d). Joan Almon. Retrieved May 25, 2015 from http://www.playgroundprofessionals.com/encyclopedia/a/joan-almon
Happy research!
Jamila
I teach 4 year old kindergarten and play is the most important part of our day!! Children need to know how to work with each other and solve problems. The Whole Child Initiative focuses on building up the child and focusing on health, emotional development, and physical. We as educators must remember the importance of going outside! As a child I have the best memories of playing outside. We must embrace initiatives such as the Whole Child in order to place simple but very important things at the top. I hope you continue to push for children to play outside!!
ReplyDeleteCheck out some of these references:
Action For Healthy Kids (n.d). Rob Bisceglie, M.A. Retrieved May 25, 2015 from http://www.actionforhealthykids.org/about-us/our-team/staff/482-rob-bisceglie-ma
Alliance for Childhood. (n.d). Retrieved May 25, 2015 from http://www.allianceforchildhood.org/about_us
The Whole Child (n.d). The Whole Child Approach to Education. Retrieved May 25, 2015 from http://www.wholechildeducation.org/about
Playground Professionals (n.d). Joan Almon. Retrieved May 25, 2015 from http://www.playgroundprofessionals.com/encyclopedia/a/joan-almon
Happy research!
Jamila