Outdoor Nurseries - what's your thoughts

[lovkids]

just wondering if any one has experience of an outdoor orientated nursery and if so what's your thoughts. For any of you that haven't experienced it's were the preschoolers (generally toddler to 5) spend 80% of their day, suitably dressed. It's in all weathers. It's focused on nature and uses quite basic resources, including hacksaws (to cut branches off trees), kids are allowed to climb trees and experience true play based on their imagination and not plastic pretend toys. An example would be making little fishes out of leaves and playing shop. Through to climbing trees, children are allowed to access risk and staff are fully trained in this style of nursery. I have no experience of this myself but would be interested to hear if this would appeal. Thanks

I think this approach is great for some children, those who thrive in an active outdoor environment, basically those who enjoy it. However, just like adults there are some who won't. I was in a nursery recently where outdoor play was very highly valued but to the detriment of 'indoors'. Ideally a child should be encouraged to experience in and out but then be allowed a free choice, particularly if the child is at nursery for long hours where they could be miserable if they have to be outside for long hours with no choice. (as they are when kept inside if they prefer to be out!) I suppose you need to know your child well enough to decide if they would thrive in this type of environment or not.

Hi, couldn't agree more, your thoughts mirror mine. I have 4 kids, 1 girl and 3 boys and I think my daughter would not have enjoyed it. She was v much arts and crafts type and indoor type. I guess I am more an indoor type too. Whilst I think my middle sons are high energy busy types, who would enjoy the freedom of movement outdoors offers, whilst being unconcerned by the cd or wet! Thanks for input!

We've got one almost next door to our house. It is a great idea and all the kids who go to it seem to love it. Ds went for a trial day but is going through a really clingy/ shy phase and seemed overwhelmed by it. Am going to try again after Xmas when he has turned 3.

Oh forgot to post the website address if you are anywhere near Glasgow :)

www.woodlandoutdoorkindergartens.co.uk

There is one near me. They struggled over such a severe winter. They have virtually no indoor space. A friend went along one day and said there were toddlers crying in such harsh conditions.

So it's not for me although I wholeheartedly think the outdoor emphasis is one nurseries should actively pursue.

It's a fucking stupid gimmick aimed at parents, based on not caring about the child's opinions.

Modern childcare is about providing as wide a range of well thought out and planned activity areas as possible, then letting the child play/learn with whatever they're interested in. Outdoor only nurseries are a huge backward step in childcare.

BTW, I love the outdoors. I walk, run, cycle, and camp in the outdoors. I'm a keen gardener. I'm looking for work in nurseries ideally as an outdoor play specialist. I like the outdoors. But it should be an option along with IT, reading, waterplay, construction, art and craft, small world toys, painting, roleplay, and just snuggling up somewhere warm and cosy.

And I don't understand 'true play' nor what value it has. You can be as imaginative with a Barbie as you can with a stick.

It is not a stupid idea aimed at parents. I can see how it isn't for every child and I don't think it would work full time but spending 1 or 2 days a week romping through the woods would be perfect for my ds. You do realise they can do things like art, construction etc outside. I would imagine the only thing they don't do is IT but I really wouldn't consider that a key nursery learning experience at the age of 3.

Woodentots Montessori School in Camden NW1 have an outdoor ethos , the children go out in all weathers & have an all - in - one suit as part of their kit.
They have an amazing garden in the heart of Camden where children are children getting stuck in with mud play. They also have a Forest School and take the children to Highgate Woods for this.
See www.woodentots.co.uk fior outdoor ideas see thw Woodentors Toys blog www.woodentotstoys.com for FREE crafts & cooking with children.

IT doesn't have to be computers though, it can include recording your voice, performing with a microphone, using digital cameras. walkie talkies and telephones.

Although the skills that children develop outside IMO are very different to inside, a balance of the two would be the ideal in my opinion.

Sounds very gimmicky tbh. Surely any decent nursery should provide a mix of indoor and outdoor activity. Being outdoors just for the hell of it doesn't sound that special.

I'd rather a nursery with an outdoor bias, but with decent indoor space and activities too. For the harsh winter that we had last year, however many clothes they had on it would be too cold to be out for hours at a time. I can't see the point. However, the activities that you mention in your op sound great, and so for an appropriate amount of time, and in appropriate weather (including wet and cold, but not for as long) it would be great to emphasize these. But I don't think I'd be happy with a place that didn't have good indoor space too, a balance is needed. I love the outdoors, but if I've been out in the cold for a while I like to come in for a cup of tea by the Aga, the nursery needs an equivalent!

I did some reading and research into it last year and would have loved to send my 3yr old but there aren't any near enough. i'm a bit hopeless outdoors (love the idea, can't cope with the weather!) and have 3 boys and an outdoor dh so love the idea.

I think it's a bit of a gimmick too tbh. I wouldn't like to be forced to spend my day outside (or shut inside) and most toddlers don't either. I prefer children being given the choice. Some children choose to spend a lot of time outside, but sometimes they want to cuddle up in the book corner, listen to music, do some quiet painting etc too.

It sounds like a Steiner place. As for hacksaws...

Also the term "true play" rankles. It sound like the nursery woud be snffy about my child who likes her plastic Dora doll and her plastic toolkit.

She also likes climbing trees but she's 3....so it's not really safe unless the tree is small.

www.mindstretchers.co.uk/nature-kindergartens.html

MumblingAndBloodyRagDoll hacksaws?

It is aboutbalance. I agree that there is benefit to the child in both indoor and outdoor play. I also recognise that a Barbie can stimulate a child every bit as much as a pile of sticks. My worry is that children are losing touch with nature and they are the worlds caretakers of tommorow. They need to care about their world or they wont look after it. Also the phyical and mental health benefits of accessing natural environments are well documented, but the extent is only starting to be realised. It is massively important that children access nature, it is aboutso muchmore than fresh air.

a Barbie can stimulate a child every bit as much as a pile of sticks.
However a Barbie can only ever be ... well a Barbie whereas a stick can be anything a child can imagine. The problem is some children are so used to having toys that are miniature replicas of real objects and have lost the ability to use their imagination.

mrz - you are right. I still say there is nothing wrong with having toys which are made for purpose, but when kids create and invent and design themselves they gain so much. Balance again is the key.

i like the idea of these sort of nurseries

an indoor space is obviously needed though

am rather pissed off that my son's early years were spend with him being observed rather than let loose to just play

My youngest went to such a nursery. Beyond the arctic circle, where weather conditions are REALLY harsh.

There is a saying: "There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing"

I love that saying and use it a lot. my nephew asked me if it applied when a tornado blew your house apart. (got to love him for thinking outside the box)

that is definitely the kind of weather where it does not matter what you are wearing!!