Nature-Based Education
“Let the children free; encourage them;
Let them run outside when it is raining;
Let them remove their shoes when they find a puddle of water;
And, when the grass of the meadow is damp with dew,
let them run on it and trample it with their bare feet;
Let them rest peacefully
When a tree invites them to sleep beneath its shade;
Let them shout and laugh when the sun wakes them
In the morning.”
Montessori education remains relevant in our modern world. Concerns about the need for modern children in our digital age to connect with nature are addressed in the very core of Montessori philosophy.
There is much discussion of late regarding nature-based play versus an academic focused classroom. Montessori does not view these as mutually exclusive. If we are truly following the child, we will provide for their many needs. The child who desires to read or the child who wants to dig in the dirt with a stick are given equal opportunities to do so. Both these needs must be met.
Nature exploration is an integral part of Montessori education. Dr. Montessori believed children should have unhurried times in the woods. This was a time for exploration, creativity, and a time to appreciate the natural world. The recent proliferation of technology makes this essential for our children. Nature enriches the life of each child by supporting physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development. There must be provision, she said, for the child to have contact with nature and to understand and appreciate the harmony and beauty in nature. Here at The Montessori Schoolhouse, our location offers abundant opportunity for nature play, both on our own grounds and the surrounding area.
