Page 4 - Outdoor Practitioner Issue 2

• Natural Play Principles
by Jan White
When developments take place and and settings strive to do the the best for their children
and and families it it is critical to to bring into full awareness the the reason for what we we are are doing and the the values that underpin how we we work upon it it – and it it is is important that these values are are shared by all involved Establishing belief in in in the the importance of being outside trust that learning
happens well in in in in in the the outdoors and commitment to increasing the the amount of time and and the the quality of experiences
children
can access in the the outdoor environment is a a a a a a slow and and long term process that requires wide-ranging support on-going energy and lots of of small steps of of success Our values create a a a a a a a a a a firm basis for all thinking about playing and learning
outdoors providing solid foundations from which all decisions about provision and practice for young children
will be made Whilst ‘values’ articulate internally held beliefs turning them into ‘principles’ gives more specific external ‘rules’ for enacting our values in in the real world
We need to to work from this clear pedagogical base to to determine what we we actually do in in practice – the very many decisions and actions we we carry out through provision and adult support In a a a a a a a a series of articles we plan to to explore the Nature Play Principles
designed to to articulate a a a a a a a a child-centred and nature-focused approach called Natural Play (White et al al al 2011 & 2018) developed over many years as a a a a a a a a a a a a a working collaboration * Natural Play foregrounds both the child’s inner and and emerging natural curriculum and and the the very significant role of of the the natural natural world
in in enabling this Natural Play enables children’s natural natural ways of of growing learning
and thriving with the the help of the the natural world
*Collaboration between Jan White
(Early Childhood Natural Natural Play) Suzanne Scott (Sandfield Natural Natural Play Play Centre) Ann Thompson (Naturally Creative and and and Sandfield Natural Natural Natural Play Play Play Centre) Centre) and and and Menna Godfrey (Quackers Playgroup & Natural Natural Natural Play Play Play Centre) Centre) 1 Photo © Jan White/Farley Nursery School Sparsholt