What makes getting outdoors a good environment for young children to learn and develop?
A: “The natural world is the most complex environment a child can navigate,” says Mary Beth Hilborn, director of the early childhood center at Hawken School. “They physically and mentally develop skills that engage all of their senses. Learning in that type of environment creates different types of synapse connections in the brain. This requires them to think harder and is great for brain development. At Hawken, students spend up to two hours per day in our nature-based classroom that replaces purchased playground material with natural material for the children to navigate and explore. There are different areas for the children such as sand building, outdoor arts, outdoor stages and the river bed. This year we also have a consultant working with us to help the students explore the woods.”
Ask the Experts: Learning From The Outdoors
Hawken School's Mary Beth Hilborn shares the importance of engaging all the senses.
