Connecting Children with Play & Nature

Emma enjoys bugs & Butterflies at her family’s home garden

On August 10 2018, the governor signed a law requiring elementary schools to hold at least a 20-minute recess period each day and restricts the reasons schools can take away recess from an individual student. The law, introduced and sponsored by Hopewell Valley’s Senator Shirley Turner, further states that recess should be held outdoors if feasible.

The opportune timing of implementing the law just prior to school’s start sets the tone for expanding free play time outdoors. The September 2018 Hopewell Valley Neighborsincluded FoHVOS Community Conservation projects at local schools including The Pennington School and neighborhood public schools. New ponds, meadows, performance, and mindfulness areas go beyond traditional playgrounds.

According to Gretchen Kish, Founder of Nectars Landscape & Design and the designer behind the new Bear Tavern Elementary outdoor space, “Kids are naturally very curious. So, we believe that by providing them with a fun and engaging outdoor environment, they can learn through natural discovery and develop skills not found in a traditional classroom.”

The new law is especially helpful by ensuring that children get outdoors at school since the advent of screens makes it less likely that children will be exposed regularly at home. A survey by The Nature Conservancy states, 88% of America's youth say they spend time on-line every day and less than half spent time outdoors.

The Nature Conservancy data suggest that if American youth are given more opportunities to have a meaningful experience outdoors, they will be more likely to value nature, engage with it, and feel empowered to do something about it.

It’s never too early to engage children to play or connect with nature. The American Academy of Pediatrics recently published a clinical report stressing the importance of play in child development. "Collaboration, negotiation, conflict resolution, self-advocacy, decision-making, a sense of agency, creativity, leadership, and increased physical activity are just some of the skills and benefits children gain through play." Further, the report notes "outdoor play provides the opportunity to improve sensory integration skills."

Nicole Langdo, FoHVOS Board Trustee and Founder of Painted Oak Nature School, adds thatnature provides a sense of place, both on a local level -- for example, knowing the bugs and trees reside in one’s own backyard -- as well as on a broader scale in better understanding how truly connected living things are on this planet we all share.

Lango concludes, “When outside, children have more opportunities for team building, peer collaboration, problem solving, managed risk, and creative thinking. Given that they will be our future leaders, engineers, teachers, and professionals, I think providing them with these opportunities is a pretty good idea!"

While the new law provides opportunities for a deeper understanding and skill development, during recess all the children focus on is the fun. Maria Montessori famously said,“Play Is The Work of the Child.”

We encourage families to augment outdoor experiences for the whole family. No extra equipment or training is needed. Open the door. Play outside and develop young brains, hearts, and spirit.

A version of this article appears in the October issue of Hopewell Valley Neighbors magazine.