EXPLORING NATURE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD

Spring has arrived in Larimer County, and it’s the perfect time to explore the outdoors with children - or bring a little of our local nature indoors! From the rolling foothills and Poudre River trails to backyard gardens and community parks, the area is full of opportunities for curiosity, observation, and hands-on learning. This month, we’re focusing on gardening, plants, and ways to connect children with the natural world right here in our community.

MAKING THE SCIENCE INTEREST CENTER COME ALIVE

Plants in the Science Interest Center are more than just objects to water - they are tools for inquiry, observation, and conversation. Here’s how to bring them to life:

• Measure Soil Moisture: Use water meters to track soil wetness. Children can make predictions, record results, and notice patterns.

• Observe Growth: Encourage drawing, charting, or photographic plants as they grow.

• Conversations About Care: Ask open-ended questions like “What does our plant need to grow?” or “Why do you think the leaves look droopy?”

• Learning Outcomes: Responsibility, observation, prediction, scientific thinking, language, and problem-solving.

THESE BOOKS ARE THE PERFECT COMPANION FOR A SUNNY AFTERNOON!

• Lessons From Plants by Beronda Montgomery

• The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative by Florence Williams

• Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv

• The Goodness of Rain by Ann Pelo

• The Nature Principle by Richard Louv

• Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

LITTLE EXPLORERS’ LIBRARY

• Wildflowers Grow by Amber Hendricks

• A Seed Is Sleepy by Dianna Hutts Aston

• Moon by P. Hegarty

• The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle

• The World Needs the Wonder Your See by Joanna Gaines

• I Am a Force of Nature by Carolyn Kanjuro

• Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert

• Blossom and Bud by Frank J. Sileo

• Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner

HOW-TO: INCORPORATING NATURE INTO EVERYDAY EXPERIENCES FOR OUR YOUNGEST CHILDREN

It can be challenging to create safe, nurturing outdoor areas for infants and young toddlers to explore if your program’s space doesn’t already have them available. Luckily, there are ways to start including time in nature within your daily routines and rhythms that can be simple and easily accessible! This resource shares some ideas, as well as how to enhance your outdoor learning environment if you already have one. Take a look at some of the inspiration photos as well!

“Let the children be 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 meadows is wet 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.”

~ Maria Montessori

ELDG CONNECTION/NAEYC RESOURCE

• Foundation for Inquiry and Exploration: Nature provides a stimulating, sensory-rich environment that sparks curiosity and encourages children to ask questions. Science acts as the process of making sense of this world, where children observe, predict, and experiment.

• Cognitive Development: Science activities like sorting, observing, and classifying natural items strengthen reasoning and problem-solving skills.

• Physical Development: Outdoor, nature-based activities promote gross motor skills and reduce stress.

• Social-Emotional Development: Interacting with nature fosters empathy, understanding, and emotional regulation.