I feel like I have discovered a heaven!
In Hino, far out west of Tokyo, there exists a magical woods where children can play all day long.Volunteers run the organisation encouraging parents to bring their children to play all day. The only main stipulation is to bring o-bento for those kids will want to stay all day!
The talk given was all about how children benefit from learning through play and, most importantly, learning outside.
Even for me, it was my first lecture outside and I felt refreshed in the environment watching muddy kids smiling, playing and having fun!
We heard about limits teachers and adults put on kid's play. "Don't touch this..." "It's dangerous..." Don't go there..."
In an outdoors setting, children can learn from their own desires to do something as to how their experience will be.
By making their own decisions and through extensive play, they are guiding their own learning.
Around us at the same time, the woods were 'open for business'. Children were laughing (noone was crying!) and everyone was having fun.
From tree climbing, tree hugging, to rope swings, there was plenty set up for children to play with.
They created their own activities too. One boy was collecting leaves on a stick and was actually using the stick to pierce the leaves directly.
Another young boy was throwing a stick with vigour up to the cotton banner the organisation had put up there. It was a strenuous activity and a good energy outlet, while not harming anyone in the process.
Children were able to gauge their own strengths and abilities as well as incite team work if they needed help. Sometimes, the object were too big for just one to carry. In this picture, the boy had no idea what he was doing with the stick, but he wanted it and he continued to figure out a way of standing it up even though it was twice his size. He soon realised that his buddy might be able to help in some way.
All of these children were clearly very happy and settled in their environment and as Ferre Laevers noted, this helps children learn much better and faster.
In Hino, far out west of Tokyo, there exists a magical woods where children can play all day long.Volunteers run the organisation encouraging parents to bring their children to play all day. The only main stipulation is to bring o-bento for those kids will want to stay all day!
The talk given was all about how children benefit from learning through play and, most importantly, learning outside.
Even for me, it was my first lecture outside and I felt refreshed in the environment watching muddy kids smiling, playing and having fun!
In an outdoors setting, children can learn from their own desires to do something as to how their experience will be.
By making their own decisions and through extensive play, they are guiding their own learning.
From tree climbing, tree hugging, to rope swings, there was plenty set up for children to play with.
They created their own activities too. One boy was collecting leaves on a stick and was actually using the stick to pierce the leaves directly.
Another young boy was throwing a stick with vigour up to the cotton banner the organisation had put up there. It was a strenuous activity and a good energy outlet, while not harming anyone in the process.
 |
| Decision Making |
 |
| Team Work |
 |
| Fine Motor Skills - balancing |
Listening to the interaction from these two was brilliants!!
A - What happens if we push it?
B - Maybe it will break.
A - Let's see....no, it's strong.
It was very cute to see this. They were thinking and deciding for themselves and putting their theories to the test! And doing it together too!
A - What happens if we push it?
B - Maybe it will break.
A - Let's see....no, it's strong.
It was very cute to see this. They were thinking and deciding for themselves and putting their theories to the test! And doing it together too!
This one day out made me discover a potential site for one of my sessions, which is very important, of course as their is next to nothing in Tokyo!
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