The CHILD AS A SCIENTIST is beautifully portrayed on a nature walk.
“Stand aside for a while and leave room for learning, observe carefully what children do, and
then, if you have understood well, perhaps teaching will be different from before.”
Loris Malluguzzi was correct. I watched with fascination as my great niece collected flowers and
leaves in her basket, she took her time and seemed to gather each flower and leaf with a certain
reverence and respect. Watching her filled my heart with great joy.
Think about something as ordinary and everyday as walking along the footpath to
take the letters from the letterbox. Now – take that same walk with a three year old
and the trip to the letterbox is like no other! The mundane footpath becomes a sort
of festival of wonder. The trip to the letterbox becomes a hundred times more
interesting. Watching children awakens our own capacities for wonder and
knowledge.
A tisket, a tasket & into my basket
Walk with your child, at your child’s pace. I live on a steep hill, so it was a slow
walk and a climb. My great niece held her mother’s hand so that she didn’t
tumble down the hill.
Encourage your child to pay attention to the environment with all their senses.
Take as long as your child wants. Let the walk be about connecting with the
environment and enjoying the time together, rather than being a Q&A or about
getting to the end.