Learning Close to Nature: Montessori and Outdoor Discovery

When we think of education, we usually picture four walls, desks and chairs. Maria Montessori, however, believed that nature is a unique teacher for children's physical and emotional development. At Beykoz Çengelci Preschool, we keep this potential of nature at the very heart of our philosophy.

The Restorative and Developmental Power of Nature

Today many children grow up among concrete buildings, moving from one screen to the next, and the term "nature-deficit disorder" has been coined to describe what they miss. Montessori pedagogy calls children back to where they belong: nature.

Key Aspects of Montessori Outdoors

1. A feast for the senses: Nature offers smooth leaves, rough tree bark, the smell of damp earth and the sound of the wind. This is a richer, more real sensory experience than any plastic or artificial material in a classroom can offer.
2. Cosmic education (a universal connection): Montessori's idea of cosmic education aims to help children understand their place in the universe and how everything is connected. A child who plants a seed, waters it every day and waits for it to sprout learns about effort, patience, the life cycle and how food reaches our table by experiencing it first hand.
3. Nature as control of error: Nature has its own rules. If you forget to water a seedling, it dries up. There is no need to scold the child or give them a grade; nature teaches the consequences of their actions (or inaction) in the most honest and objective way.

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"Going outside is not just a break for running and playing; it is a time of deep renewal in which the child connects with the sun, water and soil."

With the muddy patches in our garden, leaves waiting to be discovered and our planting areas, we strengthen our children's bond with the earth.

Explore Further

To see how children who connect with nature handle their relationships with one another, read our article "The Peace Table: Managing Emotions and Resolving Conflict in Children".

Read it here