25 Easy Ideas for Nature Play for Early Childhood Centers
When you learn and teach with Mother Nature at your side, you open the door to endless possibilities for children and for yourself.
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Nature-based Learning
Nature-based learning uses the world around us to increase children's development across various learning domains. It involves outdoor experiences for children that promote health, exploration, and connection with living and non-living elements of nature. Resources in this collection provide strategies for incorporating nature-based play into learning environments and curricula.
Learn more about the benefits of outdoor play.
Loose Parts on the Playground
Loose Parts on the Playground
Our Natural World
Learn to respond to children’s interests and curiosity as they explore the natural world around them: soil, rocks, water, trees, leaves, worms, and the sounds and colors of nature.
Nature Club Toolkit for Families
The purpose of this toolkit is to provide inspiration, information, tips and resources for those who are—or who might be—interested in creating a Nature Club for Families.
Bringing the Outdoors into Infant and Toddler Environments
Use this News You Can Use to spark creative ideas for natural items that can be used inside with young children.
Animals: Fur, Fins, Feathers, and More
Learn how to expand children's learning around mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish, using their interests and curiosity.
Investigating Water
Engage children in learning about the nature of water using this comprehensive resource, which includes teacher background information, specific vocabulary, and a list books for the classroom.
Plant Life
Teachers may use this guide to respond to children’s interests as they find out more about different plants and where they grow.
Supporting Outdoor Play and Exploration for Infants and Toddlers
Learn about benefits of outdoor time for infants and toddlers. Find suggestions for creating outdoor play spaces, safety considerations, and strategies and policies to support quality infant-toddler programming.
Going Outside Builds Children's Connection to Nature
Positive experiences with nature help infants and toddlers develop an appreciation for the natural world.
