This past week involved many urban nature adventures including one facilitated tot time/hike at a park across town. Once again the child-directed exploration seemed more beneficial to my children's growing understanding and love of the outside world.
Group led activities for tots I think of this as ages 1 1/2-3 1/2 are an art. More and more I am thinking that they should always be hands on/ involve some choice and watching of the children's interests, and free form. Although socialization needs to come, the goal of nature experience should be on nature and not group skills. Also since many tot time activities include parents they should be memory making for both the child and the adult. Things that I think will work the best:
Books set out for lap reading
Activity stations for solo or with parent guidance for exploration
Songs
Listening to Sounds (but only for brief periods of time)
Mystery solving
Kinesthetic
free play/exploration- this may mean that sometimes the beautiful driftwood becomes a "train" according to the tots. However a remarkable amount of nature observation tactile, auditory, and visual occur.
For an example, while my boys played on driftwood yesterday here is a bit of the learning I observed:
Boys hit sticks of different sizes/ shapes on the log, heard different tones.
The boys explored balance as they scrambled along, over, and around the logs.
T was particulary interested in a seagull that flew overhead. He listened to its call. Watched it and then tried to mimic the sound. Then he said " That's a seagull."
They utilized their imaginations as they envisioned their train: needing gas, a new driver, and getting a trailer.
They also had some social emotional skill development when another family stopped by to talk. Their young girl shared her big leaf maple leaves with the boys.
The celebration and wonder of nature was shared with all.
