Nature Provides Exceptional Multi-Disciplinary Learning Opportunities

For so long you are a mom in the trenches, trying to make it from dawn to dinner and then recoup a little bit before nighttime parenting. But then, almost like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon, you emerge on the other side, with a child who has keen and unique interests. An early childhood filled with nature immersion gives way to fascinations that are  interdisciplinary and that leave the door wide open for the kind of learning we are desire, deep learning about the things that thrill us about life. In our family we have an avid fisher girl, a rock hound, an animal conservationist, and a budding botanist. Even our youngest, who just turned three, seems to have a particular bent toward farm animals. Mind you, these interests are completely self-directed, they are strong, and they emerged long before the teenage years.

Each nature subject is ripe with extensive, cross-disciplinary learning opportunities and observations. Following the child's lead as it comes to learning looks considerably different from the linear, checklist type approach. As interests unfold organically we can begin to source our children with beautiful books, engaging experiences, and teachers who have emerged because of their passions. You might look for a lapidary society, a fishing group, or a 4H club. You might rub shoulders with a few local farmers at the nearest farmers market. In every area of interest, you will find ardent people from all walks and stages of life, teachers who are qualified because of desire instead of degrees.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when we committed to a research-backed childhood where nature immersion is a mainstay part of our schedule. Just like in nature, the sun and the dirt have provided slow and steady growth for our children, with deep roots formed and breathtaking blossoms of individuality springing up. If I could do early childhood all over again, I would do it all over again in the exact same way. We are in the midst of a truly grand childhood, as nature has given to each of our young ones what he or she has needed to grow, develop, learn and love life.