Nature and Young Children: Encouraging Creative Play and Learning in Natural Environments

By Ruth Wilson

Now in its fourth edition, Nature and Young Children promotes the holistic development of children by connecting them with nature. It offers practical advice on how to set up indoor and outdoor nature-rich environments and engage young children in a variety of nature-based learning activities.

With fully revised chapters in line with recent developments in policy and practice, and new material covering climate literacy, risky play, environmental worldviews, posthumanism, and children's agency, this book reveals just how important active engagement with the more-than-human world of nature can be in the development of young children and the fostering of pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors.

The user-friendly chapters offer guidance on:

■ alternative settings for nature-focused programs

■ culturally sensitive approaches to nature play in early childhood

■ the role of the adult in nature-based learning

■ using nature play for cross-curricular learning

■ environmentally appropriate practices

■ integrating nature education and peace education

■ health, safety, and risky play.

Highly accessible, detailed and now extensively updated, Nature and Young Children will provide all early years practitioners, teachers and students with a wealth of ideas on how to foster creative play and learning in nature-focused environments while also promoting positive connections with nature.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 104145192X
• ISBN13: 9781041451921
• Release Date: March 2027
• Publisher: Routledge
• Length: 152 Pages