My lovely daughter is off to her first day at school and so begins a new and wonderful journey for her. After watching her walk up into a seemingly huge school bus like a champ, my husband and I began discussing all of the "learning" she has done this summer. She caught her first frog, watched Monarch butterflies go through their metemorpheus and fly away, made acorn stew at a park and spotted wildlife like a hawk. She has seemed to grow up so fast and we are not sure if we are ready for her to be a "Big Kid"!
During my time here at Kinark I have had the fortunate task of spreading the message about how important nature is to children. We know that nature enhances learning, stabilizes mood and behaviour, increases creativity and improves their sense of well-being. So I wonder, does my child's school know this? Are they incorporating nature in their classroom?
If you are a parent, like me, who wants to ensure that nature does not take a backseat to "learning" then speak up and pass along some resources to your child's educators. Let's not forget that we are our children's first and most important educators!
