Affordable Preschool That Combines Nature and a World Class Curriculum

The choice of where your child goes to preschool is one of the biggest decisions you will make for their early years. Availability may be limited, so you will want to visit several day care centers and place your child’s name on wait lists well before the time they are age-eligible for school. You will also need to consider whether you can afford the cost of child care, how long you would like them to be there and what hours you work so you can pick up your children on time.

Affordable Preschool offer education programs that focus on developing a child’s social, emotional and cognitive skills in preparation for kindergarten. They are available in public schools, places of worship, non-profit organizations and childcare centers. They are typically open year-round with options for early drop-off and late pick-up. Preschools are typically staffed by trained teachers and assistants.

A growing number of preschools are embracing nature-based education, a learning approach that combines structured educational activities with unstructured outdoor play. It is believed that children who have regular exposure to nature have better cognitive development, a greater understanding of environmental systems and a strong connection to the natural world.

Research also shows that children who have frequent opportunities to interact with the outdoors benefit from increased physical development. They develop fine and gross motor skills while climbing, balancing and exploring the natural terrain. They also develop self-confidence and a sense of adventure that will carry through their lives.

More than 800 nature preschools exist in the United States, a 200% increase from last year according to the Natural Start Alliance. Some are incorporated into a traditional school setting and include toddler classes, while others, such as forest schools (which have roots in Scandinavian education tradition), take students on outdoor adventures for unstructured play, exploration and guided activities.

Regardless of where your family chooses to enroll your preschool-aged children, look for age-appropriate activities, outdoor space, trained teachers and a clean space. And try to limit or avoid anything that limits a child’s interaction with other people, including over-programming and the misuse of mobile devices. This is a special time in your children’s lives and the experiences they have now will impact them for the rest of their lives. The right learning experience will leave your children with a love of the outdoors and a desire to continue learning and playing with it throughout their lives.

Physically, nature-based education helps children build motor skills, balance and coordination as they navigate natural terrains and landscapes. It also gives them the confidence to explore new places and to overcome obstacles. Studies have shown that outdoor learning improves children’s attention span and their ability to concentrate and focus, as well as their problem-solving and cognitive skills.