Autumn as an educational festival to promote the senses
A newly emerging educational space – the autumn nature – is waiting to be explored. The best playground we could ask for for young children. Unique to experience during the early childhood years of little boys and girls. Free of charge.
Nature is available and serves as a vibrant teaching and learning space in early childhood education, a rich source of ideas for autumn-inspired play and learning activities.
Do you remember the childlike joy we all once felt when the first autumn leaves spun in the air?
How many wonderful treasures fly up in the air or fall from above and cover the ground with a magnificent carpet filled with play material…
Precious play and learning material, delivered for free by autumn. Diverse. Can be experienced in and through movement outdoor. Educating the senses. Holistic early childhood developmental support is provided by the natural educational space.
Found natural treasures – colorful leaves, chestnuts, nuts, stones, sticks, acorns, etc. – become valuable finds in the pockets of young children. Real lucky charms that are not only beautiful to look at, but can be touched, collected, thrown, carried, hidden and used for experimentation or artful play activities by little hands.
Whether it’s the scent of fresh chestnuts, fruits, autumn flowers or rain, the touch of a leaf or tree bark on the skin, autumnal melodies and the sounds under your feet – all of this promotes the little ones’ sensory perception and well-being.
Every step through rustling leaves or wet ground is a little educational adventure that delights and trains children’s still unclouded sensory perception and inspires their imagination.
Even if the autumn rain “kisses” the earth, there is no reason to be in a bad mood. Gray and uncomfortable days are full of joyful discoveries. As Pippi Longstocking would say:
„Just listen to how it claps when I walk“, laughed Pippi. The dress said „clap, clap“, and the shoes said „slosh, slosh“. „That’s really funny. I think you should try it too“, said Pippi to Annika… (Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren)
Autumn experiences not only stimulate the senses and imagination, but also promote creative thinking as well as motor and language skills in young children.
And yes, it gets wet, sometimes dry, sometimes muddy, sometimes warm, sometimes cold, sometimes foggy, sometimes sunny. But that’s exactly what makes the colorful autumn fun. A versatile educational adventure that promotes the physical and mental fitness of young children.
May we educators (and parents) not miss the unique beauty, but also the variety of autumn magic that is within our grasp. May we capture the joy and wonder of the fall season.
May we spread autumnal joy and enthusiasm to the children around us every day. May we encourage their joy of movement, let their imaginations take flight, and promote their creative potential. And then observe how they grow, develop, become independent, more competent.
And the autumn wind? It blows. And sings his “song” – sometimes heard loudly and sometimes quietly – while he sways the branches of the trees.
The leaves rustle, clap, fly, fall, gather in piles, whirl, dance, fly on. Whether they tell each other stories from last summer or a story from the coming winter?
