Ann Arbor offers several educational options, including the School Choice program available through the public school system, charter schools, public magnet schools, private schools, online learning and homeschooling. Among these options are the small, independently owned forest schools, which are gaining popularity with their experiential outdoor learning programs. Kids today get more screen time than sunshine, so families appreciate this outdoor educational approach, where students get fresh air and an organic learning experience.
From screen time to green time
Families in Ann Arbor seeking alternative educational options have one goal in common — to find the school best suited for their children. Some want broader educational opportunities and better locations. Many look for more flexibility in learning styles.Â
Among this last category are the families embracing outdoor classroom learning environments. Nature is at the heart of the curriculum, with place-based educational opportunities emerging from the child’s interactions and their developing relationship with the natural world.
Parents who fondly remember playing outside until the streetlights came on now have kids who spend most of their time inactive and indoors. It’s easy to be sedentary with televisions, tablets, smartphones and computers. The traditional classroom offers more of the same. Child psychiatric experts estimate U.S. children ages 8-12 average four to six hours a day watching or using screens. For teens, it’s up to nine hours.
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On the other end of the spectrum, a National Survey of Children’s Health points out that children 3-5 years old spend less than an hour outdoors daily, while the target should be three hours a day. Kids spending too much time inside can develop nature deficiency disorder (NDD). This terminology comes from Richard Louv, author of “Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature Deficit Disorder.”
NDD is a concept, not a recognized medical or mental condition. While symptoms can be real, it’s not something your doctor can medically diagnose. The thought behind NDD suggests humans — especially children — spend less time outdoors than past generations, and it’s contributing to mental and physical issues, such as attention deficit disorder and obesity. The forest school approach replaces screen time with green time.
Forest school’s holistic approach
The Ann Arbor Forest School is one of several options for outdoor learning in Ann Arbor. Founder and Director Tara Habeck is a well-trained educator with access to national experts in early childhood. Her extensive knowledge helped her create a community where many people can encourage children to reach their full potential.Â
Her vision is balanced. She cares about each child, seeking to nurture them in heart, mind and body. Her take on outdoor education is not to turn students into devoted hikers or natural scientists but to use nature to help them develop confidence, character and curiosity. The goal is to help kids become individuals able to relate to themselves, each other, and the world in a meaningful and compassionate way.
Benefits of outdoor learning
Children learning in an outdoor classroom reap physical and cognitive benefits from spending time in nature. The CDC Early Care and Education (ECE) Portal says these programs give kids more places to jump, run and learn about the world around them.Â
Time outdoors leads to increased physical activity, which means kids are less likely to become obese or develop health issues like Type 2 diabetes, as well as other chronic conditions. Playing outside also improves gross motor skills like running, jumping and climbing. Outdoor activities also sharpen fine motor skill sets.
Schooling in a natural setting encourages activity. Instead of sitting quietly at a desk, kids interact. They develop skills like communicating and cooperating. Such interactions also enhance their problem-solving abilities as they learn to figure things out for themselves.
A National Library of Medicine study supports the claim that kids who spend more time outside see improved social and cognitive development, vision and physical activity. Nature is also known to contribute to improved mental well-being because it reduces stress and anxiety and boosts happiness. Being outdoors also increases self-confidence and self-esteem. Children who feel good about themselves can better cope with challenging situations and reach their full potential.
An option worth exploring
The one-size-fits-all approach to education doesn’t work for everyone. Every child has learning preferences, and the forest school approach provides opportunities for experiential learning and play within the natural environment. Getting kids outdoors lets them explore, use their imaginations and be active outside the classroom. Ann Arbor’s forest schools create an alternative worth exploring for families who want to encourage their children to be active, curious explorers who think outside the box.