Forest & Nature Play

Fostering a connection and interest in the natural world is an important part of Sarah's Family Daycare.

"A growing body of research suggests that connecting to the natural world contributes to children's mental, physical, emotional and spiritual health and well-being. Providing daily opportunities to explore, care for, and interact with the natural world helps to strenghten these connections" (ELECT 2007).

As long as it is safe to do so, we are outside to play and explore in rain, shine or snow! With the Bruce Pit Conservation Area around the corner, walking trails in the neighbourhood and two municipal playgrounds, we have many areas to explore: wetlands, pine forests, deciduous forests, fields, playgrounds and more!

The world outside is slowly, yet constantly changing throughout the seasons of the year providing new and novel opportunities for play and a deep connection to the natural rhythm of the seasons. We enjoy playing in the wetland in the spring (when air temperatures are warm), we explore throughout the summer, we find new spaces to play after the vegetation has died down in the fall and with winter comes every child's delight: snow!

"Nature is the arena of shared enjoyment, an equalizer in the adventure of discovery. Carson urges us to explore nature with feelings and emotions, to use all our senses, and to abandon the impluse to teach or explain. Arouse the emotions, Carson admonsihes, for the foundation of learning is in what we love."

(Rachel Carson, The Sense of Wonder. Carson also wrote Silent Spring and is known as

"the patron saint of the environmental movement.")