Out-of-Doors Studies for Children Under Six

As I was preparing to write about nature studies, I was reading some of CM’s writings.  Please let me say again, "I am no expert!"  Read for yourselves Charlotte’s writings.  There’s a wealth of information inside her books.

So, disclaimers aside, let me share with you some of what I have learned. 

When under the age of six, CM felt children should most of their waking moments outdoors.  Not only should the children go outdoors, moms, if at all possible were encouraged to take them.  She realized this was not completely practical, but felt that once mothers realized how important it was they would do whatever was necessary to achieve this.

I doubt if any mother has that amount of time available to her today but have you considered how little time you do spend outside?

What to do once you do go outside with your young ones?  Let them play vigorously (CM’s suggestion 1-2 hours)  Do not attempt to entertain them or read stories.  As she says,

"Who thinks to amuse children with tale or talk at a circus or a pantomime?  And here, is there not infinitely more displayed for their delectation?"

After they have run off their energy, now is the time to give them a lesson.  Have them go and study some landscape or area and come back and describe it to you until you have a full depiction of that spot.

What is the value of this?  While it seems like fun to the child, yet, he is learning.

"She is training their powers of observation and expression, increasing their vocabulary and their range of ideas by giving them the name and the uses of an object at the right moment,  –‘What is it?’ and ‘What is it for?"

If a child could not describe the tree, flower, plant, or any other object clearly enough for the mother to know exactly what he was talking about, the mother was not to make an effort to go see the item or give him the name for it until he could give a more complete description.

In practicing this, the child will slowly get a complete picture of the area he sees frequently but doesn’t really ‘see’.  The picture will be clear and not vague, a picture he can store in his mind to recall as grows older.

That’s all the time I have for today.  If you have any thoughts about this, please be sure to share them in the Comments.

Who was Charlotte Mason?