All around the city of Hong Kong, nature-based nursery schools have been sprouting.
By educating kids outdoors, the teachers behind these growingly popular types of nurseries believe that exploration is a crucial part of a child’s development.
One of these is Hong Kong Forest Kindergarten which brings children out of the classroom and back into nature.
Inspired by the Swiss documentary School’s Out: Lessons from a Forest Kindergarten, long-time volunteer for youth development projects Danie Strydom began conducting open-air classes in March of 2015.
It started off as an eight-week experiment but it soon turned into a year-long project. Eventually, the handful of toddlers grew to more than a hundred students.
The playschool keeps moving, though, exploring countryside destinations such as nearby Tai Tong Eco park in Yuen Long and Lions Nature Education Center in Sai Kung.
Discovering the magic of play
“The children take to it like fish to water when they enter the forest. I am astonished every day at how creative they are and how comfortable they are in nature. I call it the magic of play,” Strydom told the South China Morning post.
Growing up in South Africa, Strydom has many memories of camping overnight at his family farm, the fondest of which is how they would grill fish they caught themselves using self-made spears.
His fascination with the outdoors started early. As a child, he was inspired by the adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.
Being the outdoors fosters confidence and fortitude while also instilling a sense of adventure (photo: HK Forest Kindergarten facebook page)
Allowing children to improvise and interact
Unstructured play is one of the core concepts of the Forest kindergarten. This allows children the freedom to explore and learn while making new friends.
Although the children may be exhausted from running around and are exposed to dirt, these activities will make them more sure-footed and independent, according to Strydom.
“It’s great to see children beaming with self-confidence, having climbed rocks, swum in a river or held a worm for the first time. I see them self-evaluate if [the obstacle] is too high or too low? I see them go ‘yes’ when they take a big step and succeed without assistance,” he says.
Next page: How do kids learn when we step back?
Allowing children to grow by stepping back
Though the children are accompanied by parents during playschool, Strydom says it’s best that they don’t hover. They are encouraged to carry their backpacks or go on hikes (without strollers) and they should also be allowed to resolve any misunderstanding with other kids on their own.
This way, children are allowed to grow by stepping back.
“Often parents or teachers step in too quickly,” says Strydom to the South China Morning Post. “Instead of taking their hand, we would say ‘I think you can do it’ and let them discover for themselves whether they can achieve it. We are also realistic; children might get bruises. We encourage them to dust themselves off and teach others to help. So there’s an element of empathy that they learn.”
Strydom guides kids, but they’re free to explore and improvise (photo: HK Forest Kindergarten Facebook page)
One of the students’ moms, Catherine Sum, shared how her 5-year-old daughter Amery came out of her shell.
She enrolled her in the class hoping it would help her learn to appreciate nature while making new friends and becoming more adventurous.
“Many city children are repelled by insects and refuse to play in mud only because their parents label those things as icky and filthy,” Catherine told the South China Morning Post.
At first, Amery clung to her mother when other children invited her to play in a creek, but she eventually opened up and joined the fun.
It not only teaches an appreciation for nature but fosters friendliness in kids (photo: HK Forest Kindergarten Facebook page)
The father of a five-year-old student, Alex Lau, took his son to one of the Forest Kindergarten’s outings and found that it was a great opportunity to learn about the environment in an engaging way.
He also appreciates immersing in nature while having Strydom as a guide.
“It’s good to have someone who knows his way round this place,” Lau told South China Morning Post. “Strydom knows where to find things that would pique little ones’ interest and what places to avoid.”
Immersing in nature, there’s always something new to discover! (photo: HK Forest Kindergarten facebook page)
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