05 Apr Charlotte Mason And The Importance Of Outdoor Nature Study

Oh the things you discover…!  As I’ve been researching homeschooling, I keep coming back to the English educator, Charlotte Mason from the late 1800s and her methods.  Her approach to education rings so true and I strongly believe that it would be extremely effective for my children.  One thing Charlotte Mason stresses is the importance of outdoor nature study with children.  In fact, she suggests 4-6 hours of this every day!  Although this may be too lofty of a goal, several hours once a week for nature study may be more attainable.

Find a Local Nature Preserve

Since today is Friday and I work all weekend, I wanted to get the kids out for a few hours to see how they react to being immersed in nature.  I was delighted to find an actual nature preserve just a few minutes drive from us.  I don’t know how I have lived so close to one and not even known of its’ existence.  This particular nature preserve has many paved bike trails.  We chose a winding path through the woods.

Watch to See What Nature Does to Your Children

Clark and Luci were delighted, finding all sorts of little bugs, ants, butterflies and sticks.  They marveled at the different trees and their spring growth.  They poked up old leaves and climbed fallen logs.  Several times, I noticed Luci so engrossed in observing a tree that she completely forgot to keep up with her Dad and brother.  She just stood there with her little head turned upwards, staring.  This exposure to real nature absolutely invigorated the children so that by the end of the path, they were jumping and running circles around us, where they would normally be asking us to carry them.

Charlotte Mason believed it to be an “evil” that “that children get their knowledge of natural history, like all their knowledge, at second hand.”  Its exciting to think that I can give my children this knowledge first hand, as a benefit of homeschooling.

“This is all play to the children, but the mother is doing invaluable work; she is training their powers of observation and expression, increasing their vocabulary and their range of ideas…”

Charlotte Mason, Home Education, Vol 1, II, Out-Of-Door Life For The Children, p.46-7

“Children should be encouraged to watch, patiently and quietly, until they learn something of the habits and history of bee, ant, wasp, spider, hairy caterpillar, dragon-fly, and whatever of larger growth comes in their way.”

Charlotte Mason, Home Education, Vol 1, II, Out-Of-Door Life For The Children, p.57

We finished our time at the nature preserve by playing in the play area.  The kids love swinging (despite Luci looking terrified, she was actually squealing with delight).  Clark chose the large swing because it was like a space ship (they are currently learning about space at his preschool).

This kind of day makes me so excited to start homeschooling.  It was full of discoveries and fun.  We eventually had to leave because I had to get ready for work.  With one final slide down the “big slide” we pried them away.  We will definitively be back soon!