Good Natured

playbook.

“There are no math worksheets; instead, worms are counted and piles of rocks are split into equal parts.”

GOOD NATURED

the benefits of outdoor learning

WORDS ALEXIS PATTERSON

WHEN DALLAS MOM ELIZABETH HOFFMAN BEGAN

LOOKING AT PRESCHOOLS for her daughter Adelaide a couple of years ago, her excitement about the milestone quickly dimmed.

“I was so sad to learn how much time was spent inside, with only a few opportunities to be outside,” recalls Hoffman, “and the outside time was in very controlled environments—playgrounds, but little nature. I knew that so much of Adelaide’s future would likely be inside and at a desk—I wanted to preserve as much natural time for her as I could.”

Hoffman, who decided to enroll her daughter at Dallas Zoo’s Wild Earth Preschool, is on board a movement to increase time young children spend outside and in nature. And there are multiple opportunities to engage them in nature play across Dallas-Fort Worth as they learn typical early childhood skills.

HAPPIER, HEALTHIER

“Children and families who spend time in nature are healthier and happier, and the kids perform better in school,” shares Sarah Coles, Texas Children in Nature Network executive director. She points to research showing that natural environments are tied to higher activity levels, stronger self-esteem and increased creativity, and that children who spend time in nature boost their ability to follow directions, work cooperatively and problem-solve.

YOUR MUSEUM HAS REOPENED!

TOP 10 SCIENCE MUSEUM

The results are in for USA Today’s Readers’ Choice awards, and we are proud to announce we’ve been voted the 9th Best Science Museum in America!

USA Today assembled a panel of industry experts to identify the top 20 science museums in the U.S. The publication then opened the list to voting, asking the public to choose their top 10, and YOU helped us receive the #9 spot! Thank you for helping the Museum win this national recognition!

Fort Worth Museum of Science & History 1600 Gendy Street, Fort Worth, TX 76107

JOIN OUR ST. RITA SPARTAN FAMILY! Admission information and application available at WWW.STRITA.NET Questions? Call 972-239-3203

ST. RITA CATHOLIC SCHOOL Serving students in grades PreK4-8 12525 Inwood Rd., Dallas, TX 75244

Many early childhood programs offer activities such as garden planting or petting zoo visits. But the benefits multiply when children have extended time outdoors and learn through the lens of nature.

That’s the M.O. at Cross Timbers Forest Preschool, located at the City of Southlake’s Bob Jones Nature Center. Curriculum is customized to the local ecosystem, and each class (which kids attend once or twice a week) includes running and playing in the center’s field; outdoor circle time; and hikes full of splashing in puddles, searching for bugs and flowers, and enjoying the shore along Grapevine Lake.

“Every week we continue building on environmental stewardship, sense of place and encouraging curiosity, and I think being on a weekly schedule helps our kids explore very confidently,” explains Hannah Nyquist, Southlake’s outdoor experience programs coordinator.

Children at Wild Earth Preschool attend five days a week at the zoo. The curriculum begins with an investigation of social and emotional topics inspired by backyard animals. Preschool takes place in outdoor environments, such as the nature-rich playground, forest and meadow areas, and habitat restoration pollinator garden. “In these areas, we invite children to participate in literacy, construction, dramatic play, loose-parts play [with various objects] and art centers to expand the investigation and build pre-academic skills,” says Katie Grimes, Dallas Zoo’s early childhood manager. “We extend our investigation to a global perspective when we visit habitat areas of the zoo.”

The program was everything Hoffman wanted for Adelaide, who is now 5. “I may have even cried tears of relief,” Hoffman says. “So many academic skills are taught organically. There are no math worksheets; instead, worms are counted and piles of rocks are split into equal parts. Additionally, many motor skills are naturally fostered in an outdoor setting. There is no need for Go Wild adult-planned sensory play when kids are allowed to dig in the dirt, Here are eight nature-focused preschools you can explore in the DallasFort Worth area: pick up sticks, sit in the grass and get muddy. And the connection Bob Jones Nature Center’s Cross Timbers Forest Preschool, Southlake Ages: 3–5 years to nature and animals gives a platform for the teachers to speak about social and emotional skills.” 817/748-8658; experiencesouthlaketexas.com METAMORPHOSIS Dallas Zoo’s Wild Earth Preschool, Outdoor learning and nature play Dallas are more appealing than ever, as Ages: 3–5 years adults seek ways to unplug kids 469/554-7500; dallaszoo.com from mindless screen time and Fort Worth Museum of Science and as COVID-19 drags on. Since History’s Museum School, classes resumed after a pandemicFort Worth Ages: 3–6 years 817/255-9333; fwmuseum.org induced break, Cross Timbers Forest Preschool has been near capacity. Grimes says some Fort Worth Zoo Preschool and Nature’s Navigators, Fort Worth Ages: 3–5 years (preschool), 4–5 (Nature’s Navigators) parents told her that if it wasn’t for Wild Earth Preschool’s outdoor environment, they would not have 817/759-7200; fortworthzoo.org felt comfortable with group care. Heard Natural Science Museum For many kids, the experi& Wildlife Sanctuary’s Preschool ence has proven transformative. Nature Explorers, McKinney “When children start with us,” Ages: 3–4 years Grimes shares, “we see them 972/562-5566; heardmuseum.org tentatively climb up to balance River Legacy Nature School, on a short rock or log; when they Arlington leave they are often walking on Ages: 3–6 years (if not enrolled in kindergarten) 817/860-6752; riverlegacy.org that log backwards or with their eyes closed, they are walking long distances without undue fatigue, Seedschool, Dallas Ages: 4–8 years 214/546-6214; seedpreschool.org and they are seeking new challenges. The physical activity and Tinkergarten, Multiple locations Ages: 18 months–8 years tinkergarten.com sensory integration that they get through nature play prepare them for a lifetime of healthy habits.”