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StillnessCulture fact

Forest kindergartens are early-years programmes, usually for children aged three to six, that use woodland or other natural settings as the main classroom. The children often spend most of the day outside, in almost any weather.

Denmark, early 1950s

MindHealthNatureCulture

The story behind the card

The idea is usually traced to Ella Flatau in Denmark, who in the early 1950s began spending her days with children in the woods near her home; neighbours' interest turned it into a regular kindergarten. Germany had informal nature kindergartens from 1968, but it officially recognised forest kindergartens as a form of daycare only in 1993, which opened the way to state funding. Their number grew from about 450 in 2005 to more than 1,500 by 2017. The model has since spread to Sweden, the UK, the US and beyond, sometimes under the name 'forest school'. Most keep a hut or shelter for the worst weather, but the day is built around outdoor play, with adults supporting it rather than directing it.

Türkçe oku
Orman anaokulları, genellikle üç ile altı yaş arasındaki çocuklar için ormanı ya da başka doğal alanları asıl sınıf olarak kullanan okul öncesi programlardır. Çocuklar çoğu zaman günün büyük bölümünü, yağmurda ve soğukta da dışarıda geçirir.
Danimarka, 1950'lerin başı

Fikrin kaynağı genellikle Danimarkalı Ella Flatau olarak gösterilir. Flatau 1950'lerin başında evinin yakınındaki ormanda çocuklarla vakit geçirmeye başladı; komşuların ilgisi bu buluşmaları düzenli bir anaokuluna dönüştürdü. Almanya'da 1968'den beri resmî olmayan doğa anaokulları vardı, ama orman anaokulları ancak 1993'te resmî bir çocuk bakım biçimi olarak tanındı ve böylece devlet desteği alabilir hâle geldi. Sayıları 2005'te 450 civarındayken 2017'de 1.500'ü aştı. Model zamanla İsveç'e, İngiltere'ye, ABD'ye ve başka ülkelere de yayıldı; bazı yerlerde “orman okulu” adıyla anılıyor. Çoğunun en kötü hava için bir kulübesi ya da barınağı vardır, ama gün dışarıda oyunun etrafında şekillenir; yetişkinler oyunu yönetmez, destekler.

Sources and further reading

Background reading: Forest kindergarten
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