This October, as part of my USA and Canada speaking tour, I had the pleasure of visiting Toronto and Hamilton in Ontario. These visits were filled with opportunities to connect with passionate educators. We shared insights, exploring inspiring approaches to risk and play in outdoor education. It was an honour to collaborate with organisations and individuals who align closely…
A highlight of my USA/Canada tour was visiting the Monadnock region of New Hampshire, where I had the opportunity to meet one of my greatest professional inspirations, David Sobel, alongside his equally insightful wife, Jennifer Kramer. David’s work has been foundational to the development of Educated by Nature. His writings on nature, childhood, and education,…
Join Daniel Burton, CEO of Educated by Nature, as he shares his inspiring visit to Harrisville Children’s Center in New Hampshire—a center rooted in nature-based play and early childhood education. Founded by renowned educator David Sobel, Harrisville embraces a play-focused, outdoor learning environment where children thrive through hands-on exploration and community involvement. From harvesting carrots for the weekly soup to engaging in Singing Circle traditions, discover how Harrisville Children’s Center combines real-life experiences with the joys of child-led, sensory-rich learning. Read Daniel’s full reflection to learn more about the power of play, nature connection, and respectful child development.
By taking inspiration from Slow Pedagogy, the Reggio Emilia approach, biophilia, and Deep Nature Connection, we can create learning environments that foster meaningful connections between children and the natural world. These connections not only support academic growth but also nurture the heart, preparing children to engage with the world as compassionate, mindful stewards.
This past month, I had the privilege of attending the Early Childhood Australia National Conference in Brisbane under the theme ‘Realising the Vision – An Integrated Future for the Early Years’. The conference brought together an incredible array of thought leaders, educators, and advocates, offering deep insights into the future of early childhood education (ECEC) in Australia. Below are some of the highlights and reflections that left a lasting impact on me.
Discover the impact of the 2024 Play Matters Collective Summit in Perth, Western Australia, as we reflect on the significance of play for children and young people. Learn how advocates, educators, and researchers gathered to elevate the importance of children’s right to play, highlighting voices of young people and discussing the role of play in development, well-being, and community. This blog explores key discussions on child-directed play, accessibility, and advocacy, as well as insights from young panelists on what play truly means to them. Join us in standing up for every child’s right to play.
Our society and culture are changing all the time. We are continually learning from each other, learning to listen, learning more about different perspectives and hopefully working on our collective empathy. A different language comes with this collective cultural growth. We apply these perspectives and language to the original context which was, but then also…
In January 2024, Trudi was invited to Jakarta, Indonesia, to train a new group of educators for a brand-new early learning school, Alam Atelier, part of the iSmile network. Being involved at such an early part of the school, before the building was finished, before children were enrolled or the school year started, meant that…
We are living in the age of Nature Deficit Disorder. This term, coined by Richard Louv in Last Child in the Woods (2007), brings focus to the increased disconnection between children and nature. It warns us of the impacts this can have our children and society. Over the last few years, at our family and…
In an era dominated by technology and industrial progress, the world expects efficiency and precision from every corner of life. The metaphor of a “well-oiled machine” has become synonymous with success. However, this mechanical perspective has fallbacks. It often leads to burnout, disconnection from our intrinsic values, and an unyielding pressure to consistently produce, regardless…
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