Children have an innate desire to make sense of their world. They crave real-life experiences that allow them to understand the universe and their place within it. Providing children with these opportunities to learn about, and exist within, the natural world is paramount to their intellectual, physical, and social-emotional development. As Maria Montessori said, “There must be provision for the child to have contact with nature; to understand and appreciate the order, the harmony, and the beauty in nature.” Montessori believed so deeply in the power of a child’s connection to nature and its capability to promote learning that she advocated for unfettered access to the outdoors.
The opinions expressed in Montessori Life are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the position of AMS.