Forest Adventures Give Children A Different Way To Learn And Explore | KiddyNews

For some children, weekends are becoming an opportunity to step away from screens and experience learning outdoors, with nature walks, mud play and forest exploration offering hands-on ways to discover the world around them.

In Bukit Wawasan, Puchong, kindergarten teacher Farah Zahira Zahari organises forest exploration activities where children can examine mushrooms and insects, play with mud, climb trees and observe their surroundings.

The 39-year-old, who holds a certificate in Early Childhood Education, started the programme during last year’s school holidays after noticing parents were looking for experiences beyond the classroom.

Learning Through the Senses

Farah said activities such as nature walks, clay play and environmental observation can support children’s physical, emotional and social development.

She believes outdoor experiences are particularly valuable as children spend increasing amounts of time with digital devices.

“When they are in the forest, all their senses are engaged; they observe, listen, touch and move,” she told Bernama.

According to Farah, these experiences can also support hand-eye coordination and encourage children to engage with their surroundings naturally through play.

Building Confidence Through Exploration

The forest environment can also provide opportunities for children to gradually become more comfortable with unfamiliar textures and experiences.

Farah said some children initially hesitate to touch soil, dislike getting dirty or feel uncomfortable around insects. With encouragement and opportunities to explore freely, she has observed children becoming more confident in trying new things.

The programme is divided into two age groups: children aged two to five participate with their parents, while children aged six to 12 take part in group activities.

Safety Comes First

Outdoor exploration also requires careful preparation. Farah receives support from her husband and friend Nur Azura Suib, a Selangor Forestry mountain guide.

Organisers assess each site before activities, checking conditions, emergency access points and telecommunications coverage before children enter the trails.

For parents, these measures provide reassurance while allowing children to experience an environment that may be very different from their usual urban surroundings.

One parent, Siti Rohaya Aini Abdullah Najib, said her children had limited opportunities to interact with nature because the family lives in the city and in a high-rise home.

The forest walks gave them a chance to explore new surroundings while spending time together as a family.

Making Room For Real-World Experiences

For children such as seven-year-old Erhan Malique Mohammad Khairul Nizzam, the experience offered opportunities to play with clay, climb trees and observe mushrooms and insects.

As families look for ways to balance children’s screen use with real-world experiences, nature-based activities can provide another setting for children to move, explore and learn through direct interaction with their surroundings.

For young children especially, the forest offers something a screen cannot: space to get their hands dirty, follow their curiosity and discover the world through their senses.

Source:

Free Malaysia Today – “Why these children are spending weekends in the forest”

Thoughtfully adapted by KiddyNews. Keeping parents and educators informed with the latest ECCE developments from Malaysia and beyond.