The Harmonie school places great emphasis on learning in nature for the little ones. It is inspired by forest schools where learning takes place outdoors. Several times a week, the children will be taken outside to learn in nature.
A bit of history
As Denmark, Finland and Sweden revised their education systems in the 1950s, the notion of forest schools emerged naturally. In Denmark, the first forest school was established in the suburbs of Copenhagen in 1952. It was Ella Flatau, a Danish mother, who took the initiative with the creation of a “Walking Kindergarten”, a travelling school where walks in the forest were part of everyday life. Called skovbørnehaver, these forest kindergartens are initially reserved for children aged 2 to 6. The forest became a classroom and outdoor activities became part of the curriculum. Today, almost 20% of nursery schools are located in the middle of nature. At the same time, forest schools are developing in Sweden. Goesta Frohm founded the first Skogsmulle in 1957. These schools were also inspired by the work of the German pioneer Friedrich Froebel, who created the first kindergarten in 1840.
Forest School assumptions
The terms forest kindergarten, nature school, and forest school are themes used to describe programmes that offer young children opportunities to explore nature.
The benefits of nature-based education are many:
- Children are less stressed and more relaxed
- Children who are in contact with nature perform better on tests of concentration and self-discipline.
- Exposure to natural environments improves children’s cognitive development by improving cognitive abilities, reasoning and observation skills.
- Children are more agile and resilient
- Children socialise and cooperate
- Children become environmentally aware
- Children have more self-confidence
- Children are more independent
- Children develop imagination and creativity
- Children with symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder are better able to concentrate after contact with nature.
To better understand what Forest School is we invite you to watch this video
