Outdoor and Nature Play in Early Childhood Education

Nature Play Workshop for Families is a fun, practical, and visually rich guide designed to help children and families unplug from screens and reconnect with nature—an essential element of healthy growth and development. Winner of the 2020 National Outdoor Book Award (Children’s Category), this beautifully photographed resource inspires parents and educators to embrace outdoor learning through accessible, season-by-season activities. Drawing inspiration from nature preschools, forest kindergartens, and forest school models worldwide, the book offers simple, meaningful ways to foster a lifelong connection with the natural world.

Key Features:

• Provides tangible, easy-to-implement approaches to nature-based learning and outdoor play.
• Highlights the developmental benefits of unplugged, nature-centered experiences for children.
• Includes a wide range of activities such as wildlife observation, nature-inspired art, gardening, cooking with wild edibles, journaling, and sensory exploration.
• Balances open-ended nature play with hands-on projects using natural materials.
• Features “Voices from the Field,” offering expert insights and practical advice from leading nature-based educators across diverse settings.
• Serves as an ideal starting point for families and educators seeking immersive, inclusive, and engaging nature play experiences—anywhere, in any season.