As we looked for fallen treasures of Autumn leaves, twigs, branches, ferns, spent nut shells and stones, I was drawn into the innocent and magical world of a very bright, caring and inquisitive child. Every treasure we found was a delight and every step along the way was full of curious wonder, joy and laughter. We quickly created a natural and friendly reciprocity of give and take in an oasis of listening, learning, discovering and sharing things together.

It was a day to remember and our spiral picture made for a lovely keepsake. It brought to mind the fact that children need only the slightest encouragement and support to bring out their inner light and the untarnished universal knowledge they bring into this world.

As my young friend said so matter-of-a-factly: I’d learn it as a kid and then when I’m an adult I’d already know it. Isn’t that wonderful, it shows that we really do make a difference to young lives when we engage with them in their world. I’m not sure who benefits the most, ourselves or the children in our care - it’s a wonder for everyone concerned.

This is the reason I started Learning to Grow as a project centred around homeschooling and natural learning so that we can discover how best to support and enrich learning experiences for children, and strengthen our relationships with children of all ages, including our own inner child.

Childhood learning

The natural world is brimming with rich sensory inputs and all the tiny details that create a stimulating learning environment for even the youngest children.

From the first time a baby sits on a carpet of grass or lays in a pram surrounded by dappled light and shadows, to when a toddler is startled by the loud cawing of Crows, through to camping out as a teenager, Mother Nature provides an endless stream of special moments for a child to enjoy.

I wrote about the first experiences of a child as they relate to Nature and the First Foundations of Life in Planting Seeds for the Next Seven Generations - Learning from the Original Indigenous Teachings of the Thirteen Grandmothers.

The cumulative combinations of these wonder-filled firsts and exciting moments of discovery create magical experiences that we never forget. Our early memories of exploring, experiencing, connecting and learning from Nature stay with us which means we can tap into them anytime.

As a child, without any preconceived knowledge of the physical world, every new encounter brings a sense of awe as we are born with an innate desire to touch, taste, smell, hear and see things in their most intricate and microscopic detail. I love to see tiny fingers pointing, stroking, clasping, squeezing or gently holding things discovered in Nature. It’s as if every connection being made is of great importance requiring absolute focus in the present moment which we know is the best place to be.

We are born to be natural investigators with an innate curiosity where we use our senses to learn about the world. Our innocent souls are designed to notice and experience details through each of our senses and this is something we should continue to nurture throughout our lives.

Childhood psychology

In her book, The Philosophical Baby (which I have just ordered), American Professor of Psychology and Affiliate Professor of Philosophy at the University of California, Alison Gopnik, tells us that scientists and philosophers are discovering that babies learn more, create more, care more, and experience more than we could ever have imagined. And there is good reason to believe that babies are actually smarter, more thoughtful, and even more conscious than adults.

Alison describes infants and toddlers as having a lantern consciousness with which they explore their world. As they take in everything around them, they are like a lantern casting light in all directions with an ability to flit from one thing to another as they make sense of things such as Nature's treasures, social encounters and the dynamics of sitting, standing and walking as they continue to grow.

Alison notes that adults have a spotlight consciousness where we are really good at zeroing in on a task at hand but often at the expense of missing out on interesting things going on around us. This is why it is so beneficial to lose ourselves in the magical microcosm of the brand new world of a child and notice things as if for the first time, feeling moved and enthralled by all the intricate details presented to us.

Our connection to Nature from the earliest age is key in helping us to feel safe, free and stimulated throughout our lives. I am seeing a pattern where infants, children and young people develop an increasingly reciprocal relationship with Nature as they grow. This can be presented in a table which can guide us to teach, learn and grow in Mother Nature's embrace. I will talk about this in my next post - Learning to Grow in Nature's Loving Embrace.

It is well proven that children develop a full range of skills outdoors when they are fully supported and facilitated to explore and learn about things that interest them. Some are unique to being outdoors and all children benefit greatly from spending time playing and learning in safe, Nature-rich environments.

Childhood memories

While we may not remember our experiences in Nature as an infant, the stories we hear from family and friends can often fill in the gaps and transport us back to a time when we were making our first connections with the world around us.

My Mum used to tell the story of how she would take me to the local park in my pram whenever she couldn’t get me to go to sleep. I had an old fashioned pram which meant I was laid on my back with a clear view of everything visible above me such as trees, hedges, birds and white clouds floating in the sky.

Even if I can’t remember those early trips to the park, I can imagine that the combination of movement, fresh air and sunlight sparkling through dappled leaves were the perfect combination to lull me off to sleep. My Mum was clever in knowing what was best for me and now that I am older, I am forever grateful for this early introduction to Nature's beauty and comforting charm.

I was also blessed with a Dad who loved gardening, reading books to me (a favourite being Wind in the Willows) and taking me for walks in Nature. My Dad instilled a heartfelt appreciation and love for the natural world that has never left me. My adoration, in particular for trees, leaves, hedgerows, sunshine, gardens and Rose Petals, is due to connections made before I knew how to walk or talk, and the way those things make me feel now, bring comfort to my entire being.

Childhood experience

Being out and about in Nature is the best time to hone in on our childhood experiences and fond memories of splashing in puddles, kicking showers of dead leaves, inspecting snails’ shells or paddling in the river. This is when we can submerge ourselves into a sparkling world with fresh eyes where everything is new, interesting and awe inspiring.

There is so much pleasure to be gained from being curious about details such as the tributary veins on a leaf, petal formations on a flower, seed patterns in a pod, intricate Spiders’ webs glistening with dew, tiny moss formations or spiralling fronds and ferns. This is when I find myself imagining tiny fingers investigating, little mouths 'ooohing' and small feet jumping up and down in delight.

Before I go, I would like to share a list of ways we can experience Nature through a child's eyes. I am sure you can think of many more and hope you will give it a try - whether you are on your own or in the company of children.

• Practice curiosity and observation as if everything you see is for the first time and everything is deserving of closer examination.

• Engage all your senses as you explore the natural world around you by touching, tasting, smelling, listening and feeling Nature's abundant presence.

• Embrace play and imagination by making up games, looking for things and creating art (like the spiral above made from things lying on the woodland floor)

• Let go of preconceptions by looking at things with fresh eyes without any assumptions about how things should be or how you might want them to be. Appreciate things for the way they are and for how they make you feel.

• Find wonder and awe in the tiniest and most simple things that are easy to take for granted when we cease to notice them. Mother Nature never disappoints in this regard and will reward you with new treasures through the seasons.

• Remain in the present moment so that you can relax into the feeling of being invigorated, inspired, free and at one with the world around you.

Thank you for reading, I hope it has been helpful and I look forward to seeing you again soon.

Sue Cartwright

Spiral Leaf

Futher Reading

The Philosophical Baby: What Children's Minds Tell Us about Truth, Love & the Meaning of Life by Alison Gopnik

The Gardener and the Carpenter: What the New Science of Child Development Tells Us About the Relationship Between Parents and Children by Alison Gopnik

Wind in the Willows by Grahame Kenneth

If you click on any of the links above, you can purchase books from my affiliate bookshop in support of independent sellers and bookshops. Spiral Leaf may earn a small commission on purchases at no extra cost to you!