5. Exercise, body awareness and experience of nature

In nature, the children are able to have sensory experiences and familiarise themselves with this area. This link with everyday life makes learning child-oriented and easy. The children experience nature and get to know various species of tree, watch animals or lay out a garden. In doing so, they learn how to treat themselves and other life forms with care and consideration. This forms a sound basis for developing social skills.

Through structured and free activities, the children discover natural habitats. In regular visits to the outdoors, they familiarise themselves with the different seasons.

Wind and weather help them to understand the continuity and cycles of life.

Visits to the forest also encourage the children to walk on uneven ground, thus enhancing their gross motor skills and sense of balance. Balancing skills help children in terms of their own body awareness and their subsequent behaviour in traffic, e.g. when cycling or learning to ski and in other sporting activities. All of the children’s senses are heightened, which stimulates their thought processes.