How Nature Preschool works

I use the following format for the nature preschool I teach. There are many, many different ways that you can do your own class. This format has worked well for us but I'm sure there are many ways to make a nature group or class run smoothly.

Parent/Nanny involvement- I ask parents/nannies to stay and participate for the entire class. I think that parental involvement is very important. Toddlers are much more likely to pay attention and participate if they see their designated adult participating. As a safety precaution, I need the parents to stay through the entire class because we are wandering around in the woods or near ponds and I cannot adequately watch 20 toddlers!

Hike- I always include a hike with our class. We usually start off class with a 5-10 minute lesson. Somewhere in the middle of our hike we do a science experiment or project. Nearing the end, we sing our songs. If I have a running around game planned, I look for places along the hike that are open and flat where the game would work well. At the end of our hike, we do a craft or coloring activity.

Hikes are really, really important during the winter months. It keeps us moving and warm. During the summer, we don't always have a long hike. Sometimes we go to the beach and play, or to the wetland to catch bugs and our hikes are not as long.

Nature School totes- Each child has a tote with a few tools in it. Our totes include a magnifier, a bug box, and a pond net. Some of the kids have additional supplies. We have ordered the materials for our totes in bulk which helps save money on shipping.

Fees- I run my nature preschool free of charge. I do ask for parents to contribute to the cost of materials for crafts and some teaching tools. The reason I do not charge is because I want anyone and everyone to be able to participate regardless of their financial situation. I also want to keep my personal focus on my own two kiddos- if one of them is having a difficult day, I like to feel free to turn my attention to him and not worry about letting down the other parents. This format gives me more flexibility in the way I run the class.