There you lie, in the middle of the grass. Eyes closed and ears wide open. Can you hear that? The soft hum of bees, the rustling through the bushes, the tapping of the rain on the leaves. Your hands feel the grass and you smells the earth. Can you already see it?? For children there are dthese sensory stimuli indispensable: they forms the building blocks with which they learning to understand the world and developing oneself.
Tickle of grass
Children learn about the world by hear 👂, see 👀, smell 👃, taste 👅 and feel 🖐️A rich sensory environment not only provides them with fun, but also directly contributes to the cognitive, emotional and motor development of children.
At Wiedewei we know that there is no better way to stimulate the senses than in nature. It is not without reason that we prefer to be outside all day! The warm wind on our face, the smell of wet earth on our hands, the tickle of a blade of grass against our skin or the cold water sliding between our fingers: these are more than just beautiful moments. They are discoveries that help us learn and grow.
Lightning fast jumps
Babies in particular make rapid leaps in their development in their first year of life. Their brains make billions of connections and sensory stimuli play a key role in this. By feeling, smelling and hearing, young children learn about themselves and their environment. Every new sound, smell or touch helps them to further shape their world.
Tips for parents
From the smell of blooming flowers in spring to the feel of mud between your toes in autumn, nature offers an endless source of learning opportunities. At Wiedewei, we encourage children to fully engage their senses. But you can also stimulate your child’s senses at home. Here are a few of our tips:
- Hearing in nature 🐦: Use a walk in nature as a sound search. With babies, you can name what you hear. Think of the bird whistling, the croaking of frogs or the sound of a passing truck. With a toddler or preschooler you can also ask questions: "Do you hear that bird singing?" or "What do I hear in the distance?"
- Feeling in nature 🌿: Let your baby crawl over the grass in a romper. This way, your little one can feel the grass tickling his or her skin on his or her hands and knees. When your child is older, gather together natural materials such as stones, leaves and branches. Have your child describe how they feel: smooth, hard, cold or soft.
- Smelling in nature 🪴: Let your baby smell mild herbs from your own garden or kitchen, such as mint, thyme or basil. Older children can ask you to name the smells or compare them.
- Tasting in nature 🍓: Give your baby a piece of soft fruit, such as a ripe banana or a small piece of pear, and let your baby taste it. A toddler or preschooler can be involved in picking fruit or vegetables from the garden. Taste something fresh together, such as a tasty strawberry, and discuss the taste: “Is this sweet or sour?”
- Looking into nature ☁️: Let your baby watch the leaves move, a butterfly flutter or clouds drift by. With a toddler, grab a magnifying glass and explore. Look at flowers, insects and leaves together. “How many leaves does a daisy have?”
What discovery is planned for your child today? Go on an adventure together in nature, discover the world with all your senses and enjoy everything that the outdoors has to offer. Because it is precisely in these small moments that the greatest learning opportunities are hidden. Have fun!