Is the Forest School right for my child?

Is your child between the ages of 6 weeks to 12 years? Does your child love the outdoors? Do you feel nature offers learning opportunities and enhances our view of the world? If so, you should consider enrolling your child into a Discovery Child Care program like our Forest School.

In our Forest School, we bring the classroom to the forest and the forest into the classroom, offering an environmentally aware foundation of early learning for children. We like to teach the idea that we are one with nature. We’re leaving the earth to the next generation, so learning about taking care of our environment is important.

We believe that being outdoors in beautiful, natural environments, is an essential experience for all children, and it can be fun and instructive at the same time!

Our Forest School program teaches children to feel comfortable and aware outside. From gardening skills, to learning about different types of animals that live in around the area, to finding bugs and identifying birds, we include lots of activities and encourage creativity.

Research shows that being around nature reduces stress, increases attention span and fosters healthy brain development. Here are 3 benefits to connecting children with nature identified by the Forest School Association in Canada.

Increases understanding of and appreciation for nature. The BEST way to understand something is by going out and learning about it. The natural environment is the one of the aspects of life that we need to teach our children about. We teach children to respect and appreciate the world around us through activities, walks and exploring the forest.

Augments ecological literacy. Children in our Forest School learn about sustainability, for example we plant various crops and enjoy the harvest. We plant, grow, nurture, taste, smell, touch and observe, with the food we produce ourselves.

Students experience fewer sick days. Children, who spend time outdoors in fresh air, build up a stronger, healthier immune system. We go exploring in our outdoor classroom and we experience things through the forest like grass, trees, tree branches, dirt and puddles.

Discovery Child Care is the 1st Certified Nature Explore Classroom in Canada! (2012)

About Discovery Child Care Barrie Based Discovery Child Care brings nature into the classroom and takes the classroom into nature, offering an environmentally aware foundation of early learning for children, from infants to school age. We follow an Emergent Curriculum philosophy, which means your child will be provided with hands-on, play-based learning opportunities that will encourage active exploration, autonomy, choice, problem solving and plain old fun! Your child’s individual interests, abilities and needs will be considered when planning our indoor and outdoor programs. For more information, visit http://www.discoverychild.on.ca or http://www.forestschool.ca/

Five Easy Plants Children Love to Grow

April and May are the perfect months for planing new gardens. Small backyard gardens are great opportunities for learning, play, family bonding, and more. Children who grow their own food are far more likely to make healthier food choices. There's nothing we want more than for our children to grow up with the ability to make choices that have a positive impact on their health and well-being.

There are many other benefits to gardening with children - they get a sense of accomplishment, a chance to care for something delicate, and plenty of time outdoors under the sun getting some much needed vitamin D.

While there are a plethora of delicious choices you can make for your garden, there are some plants that are especially easy for children to grow or help grow. Here are 5 easy plants to grow in your garden this year with your children.

Sunflowers
Sunflowers are a great staple in any garden, but especially in a child's garden. They grow quickly and are quite large. You only need to plant a couple depending on the amount of space you have. Sunflowers will sprout in a week, become a seedling in two weeks, and be nearly 2 feet tall in a month.  Once they bloom, about 8 weeks, they will reveal their seed kernels. These can be roasted for a tasty snack. Be sure to get the confectionery sunflower variety so the seeds are edible.

Lettuce
Lettuce is hardy and easy to grow, making it a great option for kids. The leaf varieties mature faster, and like part-shade. They take 7-10 days to germinate and mature in about 30-35 days. They are sure to get your child interested in making a salad with their own lettuce!

Cherry Tomatoes
Cherry tomatoes are very fun to grow, and delicious to eat right off the vine. It's better to plant them from seedlings as opposed to from seed. You can drive a 2' stake beside each plant and loosely tie them to keep them upright. They like full sun and compost, and will mature in about 50-75 days.

Snap Peas
Snap Peas are popular among kids because of their fresh sweet flavour. The seeds are easy to handle for kids, and they grow quickly. They will germinate in about 2 weeks and be ready to pick and eat in a month or two. When harvesting, teach kids to pick them gently (a great learning opportunity!) so that they do not pull the entire plant out of the ground with the peas.

Pumpkin
Pumpkins are a must have for any child's garden as they have so many uses. Pumpkin seeds are delicious roasted as a snack. The meat inside can be used for baking, soups, or other treats, and the outer part can be used for carving! Pumpkins will be ready to harvest in about 80-120 days.

As we said above, there are so many benefits to including children in your gardening. Giving them a sense of responsibility, ownership, and care at an early age will set them up for success at other endeavors in the future. They will also grow an appreciation for where food comes from. There are also science and nature lessons to be had!

For further reading on gardening with children, check out our other blogs below!

• 10 Ways Children Benefit From Nature
• Tips for Gardening With Kids
• Our Kinder-Garden Grows Healthy Food
• Why kids Need Time in Nature
• Why Playing Outside is So Important

About Discovery Child Care
Barrie Based Discovery Child Care brings nature into the classroom and takes the classroom into nature, offering an environmentally aware foundation of early learning for children, from infants to school-age. We follow an Emergent Curriculum philosophy which means, your child will be provided with hands-on, play-based learning opportunities that will encourage active exploration, autonomy, choice, problem solving and plain old fun! Your child’s individual interests, abilities and needs will be considered when planning our indoor and outdoor programs. For more information, visit http://www.discoverychild.on.ca

Tips For Gardening With Kids

Gardening with your children is a creative and fun way to encourage love of nature and healthy eating. There are some major benefits to involving your children in gardening, from improving life skills, teaching respect for living things and encouraging exploration, to enhancing fine motor skills and forming early responsibility.

Whatever your reasons, gardening is a super fun activity that you can enjoy in your own backyard or community garden!

Here are some great tips to help you get started:

Start Early. The toddler years are the perfect time to start building a garden. You can encourage your children to take part in gardening with simple tasks like watering the houseplants or outdoor garden. When you’re ready to start building an outdoor garden, begin planning early so you’re ready when the nice weather hits. Encourage your children to take part in the gardening process starting from the first time you plant the seeds.


Encourage Involvement. Keep your kids interested by involving them in the entire gardening process. Ask them questions while teaching what plants need to grow. Depending on your child’s age, you can also encourage your child to take the lead. Encourage them to choose where you plant the seeds and allow them to plant the seed on their own.

Encourage Exploration. Play-based learning is one of the most effective methods of teaching. You can support the exploration not only with the garden, but also by growing plants that attract wildlife. Plants that attract insects will also pollinate your flowers, helping you get a good crop of vegetables!

Take Pictures. Encourage your children to take pictures of the plants throughout each stage of growth. This will help keep your children involved in the process while you’re waiting for the plants to grow.

Choose Your Plants Carefully. Try to choose plants that don’t require a lot of work. Sunflowers, lettuce, radishes, potatoes and snow peas are among the best options for children. Aim for plants that grow quickly or easily.

Harvest Together. If you decide to build a vegetable garden, encourage your children to help you harvest the garden. This is the stage of growing that you’ve been waiting for, and involving your children may encourage them to eat more vegetables at your next meal.

Make it Fun! Let your kids explore and get messy in the garden. Exploration is nature is an exciting experience that can lead to many teachable moments that are fun for you and your children.


Make sure to wear hats and tons of sunscreen when you are spending time outdoors gardening. Enjoy your garden!

Interested in learning how we incorporate gardening in our child care program? Contact us today for more information!

About Discovery Child Care

Barrie Based Discovery Child Care brings nature into the classroom and takes the classroom into nature, offering an environmentally aware foundation of early learning for children, from infants to school-age. We follow an Emergent Curriculum philosophy which means, your child will be provided with hands-on, play-based learning opportunities that will encourage active exploration, autonomy, choice, problem solving and plain old fun! Your child’s individual interests, abilities and needs will be considered when planning our indoor and outdoor programs. For more information, visit http://www.discoverychild.on.ca

Our "Kinder Garden" Grows Healthy Food!

One of the great things about having such a wonderful outdoor space at our child care centres is that we can garden with our kids!

Tending a garden from preparation in the spring to harvesting throughout the summer and fall is a fantastic learning opportunity for children and it is SO MUCH Fun!

The garden gives the kindergarten class a hands on chance to learn about vegetables, flowers, insects, soil and how to look after a garden.

This week we had a mini picnic enjoying our kale and lettuce straight from the garden (this has become a regular treat!) We also harvested lots of radishes which Alicia put in the potato salad that everyone enjoyed with lunch. We harvested lots of fennel, kale and herbs for today's soup. We spent some time watering and weeding too.

Our tomatoes, peppers, cucumber, beans, ground

cherries, pumpkins, squash, carrots, zucchini are growing like crazy and we will definitely be harvesting more next week. Please come and visit our garden with your child and have them show you around. The kindergarten class is very proud of their accomplishments!

Nature is a perfect classroom and we integrated it into our school programs as much as possible, through all four seasons. Find out more about our Nature Explore classrooms and contact us to arrange a tour at either our Harvie Road or Big Bay Point location. Discovery Child Care Centre is the first Certified Nature Explore Classroom in Canada!

Berry Picking at Discovery Child Care in Barrie

Children at our Discovery Child Care Centre enjoy many outdoor activities such as gardening. Our Centre's backyard garden includes berry bushes and the slides below show the children picking berries and enjoying the summer harvest.



Call us to find our more about our exceptional educational programs, including our award winning Nature Explore classroom. 705-733-2052 Visit our website to learn more..

Organic Gardening at Discovery Child Care

 The Backyard Urban Farm Company came to visit the kindergarten children at Discovery Child Care and helped us put in our organic gardening beds. Thank you Arlene & Carrie!

We've planted 3 of our 5 gardening beds with Tomatoes, Marigolds (or as the children call them "miracles"), peppers, fennel, basil, dill and so much more.

The children are excited to help out and see the plants grow!

Here's some information about the Backyard Urban Farm Company.

"BUFCO is dedicated to participating in a worldwide food movement that encourages lowering our carbon footprint and trying to live more sustainably, naturally, independently and locally. Planting and saving heirloom and non-GMO seeds (genetically modified organisms), and preserving the harvest are top priorities for us. We strive to build a sense of community by facilitating sharing a portion of the harvest with our neighbours and local food banks. We bring new opportunities for families and individuals to learn, teach, relax, play in and eat from their own gardens. We believe that by tending our garden, we feed our minds, bodies and souls, and contribute to the greater good."

 

At Discovery Child Care, in Barrie Ontario, we believe in the importance of connecting children with nature. Contact Us to find out more about our eco-friendly child care facility and our nature programs.

A Pirate Garden and Other Gardening Ideas for Kids

Kidsgardening.org is a website devoted to teaching children about gardening, both in school programs and by offering fun ideas and projects for at home. As we are just over the May 24th threat of frost in central Ontario, many families in our community are starting gardening projects. Here are some ideas and advice about creating a fun, safe, plant-friendly garden for kids.

A Pirate's Garden - by Sarah Pounders
Ahoy Matey! Are you looking for a fun and engaging way to capture a child’s attention outdoors? Dare to walk the plank and plant a Pirate’s Garden! We love themed plantings as much as any kid, so when educator Carrie Ann Smith shared the idea of a Pirate’s Garden with us, we just had to pass it along. Here are some elements to include so that even the most reluctant swashbuckler will come running to the garden:
Treasure: Plant a pot of gold. Find an old wooden box, drill a few holes at the bottom, fill with soil, and then plant yellow blooming plants like marigolds or calendula.
Ship or Hideout: A bean tepee can represent a pirate ship or hideout. To build a bean tepee you will need some long supporting pieces, and a method of attaching them at the top, tepee-style. There are kits available to purchase commercially, usually using bamboo poles and a plastic connector ring. Or, you can easily build your own by lashing together some straight tree branches that are about eight or nine feet long, top with a pirate flag, and let the fast growing runner beans cover the structure.

read this article..

Planting a Child Friendly Garden -National Gardening Association
Gardeners love to share their interest in gardening, and sharing with their children can be particularly rewarding. Even 2- and 3-year-olds can help plant their own little patch, and watch as life unfolds around them. Here are some suggestions for making gardening enjoyable -- and safe -- for young children.

read this article..