School's Out
- Description
- Reviews
- Citation
- Cataloging
- Transcript
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No classroom for these kindergarteners. In Switzerland's Langnau am Albis, a suburb of Zurich, children 4 to 7 years of age go to kindergarten in the woods every day, no matter what the weather. This eye-opening film follows the forest kindergarten through the seasons of one school year and looks into the important question of what it is that children need at that age. There is laughter, beauty and amazement in the process of finding out.
The documentary is a combination of pure observational footage of the children at kindergarten in the forest, paired with interviews with parents, teachers, child development experts, and alumni, offering the viewers a genuine look into the forest kindergarten. There are also scenes of a traditional kindergarten in the United States to show the contrast between the different approaches.
'This film captures the wonder and joy of authentic learning that occurs when children are afforded the luxury of time, space and nature. The young children display immense confidence, skill and competence. American educators will be challenged to reconceptualize the purpose of kindergarten - the curriculum and the learning environment - from the lessons of this distinctive classroom.' Mary Jane Eisenhauer, Assistant Professor, Early Childhood Education, Purdue University North Central
'School's Out dramatically and skillfully provides American educators, families and policymakers with an alternative model for thinking about what engaging, active and effective social, emotional and intellectual education for young children can be. It wisely challenges us to reflect on what has been lost, both in and out of school, and what the consequences might be for today's children and beyond.' Dr. Diane Levin, Professor of Early Childhood Education, Wheelock College, Founder of Defending the Early Years Project, Author of Beyond Remote-Controlled Childhood
'What a great way to show people the importance of outdoor play and exploration for young children! I hope all educators, administrators, and parents will watch this and take it to heart. The high stress on academics in early childhood just isn't necessary. Teachers, even if you can't teach your classes in the forest, take inspiration from this, your students and society will thank you.' Stacy Carr-Poole, Director of Education, Riverbend Environmental Education Center
'Children who attend the forest kindergarten learn how to problem solve. They become independent. They explore the world with delight...Although they don't begin academic learning until age seven, they catch up with their American counterparts by the time they are ten. Do their American counterparts ever catch up with their Swiss peers to discover what children who attend the forest kindergarten have learned about the world and one another? This film poses serious and disturbing questions about what is being lost because of the now global preoccupation with the development of academic proficiencies at an early age.' Greg Smith, Professor of Teacher Education, Lewis and Clark College, Author, Place-Based Education: Learning to Be Where We Are
'This inspiring video shows how capable and empowered young children become when given support and freedom to play and learn in a natural educational setting.' Green Teacher magazine
'Children appear to thrive in outdoor natural kindergartens...School's Out makes a compelling case that Forest kindergartens provide a model for how educational environments can support children's optimal development.' Rachel L. Severson, University of British Columbia, Journal of Educational Controversy
'Though this documentary is especially important for adults, younger viewers will love learning about this non-traditional environment.' Jenny Ventling, Greene Co. Public Library, School Library Journal
'What the children gain is greater ability to socialize, resolve conflicts, use their imagination, cooperate, and understand the physical world around them...A delightful, nicely developed film that effectively illustrates the importance of play in a child's development. A useful purchase for collections that deal with primary and early childhood education.' Ernest Jaeger, North Plainfield Schools, Library Journal
'This thought-provoking production offers interviews with parents, teachers, and a pediatrician who share the benefits of the outdoor experience as well as the concerns and challenges of these two early childhood educational programs. A nice addition to professional collections in elementary school media centers and public libraries.' Linda M. Teel, East Carolina University, School Library Journal
'An intriguing look at a different approach to early education...especially recommended for early childhood educators.' The Midwest Book Review
'Through footage of the children and interviews with teachers, parents and child development experts, the film builds a powerful case for outdoor play...School's Out does an excellent job of arguing that outdoor play is wonderfully beneficial to kids' bodies, minds and souls.' Ellen Jakubowski, Alternatives Journal
'Let's enjoy a lovely, hopeful image of cultivating kids' robust mental health. Travel with me to a little town outside of Zurich, Switzerland. There, a pre-school reliably grows healthy, resilient, confident, self-reliant problem-solvers...These kids will not be obese. They love nature. Their terrific social skills will reduce depression. They are not frightened by statistically non-existent stranger danger. The Swiss will not be paying for their preventable mental illnesses. But to give such experiences to American kids, we will have to get over our obsessions with safety, liability and getting every kid into Harvard. Which we should do anyway.' Julia Steiny, Founding Director, Youth Restoration Project, GoLocalProv
'A powerful and beautifully crafted documentary that illuminates who children are, what's important to them, and what should be important to us as educators.' Salvatore Vascellaro, Graduate Faculty, Bank Street College of Education
'School's Out is a wonderful reminder about the most important developmental tasks of young childhood. These are about learning a mastery orientation to the world, understanding the consequences of behaviors, and figuring out how to handle frustration, delay gratification, and deal with failures. Then there's learning to work with others, figuring out plans and scripts-all a part of moving from parallel to negotiated play - and realizing how to collectively use each other's abilities. These are crucial life skills that children in the featured Forest Kindergarten are focused on each day.' Tina A. Grotzer, Associate Professor of Education, Harvard Graduate School of Education
'Highly Recommended...Challenges the expectations we have of children and the traditional American school system...Allows viewers to observe the resilience of the students at play; naturally solving conflicts, participating in teamwork, and using tools with no prompting or guidance from an adult. Appropriate for child development and education classes and collections.' Sara Parme, SUNY Fredonia, Educational Media Reviews Online
'Every parent and teacher should see this film.' Dr. Marcy Guddemi, Executive Director, Gesell Institute of Child Development
'This film has touched me profoundly.' Barbara Stern, Early Childhood Education Consultant
'School's Out inspired me to found a forest kindergarten in my public elementary school.' Eliza Hutchinson, kindergarten teacher, Ottauquechee Schools
'We should pause over...the implications of constantly channeling kids in a predetermined direction. This isn't just about reliance on technology - it's also a byproduct of the enormous anxiety parents feel about screwing up...Somewhere in our hearts, plenty of parents know that just can't be right - not all the time, anyway. That's why I'm so taken, I think, with a new 35-minute documentary about a forest kindergarten in Switzerland. Called School's Out: Lessons from a Forest Kindergarten, the movie is a provocative jumping-off point for discussion precisely because the schooling it documents seems inconceivable to American parents and educators.' Emily Bazelon, Slate Magazine
'There are no classes, or reading or writing. What there is, however, is learning...The film cleverly juxtaposes learning in a natural environment with the rigors of kindergarten for students in a typical North American setting.' Rustik Magazine
Citation
Main credits
Molomot, Lisa (film director)
Molomot, Lisa (cinematographer)
Molomot, Lisa (film editor)
Richter, Rona (film producer)
Other credits
Music composer, Ted Reichman.
Distributor subjects
Child Development; Children's Films; Early Childhood Education; Education; Environment; European Studies; Kindergarten; Outdoor Education; PsychologyKeywords
WEBVTT
00:00:02.999 --> 00:00:08.417
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
00:00:23.999 --> 00:00:31.999
(CLOCK BELLS RINGING)
00:00:51.000 --> 00:00:59.000
(MUSIC PLAYING)
00:01:30.999 --> 00:01:38.999
(CHILDREN SINGING
IN SWISS GERMAN)
00:02:18.626 --> 00:02:26.626
(SPEAKING SWISS GERMAN)
00:03:52.999 --> 00:04:00.999
- 93, 94, 95...
00:04:01.375 --> 00:04:03.375
(SPEAKING SWISS GERMAN)
00:04:28.250 --> 00:04:36.250
(PLAYING RECORDER)
00:06:26.999 --> 00:06:30.500
(ALL CHANTING) Pick
the bumblebee.
00:06:30.501 --> 00:06:35.998
Won\'t you say your name for me?
00:06:35.999 --> 00:06:38.998
- Mrs. Donnery.
00:06:38.999 --> 00:06:41.875
(ALL) Mrs. Donnery.
00:06:41.876 --> 00:06:44.374
- So a typical day at Edgewood
School: when everybody\'s
00:06:44.375 --> 00:06:47.875
arrived, we go into
morning meeting.
00:06:47.876 --> 00:06:50.249
From there, we go into our
readers workshop, which is
00:06:50.250 --> 00:06:55.458
based on the Columbia Readers
Workshop approach.
00:06:55.459 --> 00:06:57.179
From there, we go into
our writers workshop.
00:07:02.083 --> 00:07:03.998
And then our children
go to a \"special\".
00:07:03.999 --> 00:07:06.998
We have gym, music, and art.
00:07:06.999 --> 00:07:09.082
From lunch, we have recess.
00:07:09.083 --> 00:07:11.416
And after that, we have
a story time.
00:07:11.417 --> 00:07:14.833
And then we have choice,
which is sort of the
00:07:14.834 --> 00:07:16.583
fancy word for play.
00:07:16.584 --> 00:07:18.998
Then we go into our
math centers.
00:07:18.999 --> 00:07:20.458
And then we have our closing
meeting, and
00:07:20.459 --> 00:07:21.292
the children go home.
00:07:21.293 --> 00:07:22.998
So it\'s a full day, a
lot of transitions.
00:07:22.999 --> 00:07:26.875
- If you are a Tuesday shopper,
please stand up.
00:07:26.876 --> 00:07:27.998
All right.
00:07:27.999 --> 00:07:30.208
Meet me back on the rug, and
I will get you yours.
00:07:30.209 --> 00:07:33.167
Everybody else, go get your book
boxes and get started.
00:08:17.626 --> 00:08:21.249
- When we are coming in the
forest in the morning time, we
00:08:21.250 --> 00:08:25.791
are singing, we are listening
about stories.
00:08:25.792 --> 00:08:30.998
And after the znuni time, the
eating time, then the children
00:08:30.999 --> 00:08:35.750
can play where they want
in the forest.
00:08:35.751 --> 00:08:39.998
During the play time, the
children have a lot of space.
00:08:39.999 --> 00:08:41.998
They can go where they want.
00:08:41.999 --> 00:08:45.833
Usually, I know where they are
playing, but I cannot see them
00:08:45.834 --> 00:08:46.999
always, all the time.
00:10:00.417 --> 00:10:05.208
- One day, I hope it will
grow into a tree.
00:10:05.209 --> 00:10:10.167
(SINGING AND HUMMING
IN SWISS GERMAN)
00:10:18.417 --> 00:10:21.998
This little baby can\'t open the
door, so it can\'t get into
00:10:21.999 --> 00:10:22.999
the garden.
00:10:26.375 --> 00:10:30.958
So really, it can go away and
explore around the town.
00:10:30.959 --> 00:10:34.583
And we don\'t want it
to do that, do we?
00:10:34.584 --> 00:10:35.998
Off you go...
00:10:35.999 --> 00:10:37.998
there!
00:10:37.999 --> 00:10:41.875
Now, it\'s doing its bath...
00:10:41.876 --> 00:10:44.666
its bathtub.
00:10:44.667 --> 00:10:47.291
- We thought that this is a
great opportunity for a small
00:10:47.292 --> 00:10:50.999
child to learn about nature,
to go outside every day...
00:10:51.000 --> 00:10:52.998
maybe the only in her life.
00:10:52.999 --> 00:10:55.416
Who knows what she will do when
she\'ll be a grown up and
00:10:55.417 --> 00:10:58.583
will start to study or work in
an office all day like me.
00:10:58.584 --> 00:11:01.998
So for her, I think it\'s great.
00:11:01.999 --> 00:11:04.998
That age, we believe they should
learn themselves, they
00:11:04.999 --> 00:11:08.291
should play as much as possible,
go outside, move.
00:11:08.292 --> 00:11:11.998
But there\'s no learning or
teaching of reading or writing
00:11:11.999 --> 00:11:13.083
or mathematics.
00:11:28.999 --> 00:11:36.999
(MUSIC PLAYING)
00:12:22.999 --> 00:12:27.998
- They work with knives and they
cut on wood, and I think
00:12:27.999 --> 00:12:29.458
it\'s a little bit scary
but this has
00:12:29.459 --> 00:12:30.998
been the biggest challenge.
00:12:30.999 --> 00:12:33.750
And before he started the
kindergarten, I was anxious
00:12:33.751 --> 00:12:36.959
about that.
00:13:08.999 --> 00:13:12.998
- The children have lots of
opportunities to take on
00:13:12.999 --> 00:13:16.583
responsibilities, to do
dangerous things in a
00:13:16.584 --> 00:13:20.666
controlled environment, for
example to make their own
00:13:20.667 --> 00:13:27.458
fire, to do woodcarving with a
sharp Swiss Army knife, which
00:13:27.459 --> 00:13:29.166
is really sharp.
00:13:29.167 --> 00:13:32.998
- I spent a whole day with the
kids, and that was a time I
00:13:32.999 --> 00:13:36.958
saw the kids were even allowed
to play with knives and saws.
00:13:36.959 --> 00:13:40.249
And at first, I was shocked.
00:13:40.250 --> 00:13:41.999
I couldn\'t even move.
00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:44.998
In Africa, I don\'t think I would
trust my kid or give my
00:13:44.999 --> 00:13:46.208
kid a knife.
00:13:46.209 --> 00:13:48.833
But here, it seems they learn.
00:13:48.834 --> 00:13:50.166
The teacher teaches them.
00:13:50.167 --> 00:13:53.625
So the kids, they know
how to do it.
00:13:53.626 --> 00:13:56.833
But as a parent, of course, you
get shocked. \"Oh, no, no!\"
00:13:56.834 --> 00:14:02.416
But the teacher said, \"No, leave
them, leave them.\" And
00:14:02.417 --> 00:14:05.791
by the end of the day, nothing
had happened, so I was
00:14:05.792 --> 00:14:08.958
actually almost ashamed
of myself...
00:14:08.959 --> 00:14:10.998
ashamed, yeah.
00:14:10.999 --> 00:14:15.791
- Well, the first time Olivia
was using her Army knife, she
00:14:15.792 --> 00:14:16.998
really cut herself.
00:14:16.999 --> 00:14:20.999
And we had to put the band-aid
on it and she was crying.
00:14:21.000 --> 00:14:22.625
The second time, it was OK.
00:14:22.626 --> 00:14:24.998
And ever since, she\'s now
dealing with it like a
00:14:24.999 --> 00:14:26.375
professional.
00:14:29.999 --> 00:14:32.500
And I\'m not trying to
keep her away from
00:14:32.501 --> 00:14:36.998
all possible injuries.
00:14:36.999 --> 00:14:38.833
She has to learn.
00:14:38.834 --> 00:14:40.154
She must be able to
make mistakes.
00:14:59.417 --> 00:15:00.792
(SPEAKING SWISS GERMAN)
00:16:32.167 --> 00:16:35.998
- In the Swiss kindergarten, the
children are expected to
00:16:35.999 --> 00:16:38.291
walk to school on their
own and walk home from
00:16:38.292 --> 00:16:39.791
school on their own.
00:16:39.792 --> 00:16:42.998
And most of the children in
Holly\'s kindergarten are now
00:16:42.999 --> 00:16:44.500
doing this by themselves.
00:16:44.501 --> 00:16:47.875
For me, I find this very, very
difficult because coming from
00:16:47.876 --> 00:16:49.998
the UK, it\'s almost unheard of.
00:16:49.999 --> 00:16:52.998
People are very scared now to
let their children walk to
00:16:52.999 --> 00:16:53.459
school on their own.
00:16:53.460 --> 00:16:56.998
We want to keep them safe, and
we\'re afraid that something
00:16:56.999 --> 00:16:58.374
might happen to them.
00:16:58.375 --> 00:17:02.458
It was very difficult for me to
let Holly go, but she did
00:17:02.459 --> 00:17:05.583
walk to school on her
own a few times.
00:17:05.584 --> 00:17:09.998
And I have to admit that
I followed her.
00:17:09.999 --> 00:17:13.208
I hid in some trees and I
followed her just to make sure
00:17:13.209 --> 00:17:15.998
that she got to the bus stop
on time, and she did.
00:17:15.999 --> 00:17:17.998
She went straight there.
00:17:17.999 --> 00:17:19.999
And afterwards, I said to
her, \"How did you feel?
00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:22.666
Do you enjoy walking on your
own? \" And she said, \" Yeah, I
00:17:22.667 --> 00:17:26.500
felt so grown up.\" And she was
really proud of herself that
00:17:26.501 --> 00:17:27.998
she was able to do that.
00:17:27.999 --> 00:17:28.375
- special.
00:17:28.376 --> 00:17:31.666
Here\'s my other one.
00:17:31.667 --> 00:17:34.000
These are the only two I\'ve
got of these coins.
00:21:33.999 --> 00:21:38.249
- I was feeling a bit sorry for
him to send him outside by
00:21:38.250 --> 00:21:40.998
this weather because I thought,
\"Oh, I don\'t know if
00:21:40.999 --> 00:21:43.374
I would like to be outside
in that.\" But they
00:21:43.375 --> 00:21:45.998
were perfectly fine.
00:21:45.999 --> 00:21:48.998
It doesn\'t matter if I\'m happy
for them to play outside or
00:21:48.999 --> 00:21:50.750
if, \"Oh, it\'s so bad weather.
00:21:50.751 --> 00:21:52.875
You don\'t want to come in?\" No,
they have to be outside.
00:21:52.876 --> 00:21:55.666
And they weren\'t sick
the whole winter,
00:21:55.667 --> 00:21:56.999
so that\'s very good.
00:22:08.626 --> 00:22:11.998
- Our son went to the forest
kindergarten, and I was
00:22:11.999 --> 00:22:15.999
wondering sometimes that there
was no resistance from himself
00:22:16.000 --> 00:22:19.998
to go out because there were
periods where it was really
00:22:19.999 --> 00:22:22.875
cold outside, below
frozen point.
00:22:22.876 --> 00:22:25.750
And there was no discussion.
00:22:25.751 --> 00:22:26.042
- Never.
00:22:26.043 --> 00:22:30.501
- He went out and came back
with a smile on his face.
00:22:47.999 --> 00:22:52.833
- Our daughter, Marlene,
preferred being in the indoor
00:22:52.834 --> 00:22:53.958
kindergarten.
00:22:53.959 --> 00:22:57.249
And there is a difference
between those two kids.
00:22:57.250 --> 00:23:01.998
So the daughter prefers being
in the house, sitting in the
00:23:01.999 --> 00:23:04.583
corner reading books
all the time.
00:23:04.584 --> 00:23:07.625
The boy, he likes to be outside,
it doesn\'t matter
00:23:07.626 --> 00:23:09.583
whether the weather
is good or not.
00:23:09.584 --> 00:23:11.082
He goes out when it\'s rain.
00:23:11.083 --> 00:23:14.082
He goes playing football
when it\'s rain.
00:23:14.083 --> 00:23:17.000
I think it was a great
experience for him.
00:23:24.999 --> 00:23:29.166
- In the last 20 years, I have
more and more children who are
00:23:29.167 --> 00:23:30.998
going to a forest
kindergarten, or
00:23:30.999 --> 00:23:34.999
\"Waldkindergarten\" as we say
here in Switzerland, I witness
00:23:35.000 --> 00:23:41.791
these kids as more interested
in life going around them.
00:23:41.792 --> 00:23:47.208
And the motor skills of the kids
are much better than the
00:23:47.209 --> 00:23:50.998
motor skills of the kids who
are in a closed room.
00:23:50.999 --> 00:23:56.374
Normally, a child with five,
six, seven years needs a lot
00:23:56.375 --> 00:23:57.750
of movement.
00:23:57.751 --> 00:23:59.998
And then, with five, six
years, they come in an
00:23:59.999 --> 00:24:04.583
ordinary kindergarten,
and they have to sit
00:24:04.584 --> 00:24:06.082
more-or-less still.
00:24:06.083 --> 00:24:10.998
They make little dances or so,
but that\'s nothing compared
00:24:10.999 --> 00:24:14.166
with the kids in the
Waldkindergarten.
00:24:14.167 --> 00:24:22.166
And actually, I haven\'t seen
kids with a hyperactivity
00:24:22.167 --> 00:24:24.999
disorder in the
Waldkindergarten, and I have
00:24:25.000 --> 00:24:28.583
seen a lot of kids with a
hyperactivity disorder in the
00:24:28.584 --> 00:24:29.959
ordinary kindergarten.
00:25:17.375 --> 00:25:20.583
- Many of the gross motor skills
are so underdeveloped
00:25:20.584 --> 00:25:22.249
when you look at how they run.
00:25:22.250 --> 00:25:25.833
And when we think about kids
learning, when I see a child
00:25:25.834 --> 00:25:29.958
who has a lot of difficulty
with motor planning...
00:25:29.959 --> 00:25:32.998
Going across monkey bars
or even do wheelbarrow
00:25:32.999 --> 00:25:33.834
kinds of things...
00:25:33.835 --> 00:25:35.958
I take note, because I know
that they\'re going to have
00:25:35.959 --> 00:25:37.416
some fine motor issues as well.
00:25:37.417 --> 00:25:40.998
So developing those gross motor
skills is just critical.
00:25:40.999 --> 00:25:47.082
It can really impact so much
of later learning.
00:25:47.083 --> 00:25:51.374
As benchmarks rise and our
demands grow greater and
00:25:51.375 --> 00:25:53.792
greater, kids are getting
less and less recess.
00:25:57.167 --> 00:25:59.998
- And this is a tragedy, because
what we know about the
00:25:59.999 --> 00:26:04.998
research on recess is that
children learn skills outdoors
00:26:04.999 --> 00:26:07.750
that they cannot learn inside.
00:26:07.751 --> 00:26:10.750
And some of the skills that
they\'re learning are social
00:26:10.751 --> 00:26:14.791
skills: how to negotiate, how
to problem-solve, how to get
00:26:14.792 --> 00:26:16.458
along with others.
00:26:16.459 --> 00:26:20.374
The research is very clear that
these skills are what\'s
00:26:20.375 --> 00:26:23.998
going to make a child
successful in life.
00:26:23.999 --> 00:26:26.750
One of the schools that my own
daughter went to, they
00:26:26.751 --> 00:26:27.998
eliminated recess.
00:26:27.999 --> 00:26:30.998
And the reason they said they
eliminated recess is that the
00:26:30.999 --> 00:26:34.998
children get along better, that
there\'s less fighting.
00:26:34.999 --> 00:26:38.998
Which is exactly the opposite,
because what we really saw
00:26:38.999 --> 00:26:43.958
were children bullying other
children and being mean to
00:26:43.959 --> 00:26:46.999
each other because they didn\'t
have the opportunity to solve
00:26:47.000 --> 00:26:50.998
those problems outdoors during
the playground time.
00:26:50.999 --> 00:26:54.666
That\'s the reason children need
uninterrupted time to
00:26:54.667 --> 00:26:55.998
really play.
00:26:55.999 --> 00:26:58.666
And I think that\'s what an
outdoor environment can give
00:26:58.667 --> 00:26:59.999
to a child.
00:27:04.999 --> 00:27:12.999
(COW BELLS SOUNDING)
00:27:43.999 --> 00:27:50.584
(ALL SINGING)
00:29:21.292 --> 00:29:22.667
- All right.
00:29:29.250 --> 00:29:31.998
- Does it bother you
when it rains?
00:29:31.999 --> 00:29:32.999
- No.
00:29:33.000 --> 00:29:37.998
Only the trees were
wobbling a bit.
00:29:37.999 --> 00:29:40.082
- What\'s your favorite
thing about rain?
00:29:40.083 --> 00:29:41.459
- I get to splash in puddles.
00:29:44.876 --> 00:29:46.791
Look... a telescope.
00:29:46.792 --> 00:29:49.998
(BOTH LAUGHING)
00:29:49.999 --> 00:29:52.998
- Go on, eat nicely.
00:29:52.999 --> 00:29:55.583
I do think it\'s quite
interesting that they don\'t
00:29:55.584 --> 00:29:58.998
learn to read and write at
all in kindergarten.
00:29:58.999 --> 00:30:01.374
I think in some ways it\'s a
really good thing, because
00:30:01.375 --> 00:30:03.082
they\'re learning different
things.
00:30:03.083 --> 00:30:05.958
They\'re learning how to
socialize with each other,
00:30:05.959 --> 00:30:07.998
they\'re learning how to deal
with conflict, and they\'re
00:30:07.999 --> 00:30:09.998
learning how to just be people.
00:30:09.999 --> 00:30:13.208
At the end of the day there are
things that even adults
00:30:13.209 --> 00:30:16.249
find difficult, and it\'s very
hard for us all to learn how
00:30:16.250 --> 00:30:17.998
to do those things.
00:30:17.999 --> 00:30:21.750
And compared with where Holly
would be now in the UK, she
00:30:21.751 --> 00:30:23.958
would just be finishing
two years of full
00:30:23.959 --> 00:30:25.999
time education already.
00:30:26.000 --> 00:30:29.791
And she would also be taking her
first exams at the end of
00:30:29.792 --> 00:30:34.750
this year, which I just think
is so much pressure for kids
00:30:34.751 --> 00:30:36.166
at such an early age.
00:30:36.167 --> 00:30:40.791
So I\'m very glad that we\'re
here and she\'s having this
00:30:40.792 --> 00:30:43.082
opportunity in the forest
kindergarten, because I think
00:30:43.083 --> 00:30:46.998
for her, in the long term,
it\'s much, much better.
00:30:46.999 --> 00:30:48.876
- Look, this one\'s all curvy.
00:30:51.834 --> 00:30:52.999
I love collecting.
00:30:53.000 --> 00:30:56.998
This one\'s all wonky.
00:30:56.999 --> 00:30:58.998
I made this.
00:30:58.999 --> 00:31:02.500
Look, in the garden, I made it.
00:31:02.501 --> 00:31:06.625
- One of the things that I\'ve
noticed is she can now play a
00:31:06.626 --> 00:31:08.998
lot more with just anything.
00:31:08.999 --> 00:31:12.998
So she doesn\'t need a lot
of toys anymore, and her
00:31:12.999 --> 00:31:15.291
imagination is very good.
00:31:15.292 --> 00:31:17.998
And that\'s one of the reasons,
actually, that I wanted to
00:31:17.999 --> 00:31:20.291
send her to the forest
kindergarten as well, because
00:31:20.292 --> 00:31:22.998
my daughter\'s a very
traditional girl.
00:31:22.999 --> 00:31:25.998
She likes a lot of pink things,
a lot of princesses,
00:31:25.999 --> 00:31:27.998
and lots of toys, you know?
00:31:27.999 --> 00:31:30.998
And I thought, well, she needs
to know as well that you don\'t
00:31:30.999 --> 00:31:34.998
necessarily need all of these
things to play with.
00:31:34.999 --> 00:31:36.599
And I think she\'s learned
that this year.
00:31:42.999 --> 00:31:46.958
- and then let your mind open
up and think about what
00:31:46.959 --> 00:31:48.458
it makes you think of.
00:31:48.459 --> 00:31:49.375
There you go!
00:31:49.376 --> 00:31:51.625
Say that louder.
00:31:51.626 --> 00:31:52.998
So that\'s what I mean.
00:31:52.999 --> 00:31:55.998
As I\'ve worked many, many years
in urban environments, I
00:31:55.999 --> 00:31:59.208
see this enormous need for kids
to be able to explore
00:31:59.209 --> 00:32:02.999
outdoors and to use their
imagination, and be able to
00:32:03.000 --> 00:32:07.666
not have something put right
in front of them that they
00:32:07.667 --> 00:32:10.998
have to use in a certain way,
which I think nowadays, kids
00:32:10.999 --> 00:32:14.041
are always getting materials
that are used in one way.
00:32:14.042 --> 00:32:16.998
And when I think of kids
outside, being able to pick up
00:32:16.999 --> 00:32:22.625
a stick and being able to make
it into a telescope, kids that
00:32:22.626 --> 00:32:25.875
don\'t have those opportunities
have a lot more difficulty
00:32:25.876 --> 00:32:27.166
trying to problem solve.
00:32:27.167 --> 00:32:30.082
Kids that don\'t have outdoor
play I find are much more
00:32:30.083 --> 00:32:31.958
aggressive.
00:32:31.959 --> 00:32:38.208
They aren\'t able to use the
natural world around them in
00:32:38.209 --> 00:32:39.291
purposeful ways.
00:32:39.292 --> 00:32:41.998
It\'s more in fearful ways.
00:32:41.999 --> 00:32:45.041
Kids who find bugs outside that
are not used to being out
00:32:45.042 --> 00:32:46.791
there on their own...
00:32:46.792 --> 00:32:48.041
suddenly it\'s fearful.
00:32:48.042 --> 00:32:48.999
\"Does it bite me?
00:32:49.000 --> 00:32:52.500
Will it hurt me?\" Whereas kids
that have grown up being able
00:32:52.501 --> 00:32:55.583
to explore their environment
are taken with
00:32:55.584 --> 00:32:56.998
the wonder of it.
00:32:56.999 --> 00:32:58.833
And they observe it,
they watch it,
00:32:58.834 --> 00:32:59.834
and \"How is it moving?
00:32:59.835 --> 00:33:07.835
Where is it going?\"
00:33:07.999 --> 00:33:09.998
- If you see a turtle like this,
you never ever want to
00:33:09.999 --> 00:33:14.416
pick it up, because it can put
its head around a snap at
00:33:14.417 --> 00:33:14.792
you...
00:33:14.792 --> 00:33:15.000
- Oh!
00:33:15.001 --> 00:33:16.791
- and that\'s how it
takes care of itself.
00:33:16.792 --> 00:33:18.998
When my children leave
kindergarten, what I really
00:33:18.999 --> 00:33:20.998
want them to know and
to be able to
00:33:20.999 --> 00:33:22.998
do is to love learning.
00:33:22.999 --> 00:33:27.249
And I really am not sure that in
the typical kindergarten if
00:33:27.250 --> 00:33:30.958
we really give enough an
opportunity for that wondering
00:33:30.959 --> 00:33:32.208
and exploring.
00:33:32.209 --> 00:33:40.209
(MUSIC PLAYING)
00:34:35.751 --> 00:34:35.999
(SINGING IN
00:34:36.000 --> 00:34:37.999
(SWISS GERMAN)
