You might remember the frustration of being cooped up in a classroom when you were a kid, especially on a beautiful, sunny day. Maybe you kept sneaking looks out the window, wishing the bell would ring and you could run outside in the fresh air and play.
There's a lot of debate over the "right" way to educate kids, and there's likely no one answer that will work for everyone, but there's also no denying that exploring the great outdoors is really good for kids — and adults!
So in Germany, many schools, especially preschools and kindergarten, are bringing the classroom outside so kids get a healthy dose of nature.
The idea of an outdoor classroom, called a Waldkindergarten (literally, "forest kindergarten"), is actually not a new one. Outdoor schools for kids of all ages flourished in Germany in the early 1900s.
Though their popularity declined, it looks like they may be on the rise again as people are remembering that being confined to a classroom isn't always the best way to learn, especially for very young children whose minds are still developing.
Check out one of these preschools below. Today, there are more than 1,000 forest kindergartens in Germany and Switzerland, so it looks like these amazing schools are here to stay!
[H/T: My Modern Met]
This looks less like a school and more like a wilderness getaway, but in reality, it's both.
This is the main, and only, building of Waldkindergarten, which literally means "forest kindergarten."
It's a preschool where young kids, under the guidance of teachers, spend their days exploring the forest.
Parents drop their kids off in the morning, and then the teachers lead them into the woods where they learn about all the amazing things happening around them.
They also learn to pick berries, build huts, and even get comfortable working with tools and fire.
Using knives and fire might seem alarming for such young children, but they're always under careful supervision, and taught to be careful and respectful.
The kids stay outside all day, in any weather. Even nap time is outdoors, with the kids stretching out under a tent.
Being outside teaches them all kinds of skills, from science to teamwork, and also gets them interested in and passionate about nature.
It's also a great way for them to get lots of exercise and to use their imaginations.
For very young children, a forest is a great place to stimulate the senses, and provides plenty of learning opportunities for "traditional" subjects like counting, life sciences, and vocabulary.
The kids also learn a healthy and deep respect for the natural world, and will, the teachers hope, become lifelong nature lovers.
The kids are also never bored, and are often encouraged to follow their own interests.
"Their entire senses are stimulated and developed," one of Waldkindergarten's teachers explains. "They can work with great concentration, because here they discover many things and then they stick with it because it comes from them."
The school also has plenty of time for some sports…
…and for hanging out with some new friends.
They even hold parties for the students and their families!
Outdoor kindergartens are gaining popularity in Germany and Switzerland, and we may soon start seeing them in other countries if the trend continues.
Do you think schools like this should be more popular? Let us know what you think in the comments, and SHARE this fascinating version of school with your outdoorsy friends!
