Snowball effect
It has been scientifically proven that playing outdoors in green spaces is good for motor skills, concentration and health. It is fun and educational. Marc Veekamp, Senior Project Manager for Children & Nature at IVN: “The evidence is mounting: playing outdoors in nature is demonstrably good for children. Yet 53% of children play indoors more often than outdoors in their free time. With initiatives such as Hartje Winter, we are trying to reverse that trend. In winter too.”
Despite the cold outside, there is plenty to discover and many surprising things to do in nature in winter. That is why each week of Hartje Winter has a different theme, such as Nature in winter, Adventure and Winter games. Kinderopvang Humanitas and IVN hope to set a snowball effect in motion with Hartje Winter, encouraging more and more organizations and children to take part.
Collaboration
Outdoor play and nature education make a valuable combination. The Hartje Winter project marks the launch of the collaboration between Kinderopvang Humanitas and IVN. Both organizations encourage children to play outside more and to connect with nature, convinced that this contributes to a positive future for people and nature. “Our collaboration with IVN reinforces our vision that actively going outdoors has a positive effect on children’s development,” says Sacha Ausems, Chair of the Board of Directors at Kinderopvang Humanitas.