Course | Nature Play Connection and Child Development

Facilitator

Caroline Essame
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CreateCATT

Caroline is the CEO of the social enterprise CreateCATT (Singapore and UK) and an art and occupational therapist who supports children’s learning through play, nature, nurture and creativity. Author of the recent book by Routledge ‘Why Play Matters” her next one is on “Why Nature Matters” An associate lecturer at Singapore University of Social Sciences and an award winning adult educator she works with children with complex needs and consults to schools on nature and nurture play based curriculum development.

Description

This new nature course from CreateCATT introduces principles of nature play and green prescribing for child development. It provides an introduction to the science of playing in nature and why it is so important for well-being and development in children.

It also introduces the nature toolkit and assessment protocol for neurodiverse children using an eco-sensory lens. Lectures, reflections, podcasts from global experts and full of sustainable ideas for nature play inside and outside this certificate course helps build you and your children's nature connection.

Designed specifically for teachers, clinicians, and parents.

In This Course You Will Discover :

1. The importance of nature play for young children
2. How to articulate how nature supports physical, social, emotional, and cognitive learning and development in young children
3. To develop ideas of how to incorporate nature play into your classrooms/sessions
4. To ignite a passion for nature and sustainability in young children
5. To design nature play indoor and outdoor
6. To discover your own connection with the natural world

1. Part One - Introduction to Nature Play
Welcome to our Nature Course
Welcome letter and introduction to CreateCATT and Nature Course
Welcome powerpoint slides
Nature Play animation

2. Why Nature Play Matters in Childhood
Why Nature Play - Introduction lecture with Caroline Essame
Handouts for Why Nature Play?
Jungle Playfulness - Radio Podcast - Dr Sue Jennings
Play in the outdoors - Radio Podcast - Alison Chown
Reflection on nature in our own lives
Voices for Nature Series Podcast - Nature in Schools with Rachel Tomlinson, England

3. The Science of Playing in Nature
Lecture - the science of playing in nature
Handouts for Science in Nature Lecture
Nature Connection Pyramid Handout
The answer is in the trees - Radio Podcast - Caroline Essame and Andrew Duffy
More Green Less Screen - Podcast with Professor Louise Zimanyi
Voices for Nature Series Podcast - Dr Francis Dimalanta - Nature Connection in the Philippines

4. Sensory Processing and Nature
Lecture - Understanding sensory integration and nature play
Handouts for Sensory processing in Nature lecture
Lecture - Challenges in Sensory Systems and the role of Nature Play
Handouts for Challenges in Sensory Systems and the Role of Nature Play
The Vestibular Sense and Nature Play
The Proprioceptive Sense and Nature Play
The Tactile Sense and Nature Play
The Visual Sense and Nature Play
The Auditory Sense and Nature Play
Olfactory senses- Smell and Taste - and Nature Play
Interoception sense and Nature Play
Sensory integration animation
Reflection on our own sensory nature play
Sensory Learning Checklist
Voices for Nature Series Podcast - Eco Sensory Therapy - Chris West
Green prescribing sensory checklist

5. How to Do It
Lecture on how to do Nature Play in ECD
Handouts for How to run Nature activities lecture
Nature Play feedback from GUI
Bringing the Natural World Into Teaching and Learning
Podcast - The importance of working in circles by Professor Sue Jennings
Ten top tips for nature play
Lesson Plan for Nature Play

6. Articles, Reading Lists, and Further Resources
Chapter on Nature Play by Caroline Essame - Read only
Nature and the brain - the answer is in the trees- article published in ARNEC (Asian Regional Network of Early Childhood) Magazine 2020 - Read only
Nature Play Poster
References for play in nature
Voices for Nature Podcast - Bingyu Cai Nature and Ground Up Initiatives- Singapore

7. Nature Passport
Nature Passport- print and fold as A5 passport
Nature Passport - A4 print out

8. 20 Nature Play Games for Indoors and Outdoors
Animal Care and Play
Bark Rubbing
Bean and Seed Art
Build a Den
Child-led Nature Walk
Climbing Trees
Create a World
Drawing from Nature
Hide and Seek in Nature
Journey Sticks
Make an Indoor Aquarium
Mime the Animal
Mud Pies
Nature Art
Nature Sensory Play
Planting Seeds
Rain Massage
The Tree Game
View from the Window
Water and Puddle Play

9. Quiz and Certificate
Final Quiz
Final Certificate

For further information, please visit CreateCATT website.