The Natural Play Principles* are designed to articulate a child-centred and nature-focused approach called Natural Play. Natural Play enables children’s natural ways of growing, learning and thriving with the help of the natural world.
* developed in collaboration between Jan White (Early Childhood Natural Play), Suzanne Scott (Sandfield Natural Play Centre), Ann Thompson (Naturally Creative and Sandfield Natural Play Centre) and Menna Godfrey (Quackers Playgroup & Natural Play Centre).
Twelve principles that can guide the development of your approach, provision, pedagogy and practice.
ꞏ A natural curriculum
ꞏ The natural world
ꞏ Authentic experiences
ꞏ Embodied learning
ꞏ Imagination, creativity and science
ꞏ Child-paced learning
ꞏ Adventure and adventuring
ꞏ Risk is an intelligent behaviour
ꞏ Belonging and caring
ꞏ Building an ecological identity
ꞏ Parental engagement and involvement
ꞏ Enabling adults to enable children
This article appeared in issue 2 of the Outdoor Practitioner, Spring 2021 - our free online magazine. It focusses on the Natural Curriculum principle.
To keep as a handy reference guide or to pin on your noticeboard.
Natural Play Principles