They imagine the tree is a hospital or space ship; they work together to make birthday cupcakes for Santa who is always almost about to arrive; they grab magnifying glasses and books and search for bugs; or just sit in a circle and discuss whatever it is on their minds. Three and four year olds! Pure magic!
Founder / Lead Keiki O Kahawai - Hāmākua Forest School
Skill Building in Outdoor Play
Listening & Learning
Mimicking sounds that you hear in nature—a goose honking, a stream rushing, the wind blowing, or dogs barking—can help babies pay attention to the different tones, pitches, and rhythms in the sounds. As babies begin to differentiate between sounds in their environment, they’re learning foundational skills that support more complex language learning later on.
Practicing Pre-Reading Skills
Singing nature-themed songs can introduce new vocabulary and help children remember words better. Singing and clapping along improves the rhythm of speech and encourages correct pronunciation, while repetition helps with mastering tricky sounds and syllable patterns—all important pre-reading skills.
Identifying Letters & Words
Searching for hidden letters in the natural world makes for a fun treasure hunt. Finding the letters and then hearing the sound those letters make reinforces that each letter represents a unique sound or sounds. As children age, this activity can become more of an “I Spy” game, encouraging them to look for things in the natural world that start with a certain sound or letter.
Mariana Altritcher
Applying Scientific Vocabulary
Observing, sketching, charting, or labeling each stage of a plant’s life cycle is not only a great way to understand plant biology, but also helps build literacy skills through learning new scientific vocabulary.