In the 21st century, where technology dominates every sphere of our life, we continuously face the challenge of “the virtual replacing the real''. And when it comes to our children, we become even more alert and cautious. The culture of childhood that used to play outdoors seems to be vanishing. And this continuous disconnect with nature is leading to children’s understanding of nature as something that exists only in fairy-tales or in far-away places that are hard to reach.

We need to understand that children are born with an affinity towards nature, with which they develop and grow at their own individual pace. Thus, exposure to nature among children is very critical for their overall well-being. The earlier and more often children are exposed to nature, the happier, healthier, and brighter they become.

It is when children are left free to discover the world according to them – the view of the surrounding, the feel and touch of the grass, the soil, the plants, the sound of the birds chirping – their curiosity increases. It is when they figure out that there is so much to discover around them and that’s how they learn and grow. In fact, it not only increases their discovery but also aids in increasing creativity and sense of belongingness towards nature.

As they say, Nature is the best playground - the greater the natural exposure, the lesser the stress-levels among children. Children learn by constructing their own knowledge about the world and therefore they should be given freedom to play, explore and interact with nature in their own unique way.

In order to help children develop regular positive interactions with nature, Thakur International School, Mumbai, judiciously works on the overall development of children by trying to reconnect them with the natural environment. The school, in this regard, has conducted several field-trips in the past for students to learn more about the natural habitat, ecosystem, gardening etc.

Natural environments tend to have positive effects on psychological and physical well-being of children, including fewer physical ailments, better physical growth and improved immunity and stamina, advanced motor skills like coordination and balance. Playing in green space also boosts children’s imagination and creativity as well as improved cognitive development and enhanced awareness, observation and reasoning skills.

Thus, Thakur International School, Kandivali, Mumbai along with its international curriculum, makes cautious efforts for children’s overall growth and development through exploratory learning during science classes and extensive field-trips to museums, botanical gardens, nature parks etc. rather than just a didactic approach.

After all, humans have evolved by living in intimate contact with nature and they will continue to do so. We cannot ignore the fact that humans adore their independence when it comes to their existence, and therefore, the outdoor environment naturally holds great value and significance in children’s learning and discovery as well; their ability to grow and learn through the joy of exploration increases tenfold in the natural world.

As rightly said by Stephen Moss (one of Britain's leading nature writers, broadcasters and wildlife television producers) – “Nature is a tool to get children to experience not just the wider world, but themselves.”