eNewsletter

Growing up today, our kids are learning to socially interact in person and electronically via text and the Internet. Therefore, it’s important to start at an early age helping them build good character and personal connection skills.

Nature Nurture, an early childhood education program based in San Francisco, couples teaching kindness and good character with time spent in nature. Preschoolers learn to care about themselves, others, nature, and our Earth, their home. “Teaching a young child to honor all living things is as easy as the ABCs. They want to learn and are so open at this age. It is fun and connects them to the earth,” says Nature Nurture founder Linda Constant.

Kindness is the key. Amazing research by Dr. Wayne Dyer reveals that “kindness increases our levels of serotonin, which makes us feel happy and at ease, and strengthens our immune systems.” What a wonderful state to be with your family!

With Spring upon us, enjoy some time outdoors with your kids and find ways to be kind to all living things. Even a purposeful walk down the sidewalk can reveal opportunities to practice good character. Nature is everywhere!

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Move like nature, slowly. Every time you allow yourself to slow down you are likely more aware of your intention and kindness. Model assuredness, and that all is well. You have nothing else to do. (Leave your smartphone behind!)

• Model kindness. Get down on your child’s level and look in the eye when speaking with him or her.

• Don’t stomp on that bug! Move a worm on the sidewalk out of harm’s way. Build a “nest” for the bugs and butterflies with grass, sticks, and flowers.

• Dirt contains lots of possibilities. Make designs or draw letters with a stick. Dig for worms and bugs. Don’t want to get dirty? It’s okay. Lay a blanket on the grass and quietly observe.

• Turn over large rocks or leaves in a damp area. More than likely something is living underneath it. After taking a peek, roll that rock back over the way you found it. Kind of like ‘clean-up time’…when you take something out, it’s nice to put it back.

• Apologize if you communicate in an unkind manner. Keep it simple and clear. For example, “I am sorry I spoke in an unkind manner to you when I asked you to pick up your toys”. Teaching children to handle life challenges effectively and with integrity is important work. As they learn to care about how they are treated, and how they act, children begin developing the seeds of intention while building character muscle memory.

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Nature Nurture combines a passion for the natural world with philosophy of teaching children about kindness. With a unique outdoor classroom - the Presidio National Forest - kids spend time happily being in nature. Whether exploring trails, wide-open spaces, or scouring mud for worms and building "dirt-day" cakes, the children become active learners in the art of being kind to nature, others, and themselves. Small groups allow for individual attention, teaching manners and behavior with patience, respect and humor. Summer Camp registrations open now for ages 3-10 years at the website http://www.naturenurture.com.