School's Out: Lessons from a Forest Kindergarten

Gr 2 Up—In the small Swiss town of Langnau am Albis, a suburb of Zurich, parents have the opportunity to send their children between the ages of four and seven to a forest kindergarten. This class is just like it sounds, taking place in the outdoors rain or shine. The students participate in guided activities, but are given the freedom to play as they wish. The theory behind this unconventional kindergarten is that the children will have an opportunity to explore the world through play in nature. They use knives, saws, hammers, and nails to experiment with building and woodworking. If a child is injured, they learn what to do about it and move on to become more careful from the experience. The children learn to build a fire and then use it to pop corn and roast marshmallows. Encouraged to walk to and from the bus stop by themselves, the students learn independence and are not scared to be alone. The experts interviewed discuss how these children have more advanced motor skills than their counterparts in a classroom setting. Hyperactivity disorder, a problem amongst many traditional kindergarteners, has not been seen in any of the forest group. Though this documentary is especially important for adults, younger viewers will love learning about this nontraditional environment.—Jenny Ventling, Greene County Public Library, OH