NATURAL CURIOSITY

EDUCATING AND NURTURING OUR CHILDREN AT HOME

My children opted out of their mainstream education in 2014 (aged 11 and 9) to pursue their established interests. They have thrived as self-directed learners in their home environment; the only learning environment available to them that provides uninhibited inspiration from the natural world and uninterrupted time to play.

Having observed and researched for many years how children and other mammals develop early bonds, particularly with the natural world that sustains them, I felt inspired to write about my own children's learning experiences. An early introduction to the natural world and our natural history can be the catalyst for igniting curiosity, and a fascination for all things natural can lead to endless questioning and a lifelong enthusiasm to gain knowledge. All role models can prioritise this common interest and allow children to travel down the rich and rewarding path it provides.

Children are part of the natural world and naturally fascinated by all other inhabitants (past, present and under their noses) it was therefore no surprise that my own children felt confident enough to walk away from mainstream education to follow their established interests and explore, ponder, imagine and create their own paths in the comfort of their family home, local communities and via technology.

I hope my own offspring’s learning experiences described in NATURAL CURIOSITY will help to give an insight into what it's like when children, who are naturally and often insatiably curious about the world around them, are inspired to pay attention to their surroundings and rely on their ability to learn through the informal and spontaneous habit of being curious; as perhaps now, more than ever, we need to nurture their curiosity, respect the vital role of parenting, prioritise the natural world as a key learning tool in child development and allow them to discover the wonder and magic of the natural world as a fundamental part of their learning experience.

THE FAMILY HOME

From the moment they arrived, this, their childhood home/habitat offered a secure place to play, observe family members, develop their bonds with those around them and the natural world that sustains them. From a young age - whether they chose to be Indoors or outdoors they could be themselves and learn to…

Explore, Ponder, Imagine and Create

THEIR (EPIC) EDUCATION

THE GARDEN

LEARNING THROUGH THE LENS OF NATURE AND NATURAL HISTORY IS CHILD’S PLAY

During their younger years they would often be outside from dawn to dusk playing, planning and organising their world… meals, toys, transport, tools, sticks, notebooks, journals, books, backpacks, era, location and their camp/sleeping requirements would all be deliberated. More often than not they would pretend or imagine the garden to be an unexplored natural habitat and not being opposed to time travel they did often encounter (or pretend to be) prehistoric animals.

The more flora and fauna the better! An ever changing learning environment where they can (often unwittingly) listen, observe and learn to be mindful of all inhabitants and their needs. Wild flora: Ivy flowers, forget-me-not, wild garlic, dead-nettle, foxgloves, primrose, herb robert, ragwort, dandelions, daisies and thistles have all been encouraged to flourish. These pockets of wildness have continued to thrive and mature along with the children.  

THE STUDY

There is often a window ajar to allow the sights, sounds, scents and of course our friends from the natural world to distract, fly by or simply wander in.

FOLLOWING THE RELEASE OF NATURAL CURIOSITY -

THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE APPEARED ON THE JKP BLOG: JKP PUBLISHERS / 27th JUNE 2016 -

An interview with Lisa Carne about home education and her book:  

NATURAL CURIOSITY 

We spoke to Lisa Carne about her experience of moving her two children from mainstream schooling to home education, and learning through the lens of nature and natural history. 

1 . What inspired you to write this book?

There have been three main inspirations, the first would have to be observing how my children learn in their natural environment at home, especially in our wildlife inhabited garden where they can greet Suffolk’s flora and fauna daily… Which leads on to the second inspiration, our living environment with all the sounds, sights and smells this brings. When we were looking for a family home it came down to a choice of two, one larger property with a small garden and one much smaller property that looked as though it had been dropped rather carelessly into its fairly large plot, so much so that I felt inclined to pick it up and turn it. Anyway, we went for the latter, known affectionately as ‘Scribbler’s Drey’ and it was the right decision. Our children quickly made themselves at home in the garden and the house; from a very young age they were comfortable enough to sleep outdoors whenever they felt inclined and the habit stuck. The third inspiration came from my research; I discovered how, for so many, early encounters with wildlife in their own homes and garden environments or through their travels led them to be very knowledgeable; their nature inspired learning led to fascinating nature filled lives.

2.  Why do you think it’s so important that children learn in the natural/outdoor environment? 

Children simply love being outside, and there is no better environment for children to learn than one which they are enthusiastic about. I think we all instinctively know this but still need to prioritize it as a society. The natural world is something children bond with through their play and this should be acknowledged and respected every day in their mainstream school setting, as well as at home. I think we should be ensuring that this important need is being met.

3.  What factors do you feel are preventing children in mainstream schools from experiencing the outdoors? 

I feel there are two main factors; the first is the current curriculum – it is too narrow, controlling and target driven. The second is where natural history is ‘ranked’ in the curriculum; it’s not viewed as a priority subject and this is a major omission in my view. Allowing our children to learn through our most informative and common interest (the natural world) should be prioritized. Currently though many school settings are often controlling, predictable and confining when it comes to learning. By placing trust in children to learn naturally and recognizing that their own interests do have a value will boost a child’s confidence. Uninhibited play and uninterrupted exploration are instinctive needs for mammals; with this in mind offering children access to an outdoor environment with all the sounds, sights and smells of the natural world to feed their curiosity would make their learning environment anything but limiting, confining or predictable.

4.  What have been some of the challenges of homeschooling?

For me, in truth, there has only been one challenge and that is how to set the scene for a magical Christmas when my children are at home with me all the time. Luckily, Christmas is one of my favourite times of the year and I look forward to this challenge. My children do assure me that Christmas, and the build up to it, remains as exciting as it always has and this is a big relief!

5.  What is natural history and what is your favourite part about it? 

I really like this question… for me, natural history is the discovery or the story so far, with intricate and scientific detail, of the flora and fauna that share our planet now or that once did. It can also be the catalyst for igniting our natural curiosity. Having a fascination in natural history leads to endless questioning and a life long enthusiasm to gain knowledge.

My favourite part is simply being part of it.

6.  Any final thoughts?

There are species across our world that continue to put their offspring’s needs before anything else regardless of the havoc we wreak all around them. Their instinct to nurture appears unwavering. This instinctive drive to protect and nurture is fascinating to observe and we (humans) still have much to learn when it comes to nurturing a child’s natural needs. I hope my own children’s learning experiences, described in my book NATURAL CURIOSITY can help to give an insight into what it's like for a child to learn through nature and travel down the rewarding educational path it naturally provides.