At the bottom of a children’s garden is a treasure trove of opportunities, a catalyst for experimentation, to play and create with freedom and intrinsic self-expression…

Recently, I have spent a lot of time critically evaluating the play I have witnessed in the garden since establishing Kinder Harmony in 2015, as part of my studies in Froebelian practice. It has been truly inspiring to come to understand the amount of creativity that happens here on a daily basis.

If I’ve learnt much about my observations, It’s that deeply abstract and symbolic play leads to the lovely unity of a child’s knowledge with their first-hand experiences.

Quite simply, the garden is nurturing creativity in all of us. Whether it’s through the act of gardening, transforming at the mud kitchen (It’s not a mud kitchen; it’s a facilitator of creativity) and investigating our surroundings, or just being in this space, this natural environment, a nature-connected space, is inspiring us to learn and grow harmoniously within it.

Today, I finish with a wonderful quote about the unity of play and creativity, and a few reflective questions to ponder on when you have a little moment…

What types of creativity have you witnessed being nurtured in your garden recently?

What are your favourite activities to observe in the garden?

I’ve been thinking more about how we (parents and practitioners) can facilitate more opportunities for children to be creative in the garden, outside of the context of the arts.

What about movement through the garden, isn’t that a way of being creative for both us and children? Thinking of your next move as you pass through the grass verge or skip along the stepping stones…

How can we provide different ways for children to move through the garden to nurture creativity?

Happy Playing

Dominique x