children's interview and project update.

Interviewing parents and learning about their perspective about play and children's interaction with nature was interesting . It brought into my knowledge that parents are very much aware of the benefits of nature. But because of   different reasons such as time, work, stress,and safety and security now a days prevents them from letting children outdooors. Parents think that if they provide their children with video games and other technical toys, children are learning to be much smarter and they are safe indoors. Forgetting that interaction with nature is important for their physical and mental health as well as helps children cope with social problems and releases stress. Also  adults forget that children's opinion has value too. We must listen to their views also. When i interviewed children 100% children wanted to be out doors and loved to play in natural environment,such as climbing trees, walking in rain,watching bugs and snails,finding rolli pollies in creeks.

My interview questions to children were :

1.Do you like to play indoors or outdoors?

2.what do you enjoy most outside?Like to play on slide,trees, sand box,running and playing What do you like?

3.Why do you like to play outdoors or indoors?(i asked according to child's previous answer)

4.What does your teacher do with you outside?

5.Do you like to play alone or with your friends outside?

6.What is your favortie play   indoors?

7. If you cannot go outside because of weather what do you play with your friends, or do you like to play alone?

8.Do you enjoy playing indors as much you enjoy playing outdoors.

9.what do you play with your mom and dad, do you like going on picnics and nature walks?

Another thing i noticed in children's interviews was they always like to play with  their friends outside and share their toys.After my interviews i observed while playing  inside they mostly wants to play by themself.They usually do not want to share their cars or other toys with other children and usually disagreements and fights over some toy start very quickly.Although with teachers interference they do settle down and agree to share but their patience is less than when they are outside. Mostly children were in swimming or gymanastics, some children do go on nature walks and cycling with their fathers. More fathers are invoved in childrens outdoor activity such as taking them to walks and playing with them outside.Which is very good. If they do not go out usually they like to play video games wii and watch movies. One of the girl said she likes play with playdough and likes to write when she cannot go out because of weather or someother reason. she's six years old. She showed me the book named "The Egg". Boys mostly liked to play video games and watch movies and girls liked to play pretend plays with moms or dads or with their dolls/toys etc. I noticed most of them have very less interaction with others at home and every one is busy in themself.

Younger group of children were also very excited to give their interviews. i asked them i want to know how they feel about all play plans so we can plan according to your wishes. they were very excited to tell me about their views.When i asked them do you like to play outdoors or indoors, they all shouted in a chorus outside. i said well why do you like it outside, what's so much fun out there.There was a little pause and answer came , "because i do like it". The other child added because i can climb trees. second said because i can slide.then everyone started giving opinions. It was really interesting to learn.

As i have noticed after interviews when i introduced children our vegetable garden project theywere all very excited and wanted to start it as quick as posible.We first taked about the plants we want to grow in vegetable garden.What is necessary for plant growth. Some children while preparing the vegetable garden found some worms in the dirt and i explained them how important are worms for the healthy soil.They were all aged between 2 1/2 to 4 yrs old. They all planned to gether what they want to grow and where they want to plant specific plants and with adult help planted all plants. Observed when an adult put the fence around the garden to protect it from deers. Which brought  back the memory of our deer track hunt. They all said yes deers do come here we did see deer poop ,remember? every day now they check on their plants and water them.