Young Children Discover Language in Nature
How can you stimulate the language development of young children? Linguist Jannette Prins investigated whether playing in nature can help. Her doctoral research shows that a green environment enriches the language use of children aged two to seven.
In early childhood and preschool education, language development is essential for children to succeed in school. Prins explains: "We looked at whether playing in a nature-rich environment can support language development and whether this could be a valuable addition to education." Nature-rich areas include elements such as plants, animals, insects, and loose materials like branches, stones, and sand. These could be green schoolyards, small parks, or natural corners in traditional playgrounds.
Prins studied children in daycare, preschools, and the early years of primary school. The children, aged two to seven, each played for 10 minutes in two different environments: a nature-rich area and a traditional, tiled schoolyard. "The children wore a play vest with a voice recorder that captured everything they said," Prins explains. "We analyzed and compared the recordings, focusing on both the quantity and content of their language."
More Talkative
The research revealed that children were much more talkative in natural environments compared to tiled schoolyards. "Nature is a rich environment, full of diverse materials, colors, and shapes, where exciting and complex events occur. Children engage with the elements of nature, play with branches, talk to snails, and ask questions about what they see and experience," says Prins. "For instance, you'll hear remarks like: Is this branch strong enough to swing on? Where has the snail gone if only its shell is left? or How many chestnuts are on this branch? Nature stimulates children's conversations, and the richness of nature is reflected in their language."
Benefiting from Nature
Nature is not only a place to play but also acts as a "co-teacher" that encourages rich language use. This is important, Prins emphasizes: "Rich language supports children's language development. Childcare professionals and primary school teachers can take advantage of this." Language lessons often take place indoors, using books, word cards, and scripts. "These methods are valuable, but there’s more potential. By playing outdoors in a nature-rich environment, you allow nature to contribute to the learning process."
To bring her research into practice, Prins collaborated with five teaching teams to explore ways in which nature can enhance language education. Her message is clear: "Outdoor play happens anyway, so why not take advantage of nature as a co-teacher?"
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