"Nature Education" is a hot topic in China's kindergartens - not least with Mr Li, who is running Yijie Research Institute for Early Childhood Education in Shenzhen. On November 19th to 21st the institute held a conference focusing on children and nature, and how children can  have the best access to nature and nature experiences. The target group was frontrunners of educators, leaders and investors from all over China. From abroad, several experts participated with presentations both on- and offsite.

One hour video presentation from Denmark

On Danish side we chose to illuminate the topic from different angles through concrete examples and interviews with educators, a researcher, a local politician, a kindergarten leader and a musician. Denmark is known for its tradition of forest kindergartens and taking the children on trips in nature. This already struck Mr. Li, when he in 2019 was staying at Nordfyns Højskole [Nordfyn’s Folk Highschool]. He is fascinated by Danish pedagogy and the approach to children and nature, and he has already experimented with several nature kindergartens in China.

Positive feedback

Several of the Chinese pedagogues and leaders at the conference highlight the Danish educators' natural approach to moving and being in nature. - To let the children's curiosity determine, to let the children crawl, run and initiate activities themselves.

“Your videos made us understand, in nature, in forest, “courses” are everywhere. Not like we thought before, there must be a systemic course in advance, we must preset a curriculum for the children before taking them to nature. This point really inspired me a lot ", says Ms. Lai, leader of the Shenzen Jinying Early Childhood Education Organization.

Ms. Li Haimei, educator at Xi’An Ailu Guozi Childrencare Center highlights how Børnehuset Skoven in Bogense, has chosen to use the positive experiences from the corona crisis in their further work:

"This way of thinking really remind us - using the crisis as an opportunity – of a growth mindset. Every pedagogue should have a mindset of lifelong learning, lifelong growth, to really help our children."

Ms. Li Haimei is also impressed by the small children’s self-help.

“Before going outside, children take on clothes. Some children need help, some not. This is to train children the practical skills in daily life. The adult is helping one child taking cloths on, another a little older does by himself then help other children to take shoes on".