This place has no swings or slides... but children still have lots of fun every day.
The children are in a forest, playing, learning and exploring.
We meet the children of this forest kindergarten.
At 9 o’clock in the morning, we met with 30 kindergarteners at a part in Incheon.
It looks like they’re going on a picnic, but they’re actually on the way to kindergarten.
(Korean, ) "Whether it rains or snows, the children spend
about 4 to 5 hours in the forest every day, learning in nature."
( 4~5 .)
It is very popular, with a long waiting list for admission.
What makes this school special?
(Korean, ) "I loved the fact that this kindergarten has
no set curriculum.
However, my child still speaks good English and Korean because she’s not under pressure."
( . , , .)
(Korean, ) "My child is quite active, so I wanted her
to be in an environment where she can do a lot of physical activities and handle things
on her own."
( .. .)
(SOV) “Let’s go to the forest I’ll have fun
at kindergarten.”
(“ .")
There is no official curriculum, and the children spend most of the day learning and developing
socialization skills in the wilderness.
No matter the weather, children are encouraged to play in the forest.
Adult supervision is intended to assist rather than lead; it’s the children who decide.
(SOV) "This flower is from weeds."
( .)
(SOV) "I have caught long-headed grasshoppers about
200 times.
Now it’s boring."
( 200 . .)
Though it’s sometimes boring, the children carefully observe the forest.
They have no set schedule apart from lunch and snack time; therefore, the teachers never
hurry them.
The children are surprisingly focused.
This process is also beneficial to their emotional stability.
(SOV) "I’d name it ‘Tiger Wasp Spider’ "
"Okay, now its name is Tiger Wasp Spider " - “ ”
- “ ”
(Korean, ) "I let the children play with what interests
them and then ask them to try certain things together.
Therefore, they lead, and I just follow them."
( ? .)
It took the children a full hour to walk and observe the distance that would usually take
adults about 10 minutes.
(SOV) "I want to go to the ginkgo tree forest.
There are so many insects."
(“ )
(SOV) "I like the Spooky Forest.
Frogs are jumping everywhere."
( . .)
(SOV) "We’re going to go to the Spooky Forest
" ( )
The children choose what and where they want to learn.
They also name the objects they see in the forest, which is part of the learning process.
(Korean, ) "This is Sesame Oil Road.
If we drop soil, all the natural objects will fall over there and become soil."
( . .)
At the end of Sesame Oil Road is a huge forest seemingly connected to the sky.
It will serve as today’s classroom.
The children are going to become spiders.
The teacher gives safety instructions as the children hide their eyes like spiders and
hunt food, relying only on this rope.
After group activities, the children enjoy their free time in the forest.
Commercial toys are replaced by nature, but they still have so much fun.
(Korean, ) "People develop the sense of curiosity during
early childhood.
Nature is full of unexpected surprises and offers an enriched environment that fosters
children’s curiosity and creativity.
In this regard, I believe forests and children are very similar, and that this education
is beneficial to them."
( . (or ) ( ) .)
The kindergarten-personnel say that children naturally develop their imagination and creativity
while discovering new objects and creatures in nature.
They also communicate with their friends along the way, which helps them boost linguistic
and communication skills.
(Korean, ) "Children exercise their imaginations and
creativity with natural objects seen in the forest.
Through this process, they naturally develop their creativity, imagination, and concentration.
Also, nature cures or reduces symptoms of a number of allergies over time, including
atopy."
( , . .)
(SOV) "Goodbye"
The children spent a stimulating day in nature.
Parents seem genuinely impressed by their children’s development in this environment,
compared to an ordinary institution.
(Korea, ) "All the parents, including myself, are ecstatic
to see the children return home in dirty clothes because it shows how much fun the children
had in the forest."
( . ( ))
(Korean, ) "My child is becoming more interested in nature.
He physically feels the laws of nature and the changing of the seasons.
It is a true blessing."
( . ( ))
Life is all about discovering and exploring the unknown.
Forest kindergartens help children reach their maximum potential on their journeys of discovery,
as anticipation and interest in this unique education system is growing.