From Fear to Freedom Risk and Learning in a Forest School

• Published in: YC young children Vol. 74; no. 2; pp. 60 - 67
• Main Author: Taylor, Heather B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Spanish
• Published: Washington National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) 01-05-2019; National Association for the Education of Young Children
• Subjects: Active Learning; Biology; Camps; Childhood Interests; Children & youth; Childrens art; Data collection; Documentation; Early childhood education; Emotional Response; Family (Sociological Unit); Fear; Fear & phobias; Freedom; Learning; Outdoor education; Outdoors; Photography; Preschool education; Schools; Students; Teaching; Teaching Methods; Urban Environment; Video Technology; voices of PRACTITIONERS; New York; Canada; United Kingdom > UK; United States > US
• ISSN: 1538-6619; 2770-856X; 1941-2002

The next day, Kev (an 8-year-old) brought one match from home, which his grandmother had given him. Because we all had established a relationship of trust, his grandmother told him to keep the match in his pocket until we were ready to use it. Because of his prior experiences in camp and with his family, only Kev was successful at sustaining a lasting flame. Since fire is so hot, everyone innately knew how close they could get to the fire while still feeling safe and how long of a stick to use to place items on the grill (or who to ask to do it for them). [...]of her own self-study of her fears, Taylor had a better understanding of and confidence in children's abilities to make wise choices.