ABSTRACT
Some may ask how nature play relates to environmental education or the development of an environmental ethic. Others may ask when is it appropriate to tell children that they have a role in “saving the Earth” – when they are eight years old, six, five, even earlier? This question doesn’t come with a simple answer. Parents and early childhood educators often struggle with this question and other related issues. They ask: “Should we teach young children about endangered species; is it OK to pick wildflowers and catch insects for close-up study; should young children be involved in cleaning up a community park?”
