ABSTRACT
The adult’s role in facilitating creative play and learning in natural environments is to be more of a companion rather than instructor. Adults can help children construct their own understandings about the world around them by encouraging self-initiated explorations and experiments. While adults should encourage respect and love for nature, they should avoid telling children “to save the Earth.” Placing the burden of the world’s ecological problems on young children leads to “ecophobia” – a fear of environmental tragedies. The result is alienation from nature instead of a positive connection with it. Leaders in the early childhood field should also take on the role of change agents in their communities and seek to expand the opportunities for young children to be actively engaged with nature.
