S2E27: The Science Behind Wild Play with David Sobel

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In this episode, we’re talking with one of the grandfather’s of Nature Play and Adventure Play, David Sobel, who gives us some great ideas on suggested outdoor activities for different developmental stages and also chats about some of his most recent research on the differences between children who attend indoor classrooms versus outdoor classrooms.

👉  David shares

• His story and what influenced his childhood and shaped who he is
• How he started his career and what he is working on now
• How to quantify vs qualify the difference between putting children in nature-based education vs indoor learning
• How the pandemic has affected perceptions about children learning in nature
• The relationship and correlation between childhood nature experiences and adult environmental attitudes and behaviors
• The scientifically proven benefits of nature immersion for children
• Advice on how to educate and communicate with parents and educators about risk
• The importance of teaching children to understand how to risk assess from a young age
• Practices for parents and educators that support childhood nature play and exploration
• Developmental parameters for how to think about engaging with nature at different stages

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👉  Links and Resources

https://www.davidsobelauthor.com/
https://www.davidsobelauthor.com/davidsobelbooks
Book Recommendation: The Magus by John Fowles

👉 Guest Details

David’s writing has helped to shape the place-based education movement in the United States and around the world. He’s also a proponent of nature-based early childhood education. That means getting children outside, to play and learn in the natural world and in their communities.

David has worked with the National Park Service, the Children and Nature Network, numerous colleges and universities, a diversity of zoos and aquaria, nature centers near and far, independent and public schools in remote British Columbia and in inner city Boston.

He now lives in New Hampshire and is committed to cold water swimming, the exploration of landscape nooks and crannies and to joyfully embracing the gift of life on earth.

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