Awe, wonder, & a moment of delight
This post originally appeared in Dr. Rachel A. Larimore’s weekly Samara newsletter on December 7, 2021. If you’re interested in receiving these emails, scroll to the bottom of this page to subscribe.
I had a moment of delight last week that's too wonderful not to share!
As you know in nature-based education, we talk about three learning spaces—Inside, Outside, and Beyond. The term “Beyond” was coined by Dr. Claire Warden to describe the physical space beyond the designated outdoor play area. She and I also talk about the three spaces on a more metaphorical, philosophical level as Inside (inner self), Outside (relationships with others), and Beyond (connecting to something bigger than ourselves).
In the last few years, I’ve conducted several workshops with well-established nature-based programs focused specifically on the WHY, or purpose, of visiting the Beyond with young children. In those workshops we begin by brainstorming our goals for going to spaces Beyond the fence. The list that emerges from the group always includes awe, wonder, curiosity, magic, and children connecting to something bigger than themselves.
Well, skip ahead to this past weekend when my copy of Dr. Brené Brown’s new book Atlas of the Heart arrived. Using a map metaphor, the book presents 87 different emotions and experiences grouped by those that relate to one another as part of the human experience. My moment of delight came when I looked at the table of contents and Chapter 4 was “Places we go when it’s beyond us” and the emotions included were:
Awe
Wonder
Confusion
Curiosity
Interest
Surprise
As if that weren’t connection enough, the chapter starts out with a quote from Rachel Carson’s The Sense of Wonder (a classic for many in nature-based education). Brown also provides examples of someone looking up at the stars and someone discovering a butterfly chrysalis and going to a book to learn more. This highlights the connection between children’s emotions and intellect as they develop in making sense of the world around them.
I was delighted because Brené Brown’s chapter was validating the important social emotional aspects of our work—particularly in the power of the Beyond. As early childhood educators we work hard to support children’s social-emotional development, which includes creating connection and a sense of belonging. Nature-based education is the ideal tool for accomplishing these goals and helping both children and adults connect with something bigger than ourselves.
I encourage you to think about WHY you take children Beyond the designated play area. Ask yourself how the structure and activities of time in the Beyond are supporting your goals. Is there time and space for children to experience awe, wonder, confusion, curiosity, interest, and/or surprise?
If you're interested in learning more about awe in childhood, check out this article that ran in the parenting section of The Washington Post last week.
Oh, and of course I encourage you to check Atlas of the Heart for yourself! You can find it here. You can find other books I’ve mentioned in this newsletter by visiting our Bookshop.
Keep changing lives,
Rachel
Rachel A. Larimore, Ph.D., Chief Visionary of Samara Learning
About Rachel
Dr. Rachel A. Larimore is an educator, speaker, consultant, author, and former nature-based preschool director. As the founder and Chief Visionary of Samara Early Learning her work focuses on helping early childhood educators start nature-based schools or add nature-based approaches into their existing program. Learn more about Rachel here.
