Learning outside... the box : Free to learn and the importance of curiosity and play

The child, bathed in a rich and diverse environment, will naturally develop what is necessary for him to evolve in the world in which he lives. At l’Arbre des Possibles, children can: play freely, alone or with others; be accompanied by the person of their choice in an activity they initiate; follow a workshop given by a “host”. The child is at the heart of this system. He is at the heart of his learning and is its “master”. They also learn to take responsibility for their choices, their learning and the certification and their knowledge of compulsory subjects. When children play freely, they respond to their natural surge of curiosity, enthusiasm and sociability. “... We believed that play was a secondary activity, we devalued it as a hobby, confined to moments of leisure - opposed to learning on the scale of constitutive values. We now know that, of course, it is no accident that nature has equipped us with the ability to play: it is the most surprising, the most efficient, the most suitable and the happiest of development devices. What does the child do when left alone? He plays. And if we never interrupted him, he would always play. Why has no one wondered what would happen to a child who was allowed to play all his life? "

“... Shelled from now on by scientists, the process is as simple as it is crystal clear: enthusiasm acts like a fertilizer. Where we get excited, our brains develop rapidly and spontaneously. Neurobiology proves what we all know from experience: Enthusiasm is the key. He gives us wings, frees us from obstacles. In a state of enthusiasm, nothing is inaccessible any more, and learning is "done by itself". Watching small children shows that they experience a surge of enthusiasm every three minutes. In adults, such an outbreak is only experienced on average two to three times a year ... Why has no one wondered what would happen to a child who was left in his or her life native state of enthusiasm? ", André Stern, 2014.

To renew itself, the school system needs indeed a great deal of Openness, Community, Sustainability. Good guidance for this evolution can be found in the desires and free- thinking of our young ones. And they need all their relations around them to support.

In the next session we will be presenting some ways and reflecting together on how to implement specific outdoor activities in classical schools, such as forest days, adventure days, Skill Markets, etc. We will also be addressing issues of possible obstacles facing schools wanting to implement outdoor activities.