Viking Magazine - September 2021 - 17

place and belonging. Our
philosophy of children is that
they are not vessels to be poured
into, but they come to us
capable people with thoughts
and ideas. They are these
wonderful, brilliant little people,
and so together we learn. "
The Outdoors Belong to
Everyone
With all of their mental and
physical health benefits, nature
preschools still have some
room for improvement when it
comes to the diversity of student
enrollment. In a 2017 report,
the Natural Start Alliance found
that white children are overrepresented
in nature preschools,
while children with disabilities,
dual-language learners and
Research by the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency found that Americans spend an average of
90% of their time indoors. Furthermore, children
ages 8 to 12 are watching and using screens four
to six hours a day, which the American Academy
of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry says can lead to
sleep problems, lower grades in school, poor selfimage
and a lack of outdoor activity.
Nature preschools offer an antidote to some of
those challenges. According to the Natural Start
Alliance, outdoor learning touts a host of benefits:
enhanced brain development, improved academic
performance, emotional resilience and selfregulation,
reduction of ADHD symptoms, and
increased physical activity and motor development,
to name a few.
Students in nature-based programs also obtain
important kindergarten-readiness and life skills
as they learn how to evaluate risks, experiment
with boundaries, understand consequences,
become lifelong learners and interact with their
environment.
" We hope that we're raising a generation of
kids who care about things like climate change,
and who will take better care of the earth, " says
Morrill, " But it's also really important that they
feel rooted and connected, and have a sense of
children of color are underrepresented.
Financial aid for tuition helps, but Kellie
Morrill, the executive director for Tiny Trees
Preschool in Seattle, hopes a new piece of
legislation passed this past May will further
expand accessibility. The bill cements outdoor
preschools as a permanent part of Washington's
early learning system, meaning Tiny Trees and
other nature schools in the state can provide more
free and reduced tuition (which, at Tiny Trees,
ranges from $745 to $1,200), apply for federal
grant dollars, and offer both part-day and fullday
programs to meet the needs of families with
two working parents (previously, Tiny Trees was
only legally allowed to offer part-day preschool
programs).
" What we're finding is, even when you offer
financial aid, even when there's economic
inclusivity, you still see mostly white families.
So, we're wondering, how do we be more
inclusive? " says Morrill, who has been partaking
in community events with local families to help
answer this question. " In a very diverse city,
we want to make sure that this is accessible
for everyone. We want to create spaces where
everyone feels welcome and included, and feels a
sense of belonging. "
sonsofnorway.com VIKING SEPTEMBER 2021 17
PHOTO BY SHEILA WILLIAMS RIDGE / MINNEAPOLIS NATURE PRESCHOOL
http://www.sonsofnorway.com

Viking Magazine - September 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Viking Magazine - September 2021

Contents
Viking Magazine - September 2021 - Cover1
Viking Magazine - September 2021 - Cover2
Viking Magazine - September 2021 - Contents
Viking Magazine - September 2021 - 4
Viking Magazine - September 2021 - 5
Viking Magazine - September 2021 - 6
Viking Magazine - September 2021 - 7
Viking Magazine - September 2021 - 8
Viking Magazine - September 2021 - 9
Viking Magazine - September 2021 - 10
Viking Magazine - September 2021 - 11
Viking Magazine - September 2021 - 12
Viking Magazine - September 2021 - 13
Viking Magazine - September 2021 - 14
Viking Magazine - September 2021 - 15
Viking Magazine - September 2021 - 16
Viking Magazine - September 2021 - 17
Viking Magazine - September 2021 - 18
Viking Magazine - September 2021 - 19
Viking Magazine - September 2021 - 20
Viking Magazine - September 2021 - 21
Viking Magazine - September 2021 - 22
Viking Magazine - September 2021 - 23
Viking Magazine - September 2021 - 24
Viking Magazine - September 2021 - 25
Viking Magazine - September 2021 - 26
Viking Magazine - September 2021 - 27
Viking Magazine - September 2021 - 28
Viking Magazine - September 2021 - 29
Viking Magazine - September 2021 - 30
Viking Magazine - September 2021 - 31
Viking Magazine - September 2021 - 32
Viking Magazine - September 2021 - 33
Viking Magazine - September 2021 - 34
Viking Magazine - September 2021 - 35
Viking Magazine - September 2021 - 36
Viking Magazine - September 2021 - 37
Viking Magazine - September 2021 - 38
Viking Magazine - September 2021 - Cover3
Viking Magazine - September 2021 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/greenspringmedia/viking/viking-magazine-nov-dec-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greenspringmedia/viking/viking-magazine-jul-aug-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greenspringmedia/viking/may-jun-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greenspringmedia/viking/viking-magazine-mar-apr-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greenspringmedia/viking/viking-magazine-jan-feb-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greenspringmedia/viking/viking-magazine-nov-dec-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greenspringmedia/viking/viking-magazine-sep-oct-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greenspringmedia/viking/viking-magazine-jul-aug-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greenspringmedia/viking/viking-magazine-may-jun-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greenspringmedia/viking/viking-magazine-mar-apr-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greenspringmedia/viking/viking-magazine-november-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/greenspringmedia/viking/viking-magazine-jan-feb-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202210
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202202
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202110
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202102
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201101
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201012
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201010
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201009
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201008
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201007
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201006
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201005
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201004
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201003
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201002
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201001
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/200912
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/200911
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com