The Outdoor Life of Children: The Importance of Nature Study and Outside Activities

by Charlotte M. Mason, Deborah Taylor-Hough (Foreword)

Book Number Two in the Charlotte Mason Topics series, The Outdoor Life of Children is a compilation of Charlotte Mason's writings on the topics of Nature Study, teaching natural philosophy, and the importance of children being out-of-doors. Now all of Charlotte Mason's writings on Nature Study and the outdoors (from the original six-volume set) are located in this one, easy-to-use volume.
The teachings and philosophies of Charlotte Mason, a British educator from the last century, are currently experiencing a revival, especially among American private and home schools. Mason's educational ideas were originally used by governesses in England to educate the children in their charge. Eventually, schools based on her philosophies sprung up throughout England, and her original training school became a college to supply teachers for the Parents' Union Schools throughout the world.
Mason developed a lifetime love of learning in her students by actively engaging children firsthand with nature, literature, science, history, art, music, and avoiding dumbed-down materials - what she referred to as twaddle - as much as possible.
The content of The Outdoor Life of Children was compiled and adapted by Deborah Taylor-Hough, long time homeschooling mother of three, author of A Twaddle-Free Education: An Introduction to Charlotte Mason's Timeless Educational Ideas, and editor of the Charlotte Mason eMagazine.
CONTENTS INCLUDE:

Knowledge Through Senses
Out-of-Door Geography
Flowers and Trees
'Living Creatures'
Field-Lore and Naturalists' Books
Walks in Bad Weather
Teaching Natural Philosophy
... and more!
From the Foreword:
"Nature Study is the backbone of introductory natural sciences in Charlotte Mason style homes and school, but Mason also felt it was beneficial for children to spend a great deal of time out-of-doors for their physical, emotional, and spiritual health.
"In spite of often rainy, inclement weather, Charlotte Mason insisted on going out once-a-week for an official Nature Walk, allowing the children to experience and observe the natural environment firsthand. These excursions were nature walks, not nature talks.
"In addition to the weekly Nature Walks, Mason also recommended children spend large quantities of time outside each day, no matter what the weather. Take a daily walk for fun and fresh air.
"I want to encourage those of you who don't have your own fields and forests, there are other readily available opportunities for outdoor play and learning activities. Basically, go outside with your kids as often as you can. You'll all be healthier and happier, and you may even learn a thing or two in the process."
Deborah Taylor-Hough, Seattle 2015
The Outdoor Life of Children: The Importance of Nature Study and Outside Activities is available in both paperback and Kindle ebook formats.

Genres: Education, Nonfiction, Parenting, Outdoors, Homeschool, Nature, Childrens

70 pages, Paperback

First published March 14, 2015

About the author

Charlotte Mason, a renowned British educator, lived during the turn of the 20th century. She turned the idea of education being something of utilitarian necessity into an approach based upon living ideas. She believed that education is "an atmosphere, a discipline, a life" and a "science of relations." Her methods are embraced around the world today, especially among the homeschool community.

Reviews

[Joellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

God Bless Charlotte Mason and her sensibilities!

[Catherine Miller]

“It would be well if we all persons in authority, parents and all who act for parents, could make up our minds that there is no sort of knowledge to be got in these early years so valuable to children as that which they get for themselves of the world they live in. Let them once get touch with Nature, and a habit is formed which will be a source of delight through life.”

[Lekeshua · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a new found appreciation for Nature and studying her. There are so many lessons in her beauty that is outside the realms of subjections and books. Nature is here to care for us and educate us. We can all take a lesson from Charlotte Mason and her emphasis on Nature Study. On the surface we learn about the animals, plants, trees and waterways. But there is so much more to be learned. We learn powerful skills of observation, curiosity, compassion, empathy, survival, passion and nurturing. Along with these skills even academic lessons can be learned from science to geography, to gross and fine motor skills. I agree with Charlotte Mason that this is important to everyone and the earliest exposure the better.

This book has left a everlasting impression on me and now with this grounding, I am looking forward to try anew with my children. We are going to learn and appreciate her together.

[Anna Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel like this wasn’t the best formatted compilation of excerpts. It was nice to have a topical book like this so that I didn’t have to read all 6 of charlotte mason’s volumes. However, it was rather short and jumpy. She did group ideas and topics into chapters but since it’s composed of only excerpts, there’s no flow and no beginning or conclusion to chapters.
I’ll just have to start working my way through Charlotte’s books

[Katie Lesko]

It was a great summary of ideas and thoughts about children experiencing, enjoying, and learning in the outdoors. Going to work on knowing where the sun is at various times in the day and having a sense of direction based on sun and wind! Also want to work to create metal pictures of landscapes similar to what we do with picture study.

[Eva · Rating 3 out of 5]

outdoors activities

I would suggest the author write the parents or the caretaker instead of the mother. In my opinion, every adult taking care of a child should be willing to go out and play :)) Ideas for outdoor activities are quite interesting .

[Rachael Belle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first Charlottee Mason book. Based on everything I know of her, I expected I would enjoy her philosophy. The writing is a bit dry and 'older' format, but the principals and ideas are insightful and well balanced.

[Maria Parvulescu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall a lovely collection of Mason's writings about children and the outdoors. Like all of Mason's work, I feel pretty strongly that modern moms should read it with a good understanding of the context in which it was written and the audience to whom it was directed.

[Julie Machado · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really inspiring. I identified completely with the importance of nature and nature study with kids. Lots of good, practical tips too.

[Grace Kiss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this really made me feel convicted about how little time I spend outside with my son. I have made a great effort to get him outdoors a lot more since then! I know I will revisit as he grows.

[Jenny francis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Remembering siimpler times

Getting back to the basics of a child's education through exploration of the world around him. Definitely a great reminder of how simple an education can be, however a bit dated and boring at parts. A great skim read

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic short book, taken from Charlotte Mason's writings of around 1890.
It discusses the importance of children's self-learning in the outdoors: the powers of observation and discovery. The art of the patent stepping back and simply letting the child "be".
Details include having the confidence to allow children to learn through simple exploring and observing; weather patterns, time, seasons, botany, biology, astronomy. Mother Nature being the teacher.
The book also explains in some detail the art of nature journaling.
A "must read" for all those who follow the Charlotte Mason educational philosophy.

[Ivy Minich · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a fascinating window into an era/way of raising children thoroughly different than our modern times. There were definitely some helpful "takeaways" that I can learn from, but I am uncertain that much of what she writes about could even possibly be duplicated these days. I think it is more likely that she could produce, in at least this reader :), just a general overarching discontentment about our entire worlds circumstances and a feeling of defeat. we just don't live this way anymore...

[Jessica S · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short, quick overview of the outdoor portion of Charlotte Mason's original book. The writing was a little hard to get through, since it was written so long ago, but it really focuses on the importance of kids exploring nature and all it has to offer. Not you, as a parent, guiding the kiddo, but letting them explore freely which I feel in today's day and age of video games, cell phones, and being stuck inside is important. This portion of the original book showed its purpose and point clearly, while sometimes being a little redundant.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good information for a one time read..krb 4/10/16