Nature-based education. A rampart of quality interactions in early childhood centers in times of pandemic
Keywords:
COVID-19, pandemic, quality of interactions, early childhood center, nature-based education, outdoor educationAbstract
This research aims to describe the quality of interactions in six groups of children (aged three to five) experimenting with nature-based education in early childhood centers (ECE), before (T1) and during (T2) the COVID-19 pandemic, and to study its influence on the latter. No significant decline in the quality of interactions in the natural environment was observed between T1 and T2. The interviews with the educators reveal that wearing personal protective equipment (e.g., surgical mask) was nevertheless a hindrance to the quality of the interactions, while the continuity of the experiences in the natural environment favored it. Nature-based education seems to be an innovative solution to challenges in ECE centers within a pandemic context, as well as other contexts.
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