American Reacts to Forest Kindergartens..

[@Attirbful]

Just imagine how sleepy these kids will be after an entire day out in the fresh air and being active. You put them into bed at six p.m. and won’t hear a peep until the morning! Clearly, a win-win situation for the parents, too!😊

[@arnodobler1096]

Parents can have fun too 😂

[@Attirbful]

@@arnodobler1096 you get my jist!

[@arnodobler1096]

@@Attirbful 😉

[@_______Thor_____]

Ja das stimmt, wenn man die Kinder nicht müde macht wollen sie auch nicht schlafen

[@rotfuchs333]

You are absolutely right. there are hardly any problems with children who don't want to sleep or don't have an appetite.

[@annefuchs9668]

(I am a german mom) My boy went to a forest kindergarden till he was ready for school. And I am planing to send my daughter too, when she is old enough (at least 2 years old). It gives them so much and I can see, that my son is different from the other kids (he is almost 7 years old) in playing. Often, other kids are bored because they don't know, what to play with al the plastic- brightly-colord- ready to play- toys you can buy in the shops. My boy for example sees a stick and a stone and immidiately his fantasy kicks in: He imagines a wild-west-setting, playing cowboy or native. He builds little huts from branches and declares them as his castly. Then he is a king in his own country. Of cause, he likes his TV-time. But which child doesn't? ;-) But most of the time he is out in the garden or the forest to conquer adventures, that only are set in his own mind. I love that

[@_______Thor_____]

Ich finde das wirklich toll 👍🏻 zu meiner Zeit ( Jahrgang 1983 ) gab es das leider noch nicht in Deutschland wir waren aber auch so viel in der Natur

[@arnodobler1096]

Boredom is also important for creativity. My favorite toy when we weren't outside was always LEGO. In town there was a nature reserve with reeds, dead trees where we built huts, and bows and arrows. One day I came home with 20 leeches on my legs. Mom almost fainted. 😂

[@tlee4218]

Good for you. Well done. This is great way to teach little humans to use their natural instincts and learned behavior to form thought patterns for critical thinking. The kid in the tree..Yeh scary but maybe this is something he has worked up to, so teachers trust him more bc this is what he wants to naturally do, climb. My little american son while at a babysitters one Sunday morning bc had to work, climbed to the roof from her second story balcony. Everyone there looks for him when suddenly felt must look up and there he was sitting there watching us. Then the fireman came and got him down. He was always climbing things and I never stopped. Nature with nurture means discovering who you are with the confidence to go on. ..ps..my lesson.. never worked another Sunday and never had another babysitter ever.

[@robertkirk4387]

Good for you, I hope both your children continue to enjoy the outdoors.

[@hansdampf640]

Gut gemacht Anne ❤

[@Purplefishish]

I live in Denmark. My grandson was a shy, clumsy boy who hated his kindergarten and just sat in the corner. My son put him into a forest kindergarten and they never looked back. My grandson is thriving, he´s active, happy and playing with other kids and his mototric skills have improved 500%

[@TukikoTroy]

I'm in the UK and I have an online Danish friend who I talk with every day. Sometimes I will say, 'oh it's raining' or 'oh it's too cold to go out' and she will ask me if I have a coat, gloves, a hat. I admit I do and then she shouts at me for not going out. 'Dress for the weather!' she will say. 'You won't melt if you get wet!'

[@Ati-MarcusS]

She is right @TukikoTroy there is no bad weather only bad clothing ... (i´m German...)

[@fishtigua]

My nephew went to an outside school in the UK, his Mum is Dutch. He always came home covered in sh*t and with a big smile on his face.

[@Lilygirl283]

Happy days....

[@KrisThroughGlass]

​@@JU-pq6qureally? My parents gave me a little pocket knife when I was still in kindergarden and I was helping to cut vegetables for dinner at a very young age.

[@dirkspatz3692]

​@J U Everybody is automaitcally covered by the tax financed National Health Service.

[@denisemeredith2436]

​@J U Forest Svhools in the UK have Public Liability Insurance

[@tinekebotman7861]

​@J U the UK has it's national healt insurance for every one. So are the rest of the European countrys. As a European you are automatically insured by your taxes.

[@utebellasteinweg3976]

You can find these forest kindergartens everywhere in Germany. It was understood that independent children with good social and motor skills become responsible adults

[@alterbayer7196]

exactly !!!!

[@user-nm2kb1bg9x]

​@J U Das ist das Problem. Kinder lernen super schnell. Auch mit spitzen Gegenständen umzugehen.

[@nosomusk864]

Even in a normal kindergarten we had a weekly forest day and had to spend at least half of every day outside no matter what weather it was. What I always wondered about is, how they go about afternoon naps. I never got what the point of those was. I never slept, always just had to lie there and stare at the ceiling.

[@nosomusk864]

@J U sie’s positiv früher hätte er eine Handgranate bekommen 😅. Ich glaube aber wirklich das spitze Gegenstände garnicht so gefährlich sind wenn man es denn Kind früh auf die richtige Weise näher bringt sie korrekt und auch nur korrekt zu benutzen.

[@drakulkacz6489]

There are also in Czechia. Not so much but yes.

[@Kari_B61ex]

This was my childhood back in the 60s/early 70s - not at a forest kindergarten. We just spent a lot of time outdoors, climbing trees, making rope swings over streams, tad poling and building dens. At weekends we would be out all day without parents, and go home when our stomachs told us it was dinner time. We learned by playing, and if we fell, we learned to be more careful next time.

[@melchiorvonsternberg844]

I wrote something like that, too...

[@arnodobler1096]

Me too

[@tinahrtusova36]

Me too, in the 70, 80. It was beautiful.

[@marcoberger2442]

Me to, climbing trees, building Bow and arrows, robbing cherrys from neibours Gardens 🤣🤣🤣

[@sabineworner5202]

Me too and my husband as well.

[@yvonnegillman5095]

I'm English and I was brought up as a child just like this. As kids we roamed the countryside making camps and climbed trees, we spent hours outside in all weathers. If someone fell in a pond the other kids pulled them out!! It was WONDERFUL life.

[@centuriobrutuz8907]

Wow, that was fast. I recommended this video yesterday, because my kids are attending a similar forest kindergarten in Germany. Thought it would be an intersting one for you. At first I was also a bit sceptical, but after 3 years I would never go back to a indoor one. My kids are loving it. A bit of information if you like. There are groups of twenty kids from age 3 to 6 together in the group. The older kids watch over the younger ones and teach them the do and dont's. To use the knifes you have to be five years old and absolve a little test. They are very proud when they pass and are very cautios and doing it consciously.

[@Lilygirl283]

Thanks for recommending, it is a lovely and eye opening video...

[@Fyrwin]

"Schnitzen nur im Sitzen" whittle only when sitting down. Don´t run around with a knife in your hand. The Kids also learn to be careful with fire.

[@dawi8929]

What the kids learn there was taught to my generation by our grandparents - oh my - almost 70 years ago. Today's grandparents and great-grandparents have other interests or live in nursing homes. That's why it's so nice to see that this knowledge is not dying out and the children are learning it again.

[@scarletred8888]

Fantastic!

[@sputnikmarko]

Fresh air gives energy to the brain. This certainly increases the processing of information. When the kids come home, nice dinner, talking about the day and tired enough to sleep well.

[@pixelbartus]

It was fun to see your journy from your concerns because of children playing on a brickwall to appreciating forst kindergardens after only 3 videos. It is always interesting to see reactions from people that allow themselves to challenge their wordlview. Thats very rare

[@melchiorvonsternberg844]

If you are in that age like Joel, your world view isn't made of the iron of the many years of live experience...

[@Winona493]

​@@melchiorvonsternberg844 He is very very open-minded which I appreciate a lot!!!!

[@melchiorvonsternberg844]

@@Winona493 You're right!

[@TheDiplococcus]

I note one huge difference between the Danish forests and those in the UK/USA that are near to housing... I did not see a single piece of litter or trash anywhere. The places were so clean and well respected. Wonderful to see.

[@peterpain6625]

I bet there is some trash but if littering in a forest is as expensive in Denmark (fine-wise) as it is down here in Germany it's not that many people that do it. I've seen SCARY fine-amounts in the local newspaper even in the 90s for littering "in nature" ;)

[@Salty_old_Viking]

@@peterpain6625 I don't think many "normal people" in Denmark think of fines when it comes to littering. I guess it's more the fear of social exclusion/condemnation if you litter. Fines are mostly for low-lifes with a litter-culture, where further social condemnation is not possible/has no effect.

[@peterpain6625]

@@JU-pq6qu I've see people to pay through the nose for that though last year. With an additional fine because everything was so dry...

[@peterpain6625]

@@JU-pq6qu Es war ziemlich teuer. Ich glaub €80 für die Kippen/geleerten Aschenbecher (Naturschutzgebiet) und €200 für "offenes Feuer in einer Brandzone". Aber die waren auch ned das erste mal da. Permanenten Platzverweiss gabs auch gleich ;)

[@peter_althoff]

@J U Cigarettes, cans and so on would be a small problem in the US. Watch US TV shows with people living off grid, in rural places or even the outskirts. The properties are often filled with collapsed sheds, broken cars, destroyed machines, fridges and the list goes on and on. You rarly see this kind of trash on peoples properties in Europe.

[@DerFlai]

Here you can see very well why children need so many different shoes. With just one pair of shoes you just don't get very far in the different weather conditions.

[@Hansen710]

as a dane i see why one pair of shoes are needed.. we are not german 🤐

[@ThorbjrnPrytz]

You can get by with only one pair, but your demands for those shoes are different.. They need to be waterproof, breathable, sturdy and comfy. Add wollen socks when in cold weather, and you are good!

[@ReZenTboii]

As a danish pedagogue student with a profile in nature and sustainability we learn about the research in risky play and the importance of this. The kids learn so much about themselfs and their abilities when they overcome stuff and when they fail. When they learn exactly what is possible they get even more connected to themselfs and earn self esteem and much more. Other than that there is so much learning in the nature and they get skills for a life time during those years. Its also important to point out that the years in a forrest kindergarten getting an attention towards the nature will follow you the rest of your life.

[@pfalzgraf7527]

You actually do learn some physics, biology and chemistry when you are outside all the time as a kid. And you learn it through experience. The structure and maths of it all can come later - and they just might come easier for kids who had such experiences when they were little. Also: of course, motor skills and so on are a good basis to become an adult who still likes to work out in some way as an adult - - and stay healthier. Makes for less health care costs individually and for society as a whole. Just some aspects that make this approach really worth while!

[@dawi8929]

And not to forget: the happy children who can report great experiences every day. This is how they become mentally stable adults.

[@dawi8929]

@J U immer positiv denken! Die 80er bis 2000er waren schon ein Ausfall. Die heutige Generation ist immerhin ein Lichtblick. Hoffen wir das Beste! ;)

[@martinajunkers4315]

Same in Norway. It's so cute to watch them running around the forest, like little dwarves.

[@b.v.nielsen8714]

You think it's a kindergarden? It's a Viking Training Camp for our cool kids. 😊

[@natasamladenovic1765]

😂

[@b.v.nielsen8714]

@ST H But no vikings...😆😆

[@b.v.nielsen8714]

@ST H 😆🇩🇰💕

[@b.v.nielsen8714]

@@natasamladenovic1765 He-he. It's legacy 😀🇩🇰💕

[@viking9227]

Absolutely Rigth 😂🇩🇰👍

[@philplace2726]

Hey Joel, the Old Brit here again! What a great video; never even knew these existed...! what a fantastic way for kids to learn, getting muddy, climbing trees splashing in water and learning by experience! It doesn't get much better than that!!! Yeah clothes get dirty, hands n face get dirty, cold, wet, scrapes, bruises etc but it looks a lot more fun than sitting in front of a screen watching moustachioed Go-karter's! Brought back a fond memory of coming home after a long productive day of of damming a stream in our local woods... absolutely covered in mud, torn jeans and T-Shirt and fully expecting mum to go ballistic! She took one look at me and burst out laughing! Said "I'm NOT washing those! Get in the bath..." when I got out she just put my clothes in the bin (Trash can!) and talked about what we'd been up to... One of my mates (a lot less muddier than me) didn't fair quite so well... he was banned for a month from playing out with me and my best friend... that was over 50 YEARS AGO! Just goes to show how the happiest memories linger... thanks for posting this, put a real smile on my face! Take care mate!

[@alicemilne1444]

5:22 "A horror movie vibe"?? Oh boy. That just shows what a fear-based culture there must be in the USA. When I was a kid playing outside in Scotland, a penknife was an essential tool for building a den in the woods.

[@sommergarten]

he said that because of the birds were shown a scene before and bc of the eerie music when the kid took out his knife

[@uwewilcke7789]

I love your mind transformation because you are ready to learn. You are an outstandning example of what Americans could learn if they were a little bit open to what happens outside their small universes (USA, State, Countys). Thanks for giving me a little confidence that Americans might change!

[@enemde3025]

What's so unusual to you about kids climbing trees and playing outdoors !? It's just a natural way of growing up ! I did it as a kid in the UK, as did everyone I grew up with. We would leave the house in the morning and come home in time for our evening meal. Happy days !

[@dawi8929]

We live in a small village in Germany and have wonderful nature right on our doorstep. A great adventure playground. But you don't see a single child. They all play indoors. From an early age they are told that bacteria in the mud, parasites in the meadows and the fruit picked from the tree make you sick and that all animals in general are dangerous. I often have to pull myself together not to kick these parents' a..

[@melchiorvonsternberg844]

@@dawi8929 lol... You're right!

[@seeyouanon2931]

@Anemde Same as! Lol I swear we were almost Ferrell but in a good way. By the time we had got home, we looked like we had crawled through the hedge backwards after taking a mud bath lol.

[@Punki001]

That is what we call freedom in Europe.

[@antheabrouwer3258]

This is amazing! I work in Early Childhood in Australia and it is over-regulated!! And so many parents want their children to be bubble wrapped. And we have to take photos all day long. And write observations and learning stories to show what we are teaching them. And summative assessments (reports). It's exhausting with all the caring duties we have to do to.

[@peterpain6625]

Yeah same here in Europe. It's getting worse. I could carve wood with a knife without cutting off important parts off myself at 7-ish. Now kids seem to need special dulled knifes to not cut their fingers off when cutting anything. It's ridiculous. I grew up in the sticks though. Our mums had to basically hose us off with the garden-hose to tell us apart at dinner/supper time when i was young :D

[@antheabrouwer3258]

@@peterpain6625 Exactly. When a mother tells me that because her son is learning to roll over, I have to place cushions all around him?? So how is this child supposed to learn to crawl??

[@dawi8929]

The very idea of ​​this is frightening to me. No wonder the whole world is going crazy. I am now a great-grandmother and we have always made sure that our children and grandchildren have close contact with nature and learn for themselves. Even if it wasn't "hot" right now. I think it's great that the young generation is so open to so many different paths

[@melchiorvonsternberg844]

Well... In Australia, with all that extrem toxic animals, it could be make more sense, than in Europe, where all the really dangerous animals are anhilated in the neighbourhood...

[@thechaoseclectic]

Yup im right there with ya! So much work, and so little pay!!

[@lizzy3332]

I'm German and i was in a forest kindergarten very similar to that. we had a small trailer with a roof and a dixie toilet for if the weather was too horrible, but honestly we spent most of the time outside. we also have a forest behind my home and i spent most of my childhood running around and exploring the forest with my siblings. we would often spend hours in the forest without adult supervision. if we ever got hurt we would help each other home. if someone got stuck in a tree we would run to get a parent. the only real threat was the wild boar, but we always kept a respectful distance and there was never an issue. before we were allowed to be in the forest unsupervised, my parents made sure that we knew all the main pathways between our village and the next closest 2 villages. there was never an issue of us getting lost. if we ever didn't know where we were, all we had to do was find a larger path and follow it for a while before we knew where we were again. last week, my dad and i walked home, through the forest, from the next village over, in the dark, after having 7 beers each. we knew exactly where we were and how to get home for the entire walk. we even intentionally took several detours because we were enjoying ourselves and the night was pleasantly mild.

[@maleboglia1775]

In many countries parents teach their children that nature is an enemy because it is dirty, dangerous, uncomfortable, wet and hurtful. As these children learn that nature is your friend, something that protects you, nourishes you, lets you breathe! What do you think, which children later have the better, more balanced life?

[@ronaldderooij1774]

My son was 4 years old and played in a Dutch city park with a bunch of kids from his street. I don't remember if there was supervision. I was not there. I went to get him for lunch and did not see him at first. He was in the top of a tree just like in the first minutes of this video ON WOODEN SHOES! I was quite amused as he said to me that he had difficulty coming down. Well, I said. Figure it out slowly. You came up, so you can come down too. It cost some effort to calm him down and think about the return way from the ground where I was. But eventually he saw he did not have a choice, and came down, very slowly. He felt so proud and learned that he had to make a mind map when climbing trees in order to be able to come down. He climbed trees every day since then (yes, with wooden shoes) and never had any problems to return safely to the ground.

[@ktinxx]

Hoi Ronald, prima gedaan! Jaren geleden zei ik altijd tegen mijn dochtertje van 3, 4 jaar oud: 'je mag op alles klimmen waar je zonder hulp naar boven komt. Als je het je lukt omhoog te klimmen, weet je ook hoe je weer omlaag moet komen.' Ze is nooit ergens van afgedonderd. 🙂

[@laureldixon4123]

I was born in 1964 and I was amazed by your amazement at the kid in the top of the tree at the start of the video. That was everyday play for kids of my era. Good times.

[@zasou571]

Same here ^^ (born 66) during our holidays and weekends there was not a single day we spend inside... Breakfast and than have fun outside: climbing the highest trees we could find, building huts out of wooden sticks and leafs, playing with mud, collecting insects, ..... Wish, i can have these times back! 😅

[@itiswhatitis141]

That kid was really high in the trees tho...what happens if he falls

[@aaaaa5272]

@@itiswhatitis141 We will never know, because hi did not. Neither will we know what happens if he eat the spider.

[@hanymessiha1416]

I'm 61 years old . . . traveled to over 30 countries, and it NEVER ceases to AMAZE me how there is SO MUCH we can all learn from each other . . . this is BRILLIANT, if only more people kept an open mind. To quote one of my favorite lines from a movie; *"Life is a Banquet, and Most Poor Suckers Are Starving to Death"* [Auntie Mame, 1958]

[@hanymessiha1416]

I highly recommend the movie by the way, just be ready for it as it is a bit on the long side, back when peoples' attention span was a bit more than it is now LOL (2h23m with an intermission about half way through)

[@hrussell9677]

Our kids went to Montessori School in preschool in the U.S. and they were taught to use authentic materials inside and outside the classroom. I was shocked when I walked in one day to watched my very rambunctious 3 year old cutting carrots with a real kitchen knife and cleaning up, serving his classmates, and pouring water from a porcelain pitcher and walk around to each classmate. Outside they had a play yard filled with woods, and other natural play structures.

[@renenielsen92]

Have you ever heard about the zero emission recycling power plant in the center of Copenhagen, that has a public park and a ski slope on its roof? Denmark has many aternativve energy solutions, green planning and a very interesting biking culture too.

[@martinmyggestik292]

I went skiing there once - it's pretty amazing.

[@tomkirkemo5241]

I'm 51 now. But I grew up in a VERY rural area in Norway. With a grandfather that was a local butcher and a lumberjack. My father was/is a carpenter and a hunter (and earlier Home Guard, as in military) and a knife smith. My other grandfather was a WW2 veteran. I grew up with meat, knifes and guns. Playing in the forest, climbing trees...using knifes. If you do it the rigth way, there is nothing to be scared of. And it teaches you a whole lot of things in the process. :)

[@alexanders5139]

(I am a german dad) When I was a child (about 6 to 10 years) it was absolutly normal for me to climb on trees much higher than the one in the beginning of the video. We trained jumping from 2 to 3 meeters to figure out how far we can go till it's getting tough to land. I also had a knife which l took into the woods on my own, when I was 6 or 7, no big deal. My parents simply showed me how to use it safely before I was allowed to take it with me alone. Today, as a parent of three, it is actually very hard for me to give my children the same freedom. As a parent you often see only danger not the opportunity to grow. I always try to remember how I was raised to overcome the urge to overprotect my children.

[@Blvckbirdz]

Hahaha so normal for Germany, I remember climbing on high trees everyday when I was child and it never was a problem for my parents or other adults. Often times alone with friends outside with no adults around as my parents gave me the trust to know myself and what I am capable of.

[@manuelrentz4728]

Wir haben immer die Kirschen gegessen 😂

[@carolineskipper6976]

We have a few 'Forest Schools' in England now - particularly for pre-school age children. A lot of primary (elementary) schools have a 'Forest School' element to thir curriculum, where they spend some time each week (throughout the year) in a natural environment. It's great for physical development obviously, as well as teaching teamwork, investigative skills, and risk assessment, in addition to learning about nature and the environment itself. There are a lot of concerns generally these days that we are bringing up kids who don't know how to assess risk appropriately, because we have taken away all responsibility from them and made their world too 'safe'. With older children it's a great way to teach the traditional subjects like reading writing and math(s) in a stimulating and real-world context.

[@seeyouanon2931]

We have always had nature walks and nature studies in our schools in the UK. Also when I was a kid we would play down by the brook, catch bully heads and crayfish, climb trees, polevault across the brook just to name a few things, go camping, and survival training, make and build things together, I was also very lucky in the fact that one of my grandfathers was a gamekeeper and pest controller as well, so we would go with him on his jobs, we also had little chicken chasers when I was 10yrs old, and we had to fix it ourselves if it broke down (bodge jobs as a temporary solution) we would run through the fields barefoot, shooting, skinning and gutting, almost like a Ferrell wild child but with manners and respect for the animals and nature and people. It taught us how to appreciate and respect everything you had, know exactly where everything you ate came from and the process from beginning to the end. Many times we would go home with cuts and grazes and bruises, and the random lost or injured animals and birds lol We sometimes looked like we had crawled through the hedge backwards, but great fun and a great feeling of freedom and free to use our imagination when playing.

[@kdog4587]

Yeahh we're in the UK and my son's at forest nursery and he's 3. They can't go until 2 here because of insurance but it's amazing.

[@Kloetenhenne]

I love how you're so reflective. Very interesting to hear that you question everything you have experienced.

[@matthewrandom4523]

What a magnificent concept to prepare children for the real life, teach them what they need to know, and let them have fun at the same time, isn't it? Well done, Denmark! I'm glad we also have these "outdoor" kindergartens here in Germany.

[@ESCLuciaSlovakia]

We have a few forest kindergartens in Slovakia too, but even in our regular kindergartens the kids go out everyday. If the weather is too bad, like heavily snowing or raining, they don't. My kindergarten was right next to a forest and we were going there almost every day. I remember playing there with sticks, leaves, acorns... I still remember that mushroomy smell of the forest. It was nice. Kids from kindergartens usually go play outside the building on a playground or they go for a walk in the streets.

[@blondkatze3547]

That`s a great Kindergarten in the middle of the nature in Denmark. Here in Germany there`s a saying that there`s no such thing as bad weather only bad clothing. And it`s true it`s so important that the children can play outside in nature and let their energy out. Climb in the trees etc., we did that in our childhood and it didn`t do any harm.😊💙

[@lisaphares2286]

I grew up like this. We played all day outside and just came home for lunch and dinner. We climbed trees, swam, rode bikes and played games on the lawn. I raised my sons like this too. Raked leaves for them to jump in, taught them to ride bikes, play in the dirt, walk to school, they had video games, but they would always say let’s go outside to their friends after an hour or so. I took them hiking, fishing and camping.

[@k.s.8064]

JP, we have those kind of kindergardens here in Germany, too. And I do love this concept. I was born 1980 in the former GDR and in my kindergarden I was outside daily for 3-4 hours. Being outside if its raining, snowing or sunny improves the immune defense system so much and we learnt so much about the nature. We build things in groups, we had outside competitions and the funny thing is, I never had any of the childhood illnesses because my immune system got really strong. I only had colds. And believe me, you can't compare the time you spent inside to the time outside. For a kid, the creativity just flows and everyday you see new things.

[@nelerhabarber5602]

Thanks for your reaction to this, I knew you would like it. I am from austria and we have this also here and in germany too. My daughter visited a "normal" kindergarden, but we have a weekend cabin in the mountains and she learned also at the age of three, four skiing, swimming, ice skating, climbing.....from/with us parents! She is now 24, spending her free time mainly in the nature (forest, mountain, lake...) and learns for her studies as an animal doctor sometimes sitting in a tree if possible!!😁

[@lillibitjohnson7293]

This is the most perfect way for kids to learn and have fun outside. Excellent job!!

[@thorschramme1]

we built Treehouses, when we where children, in the top thirds of Larches. 15 to 20 Meters High, jeah, best childhood ever, learned how to adjust timing on 50cc mopeds with 8 to 9, learning how to drive a traktor same age or much earlier, how to use tools and much more, only 30 years back ;-) it was a very nice childhood :-) if i had kids, which I dont have (I Regret this most) , they would get a nice childhood, Kids need to explore try and learn :-)

[@lindsaymckeown513]

Back in my day (1960s) we used to be out from breakfast to evening meal here in Scotland, often in fields and forests, building dens and go carts, identifying plants and animals/birds, climbing trees, fishing, making mud pies, building fires, using Swiss army knives and tools, learning from older kids and by making mistakes. At school we always had field trips and half days out learning stuff outside and as we got older this changed to other practical skills like car maintenance. This mostly stopped when we moved into the city and everything was more controlled and less adventerous

[@magdaemv]

I‘m so grateful my parents put me in a kindergarten where I was in the woods 24/7 made me learn a lot about nature and respect it more and not be disgusted by mud, bad weather or insects…they put a lot of trust in us kids and I think that made most of us very brave and independent

[@dan438]

This is a great reaction video. OP going from shock seeing the child in the tree to being actually envious of their way of doing things.

[@praguelife325]

We have a lot of these forest kindergartens here in the Czech Republic, too, both of my children attended it and we never regretted it. I think it’s very good and healthy :) US have a lot to learn :)

[@rudymorganti7155]

Love 2 see happy children. I'm 60 and that was how we played every day. Thanks for the flashback. Greetings from 🇮🇹🇧🇪🇪🇺

[@CPHLiving21]

Greetings from Denmark. Love your deep dive into Scandinavian living

[@LoneRanger100]

I love walking through Wimbledon Common seeing the kids in their woodland classes, no matter the weather, none of them complaining, it’s clear they thrive on it!

[@MichaelHviid-d9m]

It was nice to see how you reacted to one of the things we do differently in Denmark. It is also good to see how much of an inspiration this was/is to you. Wonderful reaction. Like and subscribe, with much ❤ from Denmark. Michael

[@thecrackofdawn3672]

Thats why I love the north of my land. The north of Germany. in Schleswig Holstein and in the south of Dänemark children learn Deutsch and Danish at school. ....and english. Germans love these Vikings. I love the scandinavian people. ❤

[@lindaostrom570]

this is wonderful. reminds me of being a kid in the 50's we were into everything and went everywhere....home for supper!!!

[@erzsebetnilsson580]

This video when you came out with it were the MOST VALUBLEand BEST for me ! THANK YOU Jps

[@eisikater1584]

I'm so glad I grew up in the Bavarian Forest in the 1970s and, as the name of the region implies, the forest WAS our kindergarten, as there were no official kindergartens back then. We got instructed by our parents about things like, do not make a camp fire when it's dry, leave ant hills alone, and don't eat mushrooms you don't know, come home when the church bell rings. Now, in 2023, where our forest was is a huge hotel with a "foresty" interior, and the remains of our playground forest are really sad to look at.

[@denitaomanovic3462]

We are all a little envious of Denmark! 🤣 No, really: they're great and we love them! Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden... they're doing some things right up there and Germany is lucky to be so close. It's even easier to pick something up there! 😅 Oh well, actually with all our neighbors (so also Switzerland, Netherlands, etc.). The ones in the north are just especially great! ❤️

[@meinich5488]

No reason to be envious, because in Schleswig - Holstein we have quite a lot of Waldkindergarten, and most of the normal ones in villages at least keep the kids playing outside even if the weather is nice. Or they take them to the beaches where they can learn and experience a lot. If only our schools were quite like the Danish ones....

[@cctvmanbob]

How fantastic !! This is what is needed these days .. kids need to be kids . this makes me smile and nod at everything they are saying !

[@poulmadsen7969]

I like your style. You watch and learn and are willing to make change. For example @11:00 it's like you're saying "I must unlearn everything I've learned" - exactly what Joda told Skywalker

[@jessquinn6106]

We used to have field trips every Friday into the backwoods of our school back in the 70's and 80's. Gods, I miss that. Climbing trees, catching salamanders and frogs, whittling sticks, starting camp fires, growing moss and fern gardens.

[@4blueelefants]

Common in Germany too. My daughter went to a Beach Kindergarten. About the same, but they also had the local beach (baltic sea) to go. Building sandcastles, fishing for small critters and observing them (and release them safely afterwards). They had small huts for each group though and sanitary facilities (that's what I didn't like about "regular" forrest kindergartens).

[@scarletred8888]

This is such a great idea - a lot of kids nowadays, especially city kids, have zero experience of nature and don't have much opportunities to play outside, it must be so beneficial for their development both physically and mentally, wonderful video.

[@NicosLeben]

1:50 That's exactly the stuff I did with my friends all day long. Climbing trees to the top just before the trunk was too thin to hold me. It was sooo much fun!

[@davemapp1571]

Such a great video. I am all for children spending as much time in their formative years outdoors learning about the natural world. Far better than on a games console I think.

[@tschaytschay4555]

Another great reaction. :) For somethingelse thoughtprovoking, I would recommend to watch videos about prisons in Germany/ Scandinavia/ Finnland. Of course I don't know how you think about the prison system in the US and prisoners/ criminals in general but from my experience US Americans are shocked most of the time when they hear about and see prison systems where the focus is on rehabilitation and not punishment, so it might also be interesting for you. :)

[@JohnDoe-us5rq]

I'd loved to be young again and run through the forests. That must be so much fun.

[@klausschneider1045]

We sent our foster son to a forest kindergarten in Germany, and this was the best choice we could have made. Two groups of twelve kids, each with two educators - and plus one single graduated biologist. Little Leon learned to identify different kinds of trees, birds, flowers and how to beware objects which could be dangerous. He developed good coordination, manual skills - and got rid of an obstructive bronchitis he suffered from before within a few weeks. When he came home, he was happy, had a decent appetite and looked dirty like a fresher - what fun he had standing there in his rubber dungarees getting cleaned off with the garden hose...

[@babyboomerinc]

I've never heard of this before - but I grew up a tomboy climbing trees etc in the 60s. This sounds like a great idea

[@richardhunter7363]

From 18mth old, I lived in a house that backed onto a wood - we spent vast amounts of time in there (even though it was private and we shouldn't be in there) - playing hide and seek, climbing trees, playing in streams - it was a great place to grow up.

[@susannepalm9740]

It was me who suggested the video! I am happy you watched it! And I'm really glad you saw what an amazing way it is to learn skills and build confidence in themselves as young children.

[@caythorgrimson]

i worked in one of thise kindergartens and there was alot of great things but one i thing was the responsebillity the kids showed for each other its amassing

[@martinaklee-webster1276]

That explains the "shoe Thing" 😂 Greetings from Germany

[@jennil7797]

In the US, kids go from nursery to kindergarten after nursery at age 5. In most of Europe, kindergarteners are 3 and up or even younger. My grandson graduated to handling a knife to sharpen sticks for toasting marshmallows over an open fire a week before is fourth birthday. Readiness was determined by behaviour and skills, not age.

[@akyhne]

A kindergarten in the US, is not the same as one in Denmark or other European countries. An American kindergarten is a kind of preschool, whereas in Denmark its a kind of nursery, followed by a 1 year pre+school, called børnehaveklasse.

[@Shendril]

A wonderful reaction vid. I am glad to see how you have changed in your perspective about kids growing up and learning. There is a great mindset condensed in the words 'we should not consider them as 'just kids' they are young personalities'. Can't remember who said that, sorry... The forest kindergarten provides that mindset and environment: you put trust in these young personalities to know what they are doing, you provide guidelines, help and protection where needed. The greatest thing these kids learn is, that they are able, their actions have an impact, an effect. This provides self-esteem and trust into their own abilities, and also lets them call for help, if needed. Made a similar experience with our 3year old just two days ago: huge tower (4m) with a slide (German playground of course ^^) and kiddo chose to climb up the slide tube inside (realising it is easier barefoot). Once on top: Proud like a god! Then came the realization of the height and the rather complicated climb down (no ladder but a complicated set of beams and small plateaus inside the tower). 'Daddy, help me, I am scared!' No worries, so I climbed up inside the tower and guided the way down: put your feet there, cling on to that beam... focus, now lower yourself... good. And we climbed down together... 20 seconds later: guess who is climbing up the slide again? :D We want our children to become independent, strong personalities, yet in many countries we spend so much ressources on making sure, they never get a chance to develop into that direction. Keep up your great work! *subs, likes* Love&Peace Shen Edit: also great to see around 12:05 - high quality food! Fresh veggies in abundance. I think, kids not liking vegetables is a myth propagated by a sugar loving industry of sweets and junkfood. ;) - and cooking together with your kids is just pure joy

[@johnfisher9816]

Great video Joel. I would have loved that type of kindergarten. As a kid, we lived on the edge of town across from woods, swamps, old orchards, farmland with no fear of bad people. The rule for all the kids was to be home by the time that the street lights came on. In the summer, we could be gone all day, with a packed lunch. My dad taught me to whittle wood with a knife young too - as well as that a dull knife is more dangerous than sharp one. Litigation, especially in America, has reduced these freedoms for parents, teachers, and especially kids. I don't know if we have anything like a forest kindergarten here. Very cool indeed, John in Canada

[@sinebachrenleff847]

Dane here. I went to a forest kindergarten as a child and it taught me so much about nature and animals! I’m getting quite nostalgic while watching this lol. It’s been over 15 years now, but I have a specific memory of when me and a friend actually smuggled ourselves out (unsupervised) and walked across a road (where cars would pass by) to walk over to the forest to play. When we were done, we walked right back to the kindergarten and the caregivers were flabbergasted. They hadn’t even noticed we had been gone (we were only 3-4 years old)😂 oh and the carving wood with knives is another thing! We all got taught how to use the knife and not a single kid (while I was there) got hurt. The only time I’ve witnessed someone getting hurt like that was when one of the adults/caregivers accidentally cut themself on a knife and had to be taken to the hospital.

[@pedersen1975]

Glad you liked the video, I was one of apparently many who suggested it. It's a real eye opener for many people.

[@Alice-hp6yb]

I’m in the UK and I absolutely love this! Of course the children will also be constantly learning and problem solving all day too. They’ll be counting, estimating, using their imaginations etc just not in a formal setting. My children did forest school sessions in primary school but only one day a week for six weeks each year! Then farm school, making wood chip paths, chopping veg, feeding the animals, science lessons in nature.

[@thorstenbrandenburg4338]

Our kids (Germany) had a forest week every now and then. Spending whole days out in the forest. And by the way - there are many many good reasons to envy Denmark.

[@katarinahaglund6338]

We have this in Sweden to, our kids spends most of the time outdoors. When my sons were in kindergarden i would pick them up at the beach during the warmer season of the year. That's true freedom.

[@galaxygamer3322]

we have these is some schools in Tasmania, Australia. Our old school had 'forest school' every week from Kinder to grade 6, in Autumn the students would make 'forts' with what the students had found during forest school, the students love it

[@gbp4998]

We used to grew up like this. Playing on the street until dark comes. Climbing trees and play in the mud. We played in the rain and in the snow until our fingers are cold are freezing. We didn't have parents following us around. We followed older kids and learnd from them. I learned to push myself physicaly when it gets hard, to overcome anything even when i was little. I climbed trees to the very top as well. 😊 and when we went to the country to visit grandparents on the farm this was literaly how we spend our time on the farm.

[@geekexmachina]

There are some of these sorts of groups in the UK, there was one operating in the wood behind one of my previous scout groups.

[@leaheljac]

I didn’t go to a forest kindergarten, but climbing trees was my favourite pastime as a kid. When my mom picked me up from kindergarten, the adults would tell her I was in a tree and she would yell for me to come down and wait by the door so she didn’t have to see me do the climb. I never got hurt. I get why especially parents might be worried, but I also think kids are more resilient than we give them credit for.

[@sanSDI]

Yes, thank you for watching what I recommended. Kids can do so.many things, if you teach and trust them right! Lovely Reaction❤

[@jenniferharrison8915]

This was basically my experience as a child, without the supervision and time limits, admittedly I grew up on a beautiful farm and we knew our neighbours! We also learned from silly accidents and were aware of all our basic safety limits - including avoiding snakes! As long as we were home for dinner and our homework was done, we were free (until we were teens)! I remember I was tired one day and tried to take a shortcut through a barbed wire fence, I still have the leg scar to remind me! It was a wonderful life, and prepared me for living and surviving in a big busy city, confident to be unique and creative, and really explore the world and life with an open curious mind and open heart! Life's limits are simply personal choices, with a solid grounding in cause and effect! 🤗👍

[@KrisThroughGlass]

I'm glad you liked my suggestion. I'm German and there's a forest kindergarden 2 walking minutes away from my house, or maybe right behind my house if you count the whole forest. Unfortunately it's only open from 8am-2pm so anyone working more than 5 hours a day couldn't send their kid their. But I love the concept of the kindergarden itself.

[@christianschmidt7564]

My son and daughter were both in forest kindergarten. The best thing there is for children. It stimulates the imagination, they learn respect for nature. Live every season. The children are more balanced. I can only recommend it to everyone

[@arnodobler1096]

And healthier? I think

[@jan-lukas]

​@@arnodobler1096short term not always, but long term absolutely!

[@ngaourapahoe]

Active learning opening one's curiosity and potential versus passive learning

[@x0xFusselx0x]

That's practically how I grew up. Out in the woods, in the fields and wherever there were animals 😊 I loved climbing trees too. And yeah my mom often had heart attacks because of the things we got into ...

[@miradur4014]

We also have forest kindergartens in the Czech Republic, I can see one from the train, it is only a few meters from the river, they usually have a fire lit there and when I met them on the train they smelled like fire and mud and I could see that they were happy 😀

[@MaudMargretheRex]

Great awakening.. its due to the Philosohy of the human being, and How children develope… in a caring atmosphere, With the view that playing in strong relationships are one of the pillars of Growth . Evolving is just the Way of any human beeing. Thanks for sharing.

[@hessin3027]

In our region, at a forest kindergarten, an old trailer or a hut stands for very bad weather or if something happens. I think that's mandatory too.

[@kleinshui9082]

I love the no fencing part! I had only one bad memory from my time in my german Kindergarten. It had a huuuge outdoor playground behind the building with a part of a local forst. But it was fenced. I hated that, there were fazans, we played with the birds but could never reach their field behind our forest due to the fence and we were not allowed to climb it. Soo frustrating, even as a 4 yo. But I guess one needs to respect bounderis. Still, a 'don't leave the forest' without the fence would have been enough...

[@IridescentTea]

Ah, this is my childhood - not the kindergarten per se, but spending time at my grandparents climbing things all the time, learning abut herbs and mushroom and animals - it's priceless and I'm glad these kids get to experience it too. (Now, granted, my mum probably doesn't know how many times I almost fell off that tree or slipped on that boulder :D but that's where the teachers' presence come handy. I like this concept so so very much.)

[@nothingtohide8110]

My boys where both in a waldkindergarten. Thanks for reacting.

[@Twins_vs_Daddy]

Even in "normal" kindergardens in Germany they often have forrest weeks which are quite similar to a forrest kindergarden. My kids also used to play in forrest kindergardens during the weekend, because no fences. You see huts and fire places and defence walls made out of sticks, colourful art in the trees and games build from wood.

[@kani75]

I remember document of british children playing on ruins after WW2. Someone said that children have native risk meter and when surrounding is too safe, the children adjust it by becoming more careless and then they also stay careless.

[@klickgeil8442]

When I was in Kindergarten in Austria i used to basically sit the entire day in a cherry tree with my friends.

[@belleellis8833]

I'm in Australia & most of our daycare is based around outside play. As an ex daycare teacher we had outside mud kitchens, all natural materials rather then big plastics toy equipment, could pick as much growing produce like tomatoes to eat when they want. Even the babies were outside most of the day unless it's a 40'c day which is hot. But the big kids go out & play with lots of water. My 9yr old did a Bush program when she went to preschool from age 3-6 . It was only one day a week but enough for her and was lots of fun. We already have a really outdoors lifestyle spending much of our time at the beach, in the ocean pools nearly every afternoon and bushwalking. We have some great bushwalks where we used to live on the Central Coast of NSW. And the bush meets the ocean so you can swim after working up a sweat. Kids should play when they're young. It's the absolute best for their brains!

[@SandyDeJong]

I totally agree with this. As an Aussie mother of now, adult kids. If this was ever an option for me to send my kids to Forest Kindergarten, I definitely would have. These kids are learning life skills so important, IMHO . Well done Germany 🇩🇪

[@heidiboddum5669]

Its in Denmark 😜🇩🇰❤️

[@watcher2554]

Dude...thats exactly how we use to play when I was a kid in the 60's (in the US). My Grandfather gave me my first knife when I was 6yrs old (my Mom got mad but my Dad let me keep it). Those are old school values being taught.