The Small Wonders Philosophy

At the root of Small Wonders is a belief that preschool age children, and their adult caregivers and teachers, benefit from spending time outdoors. When people of any age are given a chance to play, interact and observe the natural world, the seeds for a deeper, life-long connection and responsibility to the earth are developed.

Pre-school children are curious about the world unfolding in front of them. Whether they are searching for caterpillars or blowing parachute-like seeds from a milkweed pod, they want to see, touch or feel the endless array of colors, textures, shapes and sizes of the natural world. They want to inspect anything tiny - - flowers, insects, holes in the ground, little seeds and baby animals. No matter where they make their home - - a tiny apartment in the city or a farm in the country - - they are innately drawn to the plants and animals that are part of their community. Living in the world of emotions and imagination, they love to pretend to be foxes hunting for mice, or butterflies sucking nectar from a flower. With a strong sense of empathy for other living beings, they not only pretend to be something else, they want to know what it feels like to be another creature making its way in the world.

Through a series of tactile experiences and imaginary play in nature, Small Wonders fosters the development of a young person's love and respect for the plants, animals, and dynamic ecological systems that have inherent intrinsic value and ultimately sustain human life.

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