Discovering nature with babies and young children – Guidance for practitioners working with parents, families, and carers

This guidance aims to:

• support practitioners, working with parents, families, and carers, to make the most of the multiple benefits to health, well-being and learning found in connection to nature.
• encourage a strong connection between babies, young children and the natural environment, leading to a lifelong bond with nature so that people and nature can thrive together.

In order to ensure that all children aged 0-5 years have the best possible start in life, this guidance draws on expertise from across the 0-5 early childhood play, learning and health sectors. It has been developed in partnership with parents and early years practitioners and is framed around national and international research. It is expressed from the viewpoint of the practitioner.

The document is the result of a collaboration between: Inspiring Scotland, Scottish Forestry and Natural Resources Wales.