Anders Farstad, who runs Hval Gaard nature kindergarten in Norway, addressed delegates at the Children in Scotland conference,' A sense of time, a sense of place', at Peebles on 11 March.
Children at Hval Gaard are outside all day, even in below-freezing temperatures. The children climb trees, go fishing in a boat, chop wood with axes and light fires to cook food.
Mr Farstad said, 'In Norway we have a long tradition of nature as a place for recreation, and being close to the natural elements is highly valued.
'We have a generation of children who are less fit than previous generations. I see quite clearly that children who attend nature kindergartens are generally much fitter and get ill less often than children who attend indoor kindergartens. They also have very good coping skills - children must learn about risk to know how to avoid danger.'
Mr Farstad also thought the nature kindergarten model could encourage more men into childcare. He said, 'The problem with the existing gender imbalance is that the rough and tumble activities, those with a competitive edge, get overlooked. You will never get men into childcare unless you let them have a say in the way institutions are run and, if necessary, let them change it. Education and childcare is largely a woman's world at the moment, and that does not reflect the reality of our society.'
After the conference, Bronwen Cohen, chief executive of Children in Scotland, said she was keen to introduce the concept of nature kindergartens to Scotland. She said, 'The Norwegian approach should prompt us to ask how we can find ways to engage more fully with the outdoor environment and take full advantage of the natural resources our country possesses in abundance.'
The conference also presented findings of a 2004 mapping study by Children in Scotland. It examined how schools in Scotland are acting as the 'hub' of rural communities and the role of parents in developing, planning and delivering services to children.
The study concluded that many rural schools are successfully offering extra services to families, young children and older people and acting as important focal points for communities. However, emphasis was placed on preventing a 'centralisation' of services and ensuring families still receive support in their homes via mobile services.
A report, A sense of time, a sense of place, published since the conference, includes the mapping study findings and a report of the Children in Scotland study visit to Norway. The report costs 8 to Children in Scotland members, or 12 to non-members, from Moira Cameron on 0131 222 2410 or mcameron@childreninscotland.org.uk.