New YouTube Channel “Nature Time” Helps Preschoolers Connect with Nature
(September 16, 2022 – Atlanta, GA) - Nature Time is a live-action series of videos for children ages 2–5 that encourages curiosity, care, and connection to nature. Children join Mr. Michael and Garbanzo, a furry child-like puppet to learn more about how they can help nature work.
Nature Time debuted on YouTube in mid-July 2022. Within a month, the episode Garbanzo Learns About Composting drew over 50,000 views. The creators have a unique combination of expertise in social-emotional learning, early childhood development, environmental sciences, and visual storytelling. As parents of small children, the team carefully crafts content that is both child- and parent-friendly.
“Young children are spending less time outside in nature and parents can find it difficult to get children away from screens. Nature Time was created as a way to invite children back outside,” says Elise Potts, Head Writer and Producer. “Our mission is to help children feel connected, and understand that people, plants, animals, and insects all play a role in helping nature work. With a little nudge from our stories to go outside and thank a worm or look around for acorns, children’s curiosity does the rest of the work.”
“We can teach children to take care of nature by helping them learn more about the living systems they are connected to,” says Michael Martin, Host and Science Advisor. “Nature Time is here to help children understand how these systems work, how they change, and how removing one part affects the whole. When we work together with nature, we help nature. When we help nature, we help ourselves. We are all part of a system.”
Alan Melling, Executive Producer, says “Unfortunately, nature is in trouble at the global scale, and we see the impacts on families and communities more and more. That’s a lot for anyone to take in, especially a three year old. So at Nature Time, we are bringing children and families into nature in their backyards and neighborhood parks. We think nurturing curiosity, connection, and care for neighborhood nature will help our next generation live more in balance with the natural rhythms of life on this planet.”