Almost every week, the older children at Nursery My Baby 0-3 enjoy a special experience beyond the walls of the school: outings to local shops in the village. These moments are meaningful opportunities, designed to help children discover and explore their surroundings and to feel part of the community in which they live.
Walking through the village gives children the chance to observe their environment, meet the people who live there—sometimes even their pets—and gradually experience the first rules of sharing public spaces. At the same time, these outings help build a sense of “neighborly” connection between the nursery and the local businesses and services that bring the area to life.
During planning meetings, the educational staff organize the outings according to the activities planned, setting aside a small budget to purchase the necessary materials. This may mean visiting the stationery shop to buy black card for making the traditional graduation caps for the end-of-year celebration, stopping by the grocery store to buy vegetables for exploration and cutting activities, or going to the bookshop to look for a specific title. In the latter case, the outing also becomes a valuable moment of shared reading, thanks to the bookseller’s availability.
These experiences also represent a first, simple introduction to the concept of monetary exchange: children observe, take part, and are gently guided to understand the value of choices and purchases.
All children at the nursery take turns participating in the outings: some walking, some in strollers, others in baby carriers. The group usually consists of around fifteen children and, at times, before returning to the nursery, they stop at the local pizzeria to buy a focaccia to bring back to the classmates who stayed at school—so they, too, are “thought of” and involved, even from a distance.
This project is enriching the everyday experience of both children and adults, allowing meaningful relationships to be woven with our “neighbors” and promoting a culture of sharing and participation within the wider community.
If you happen to see a group of children wearing yellow vests around the village… it might just be us!
