In climbing, the child learns to manage controlled risks Acervo/Favoo At the FAVOO School, contact with nature is part of the pedagogical proposal of Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education and is part of the experiences children have on a daily basis. In outdoor environments, among trees, sand, animals and natural spaces, students learn through play, exploration and interaction with the environment, developing physical, cognitive, emotional and social skills in a significant way. At school, children observe animals, feed chickens, get to know different species present on the farm, explore natural spaces, play freely in the sand, climb trees and experience situations that arouse curiosity, encourage investigation and encourage the construction of knowledge from experience. These practices are aligned with the National Common Curricular Base (BNCC), which recognizes playing as a right to learning and highlights the importance of contact with nature in the first years of life. They also follow the recommendation of the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics: “Schools and care institutions should organize their routines and practices in a way that balances the time allocated to pedagogical activities with free time (recreation), and thus allow children and adolescents to have more opportunities to be outdoors, preferably in natural environments in contact with plants, land and water.” (Benefits of Nature in the Development of Children and Adolescents/Children, Adolescents and Nature Working Group of the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics. – São Paulo: SBP, 2024.) Activities such as climbing trees, climbing or a wooden board, and even going down a higher slide are part of the set of activities that prepare little ones for a very important skill: taking controlled risks. The Brazilian Society of Pediatrics explains: “Schools, educators and guardians must allow children and adolescents to expose themselves to beneficial risks, those in which they engage by free choice, being able to measure the consequences and deal with them.” According to experts, moderate risks are essential for the development of tools that will be needed in adulthood. Those who do not take risks in childhood can become more insecure and less prepared to deal with the adversities of later life, in addition to showing more symptoms of stress and anxiety. More than moments of recreation, these experiences contribute to the development of autonomy, creativity, motor coordination and the ability to solve problems. They also favor the formation of values ??related to care for living beings, respect for the environment, cooperation and coexistence, strengthening learning that considers the child as a whole. The benefits of this contact with nature are also supported by neuroscience. According to neurologist Dr. Paulo Porto de Melo, CRM 94048, neuroscience already recognizes that living in natural environments significantly reduces stress and stimulates brain plasticity through sensory experiences, favoring the development of the child's brain. The expert also highlights that, "in countries like Norway and Finland, pediatric hospitals have already adopted the so-called green prescription, a formal medical recommendation to spend time in parks and open areas before even considering medication." For the pedagogical coordinator of the FAVOO School, Elizabet Souza, these benefits are perceived daily in pedagogical practice. "We believe that childhood needs to be lived in its essence: playing, exploring, investigating and establishing connections with nature. When a child observes an animal, feels the texture of the sand or participates in caring for the environment, they develop skills that go far beyond school content. They learn to care, respect, cooperate and understand that they are part of nature. Our mission is to awaken curiosity, strengthen autonomy and build affective memories that will accompany these children throughout their lives." In a context where the use of screens and the reduction of outdoor living spaces are part of the reality of many families, the appreciation of experiences in natural environments reinforces FAVOO's commitment to an education that integrates knowledge, coexistence and human formation. By stimulating children's curiosity and connection with nature from the first years of life, the school contributes to the construction of a healthier, more conscious and connected childhood with the environment in which they live. All of these experiences will also prepare the child, consolidating the necessary foundations for good literacy, as they help to build self-esteem ("I can do it!") and resilience, both necessary characteristics for a school journey in which there will be challenges and moments of frustration. “The seeds planted at this stage of childhood will bear fruit throughout the student’s entire school life, and far beyond,” concludes Elizabet. FAVOO School strengthens learning through contact with nature About Favoo, an educational cooperative Founded in 2006, the Vilhena Educational Cooperative supports the Favoo school and college, with more than 1,100 students. Since 2019, she has been the Enem champion in the State and since 2012 in the municipality of Vilhena. Due to the cooperative format, the institution reinvests all of its financial results in infrastructure and training, which guarantees the highest level of educational quality and facilities. In partnership with Sicoob Credisul, Favoo has just opened an innovation hub that now forms part of its educational complex, installed in an area of ??60 thousand square meters. The college offers Administration, Accounting and Law courses, which have the highest score in the MEC, and the school accepts students from the age of two.