A Phenomenological Study on the Forest Walk Experience of 2-Year-Old Infants

This phenomenological study explored the essence and meaning of two-year-old infants' experiences during forest walks. Applying Max van Manen's hermeneutic phenomenology methodology, the researcher analyzed the infants' experiences across four existential dimensions: corporeality, temporality, spatiality, and relationality. A total of 43 forest walks were observed with ten two-year-old infants attending Daycare Center B over an eight-month period from April to December 2023. Data were collected through video and photographic footage, teacher interviews, and field notes. The results revealed that the infants actively and autonomously moved within the natural environment, expanding their senses and experiencing sensory interactions with the surrounding world. Furthermore, they experienced the passage of time through immersion, pauses, and awareness of seasonal changes. They also transformed the forest into a space for imaginative play and social interaction, enriching spatiality. Through this process, they developed relationships with peers, teachers, and nature, expanding their understanding of self and others. In conclusion, forest walks were found to be a rich experience that comprehensively stimulates the physical, emotional, and social development of two-year-old infants. This study highlights the significance of nature-based education in fostering the holistic development of infants.