PETALING JAYA: When Salimah Nurwajihah Redzuan handed her infant an iPad, she thought she was giving the three-month-old boy a head start through educational content.
Instead, the Montessori educator began noticing developmental delays in her eldest child.
He would also have meltdowns, sometimes crying for hours.
It prompted Salimah to dive into child development research and alternative approaches to learning.
Eventually, she started Akademi Rimba, a nature-based learning community where children spend weekends exploring forests, rivers and mangrove swamps.
“I realised children need opportunities to experience the real world, not just consume information through screens.
“They need to explore, ask questions and be curious,” she said.
Salimah, 38, said time spent outdoors transformed the way her son learned, as his fascination with wildlife grew alongside his interest in researching animals.
Her son, who is now 12, is thriving. Besides memorising the Quran, he remains keen to learn about the animal kingdom.
Salimah said the programmes at Akademi Rimba are designed to teach biology, ecology and survival skills through hands-on experiences instead of being a mere outdoor recreation club.
And instead of relying solely on facilitators, she said their activities are led by scientists, researchers, doctors and experienced outdoor practitioners.
“If we’re introducing children to forests, wildlife and ecosystems, I want them to learn from people who actually study these subjects or work in the field.”
Children are also encouraged to keep nature journals, sketch what they observe and continue researching the plants and animals they encounter after each expedition.
Salimah said the goal is not to remove technology from children’s lives entirely, but to remind them there is a much bigger world waiting beyond a screen.
“When children start asking to explore forests instead of asking for a phone, that’s when I know we’re making a difference,” she said.
For dentist Nur Ain Faezah Roslan, enrolling her three children at Akademi Rimba was about giving them opportunities she felt many urban children rarely experience.
Nur Ain said she noticed changes in her children after attending just a few programmes.
Her youngest child, who joined a night walk at the age of five, would calmly walk through a dark forest without fear.
The children also became more observant, often noticing insects and small creatures they would previously have overlooked.
“They’re always asking when we can go back into the forest instead of asking to go to the mall,” she said.
Furthermore, she said the activities had taught them patience, discipline and respect for nature.
Nur Ain’s eldest son, Raed Muhammad Norain, said the activities had sparked his interest in insects and wildlife.
The eight-year-old boy did not hesitate when asked whether he preferred looking for insects or playing with the smartphone.
“Insects. It’s more fun,” he said.
As for Nadiah Azli, she said that her family’s participation in Akademi Rimba marked the beginning of a much bigger change for them.
She left a 15-year career in the oil and gas industry and moved from Johor to Seremban with her two children aged six and nine to pursue an educational environment for them.
The decision meant living apart from her husband, who remained in Johor, while she began teaching at a Montessori preschool and pursued a diploma in Montessori education.
“It wasn’t just about Akademi Rimba. It was about finding a community that believes children should grow through real-life experiences instead of spending their childhood in front of screens,” she said.
Nadiah said learning from scientists and researchers gives the children a different perspective because they could interact with professionals who work in the field.
“My children would ask questions, borrow books from the library and look for information themselves because they want to know more,” she said.
