Outdoor learning is something fundamentally important, but often overlooked as it's seen as play.
However, by aiding the outdoor environment through the use of certain resources children can really benefit in a more experimental environment.
Outdoor learning facilitates experimental learning in a far more tangible manner than many of the inside activities.
Links between outdoor learning and messy play are quite strong.
Though people often shy away from messy play, outdoor play is often quite similar and usually more commonly done as it doesn't leave a disaster area inside.
Sand and Water Boxes Sand boxes and water boxes are of great use to outdoor learning and provide preschool and primary school children with an understanding of many of the basic mathematical concepts.
Children get a feel for volume, density, buoyancy, capacity and measurement from such play - all key concepts.
Of course, this outdoor play is also conducive to hand-eye coordination, motor skills and social interaction as it is often away from the more stringent classroom area.
Unlike messy play, outdoor play has even more strings to its bow.
Studies show that children respond very positively to outdoor environments and early years experiences have been linked to the development of curiosity and imagination.
They also benefit the child as they allow them to engage in exercises, which can't be accommodated indoors.
Children also may have a sense of autonomy from outdoor play and may feel they are allowed to roam more freely.
This gives them a sense of independence, especially in the toddler stage of development.
Children gain confidence roaming free from the teacher, or practitioner and they can experiment with separation from the adult.
Health Benefits Of course physical health is one of the main positives of outdoor play.
In a period of increasingly static children, outdoor play allows for children to be active, to get some air and aids the fight against childhood obesity.
It also offers some great first hand opportunities to see nature at work and really caters for curious children.
Children may really enjoy the chance to explore, capture creepy crawlies using magnifying glasses and other equipment, while getting an insight into how mother-nature works.
This aids learning about our natural world and in older children can be used in documenting and data handling with the addition of clip boards and other materials making it a great cross subject addition.
This variation of experiences and learning opportunities makes outdoor play an envious and often overlooked prospect in teaching children a range of concepts and ideas, as well as in enhancing curiosity.