The importance of outdoor play

Young children are naturally drawn to the outdoors. Outdoor play is an important aspect of children’s learning, development and wellbeing and there are many benefits for this type of experience.

Outdoor play provides children with the opportunity to explore and connect with their environment. While doing so, they are developing their muscle strength and coordination and gaining self-confidence. Active play outdoors also increases flexibility, fine and gross motor skills, balance and coordination.

Children have a great need for physical exercise and activity. They need opportunities to use their muscles to run, swing, climb, jump and ride a bike. They use their whole body when they are engaged in outdoor activity. There are also opportunities for risk-taking and trying new experiences. This helps the children to develop a sense of their own boundaries. As Roald Dahl said, “the more risks you allow children to take, the better they learn to take care of themselves.”

It is important for children’s physical and emotional well-being that they have time out in the fresh air and sunshine. This gives them a sense of freedom to exert their energy and leads to them feeling happier and calmer and allows them to naturally absorb Vitamin D, which is proven to improve moods and create a positive attitude.

Outdoor play is a great way to develop children’s creativity and imagination. The children’s imaginations are stimulated by the natural elements and objects around them. They invent interesting ways to use the objects they have collected from the garden and incorporate these into their play.

Children gain a wonderful sense of space from being in the outdoors. It is less crowded and overwhelming compared to the indoor learning environment, and therefore we find that children are more relaxed and open to social interaction and small group play. This provides the children with the opportunity to fine-tune their skills in turn-taking, negotiation and collaboration.

At St Catherine’s ELC, we value the importance of outdoor play and incorporate this into our daily experiences. The children have regular opportunities to engage with our nature-inspired outdoor play-scape where they can run, climb, imagine, interact, and create using their whole bodies and their senses.

“The best classroom and the richest cupboard is roofed only by the sky.” Margaret McMillan

Ms Sarah Bethune
ELC Coordinator