Outdoor learning not only provides children with exercise, but it opens up new experiences for children and allows them to explore and be curious.
Engaging in experiences outdoors also helps children to develop life skills such as confidence, teamwork and problem solving.
To help your child discover the benefits of outdoor learning, I’ve teamed up a preparatory school in London to share these great activities.
1. Go on a butterfly hunt
Butterflies are regular guests in most gardens and their life cycle is fascinating. Take your child butterfly spotting in your garden using a magnifying glass and let your child observe these wonderful creatures in more detail. Ask your child to look out for different types of butterflies and then look up their names online. You could also encourage your child to record their observations in a notebook.
2. Grow your own
Growing your own fruit or vegetables is exciting for children because they can plant seeds, watch them sprout, and eventually harvest what they have grown. Allowing children to become involved in this process will give them an understanding of where their food comes from.
3. Make a collection
Take your child on a nature walk and ask them to collect different objects such as pebbles, leaves, seed and sticks. You can then use these items for all kinds of learning activities. Your child can count them, organise them by size or colour, or they can use them to make a work of art.
4. Geocaching
For older children, you may wish to consider geocaching. This involves using GPS technology to search for hidden containers called ‘geocaches’. There are often hidden surprises inside the geocaches, but you’ll need to solve a puzzle in order to reach them. This kind of outdoor learning activity is ideal for developing your child’s problem-solving skills.
5. Den building
Building a den with your child will not only encourage teamwork, but it will also help to trigger your child’s imagination. They can use role play inside their den and pretend to cook or make it into a shop. A whole world of opportunities is opened up by simply creating a special outdoor space for your child to play.