Puddles, squelching and mud pies. Just a few of the thing’s children love most. I know when my own children were little, they were always happiest when covered in mud. And if truth be told, they aren’t that much different now!
Over the last decade we have seen dramatic changes in the way children play and how we, as parents, allow them to spend their free time. I remember a childhood spent riding my bike, going to the park with friends and running home to make sure I wasn’t late for dinner! I wanted the same for my own children, but it has been an endless battle against technology. With apps for homework, books in kindle format and video tutorials for just about everything it’s not been easy!
Activities like jumping in puddles and making mud pies really encourage freedom of expression and allow creativity to flow so naturally with imaginations running wild. Being in the great outdoors is the secret to this natural development.
But why?
Studies have shown that learning outdoors not only helps children to understand and respect nature but also enhances their learning experience. High-quality learning experiences have been proven to:
- Allow children to become more able to identify hazards and risks
- Develop self-awareness, confidence and self-esteem
- Provide positive health benefits – both physically and mentally and
- Assist with gross and fine-motor skills
We recently designed and installed a gazebo for a school who previously had no outside shelter. This simple timber structure allows structured lessons to be brought outdoors under the shelter from not only the pouring rain but also the scorching sun! We incorporated a white board and some benches to create a space that could be of many uses. The children really seem to love it.
Unfortunately, children are having fewer chances to explore the great outdoors simply due to busier family lives and a growing sense of fear in society which just makes the schools role in outdoor learning even more important. And why we want to create amazing play spaces that incorporate opportunities for learning alongside simple good fun!
Children who have experienced outdoor learning (in all weathers) have reported better memory retention, being more able to concentrate and a happier school experience. Studies have also shown that children who struggle with the school environment benefit from the freedom the outdoors brings.
With more and more schools using this knowledge and developing outdoor lessons we have created a range or products to enhance the experience. From shelters and gazebos to eco planters and bug hotels, we can create the perfect foundation blocks for outdoor learning in your school.
Albert Einstein once said, “Play is the highest form of research” and I think most would agree. We need to encourage our children to get out in the fresh air, to embrace nature and discover what the world has to offer.
