Learning library Topics Learning through play Outdoor and Nature

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Outdoor and nature

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A boy and girl peek through an Outlast block construction
Case study
Child development with Outlast
How can Outlast Furniture support a rich, play-based outdoor learning environment?
preview image
Article
Wild cooking
Education in the Early Years can happen through out-of-the-box activities such as Wild Cooking.
completing decorating
Article
Decorated sand cement
Try making sand cement that can be decorated and preserved!
two boys climbing a tree
Article
What is open-ended play?
If you’re concerned about whether open-ended play still has a place in our children's busy lives, consider this: it’s an approach that can be applied anywhere, and the benefits will last them a lifetime.
3 boys looking at butterfly
Article
Beyond Science: Connecting Children to Nature
There's little doubt that the natural world is a great place to learn science. But, we also know that the benefits of nature for children go far beyond academic learning.
Teacher and children in the garden
Article
Making the most of outdoor environments in early childhood settings
Gardens should provide opportunities for children to engage in movement play including climbing, running, balancing, lifting, and swinging. Although many settings are constrained for space or budget, they can still create movement-rich…
Child creating a nature mandala
Article
Nature patterns with loose parts
Autumn’s the time when natural loose parts are easy to find in your outdoor area, garden or local park. Take buckets or bags and fill them with conkers, acorns, beech nuts, the last flowers, coloured leaves, pine cones or pebbles. Allow…
Children with fishing nets at stream
Article
Out to learn
We have a paradox in schools. We accept the value of play, especially in the Early Years, but the idea of play in the primary sector and beyond often does not feel like a legitimate use of the precious time available.
Robin with bread crumbs
Article
Spontaneous learning
Allowing time to follow a child’s interest in nature takes patience and may even disrupt your plans for the day, but will be rewarded by enthusiastic and truly child-led learning.
Two children building an outdoor fairy garden
Article
Building fairy gardens for woodland folk
Children’s literature is full of woodland folk – dwarves, elves, fairies, pixies and gnomes. Take these imaginary creatures into your outdoor play and allow children uninterrupted time to build fairy gardens for woodland folk using natural…
infant with flower
Article
Infants plus nature
Babies are natural investigators. Fuelled by curiosity, they use their senses to learn about the world. With brains wired to notice and categorize details, they want to see, hear, feel, and taste first-hand. Those of us who work with this…
Toddler lying on his tummy playing with small wooden blocks
Article
Open-ended play at home!
How can young children’s waking hours be both happy and purposeful, despite the stress of our times?