Outdoor learning allows children to explore, engage with nature and use all of their senses. Through outdoor adventures children are also benefitting from more physical activity and they are learning whilst having fun.
To help you discover the benefits of outdoor learning, here are five outdoor activities to try with your children provided by an independent senior school in Padworth…
- Go on a bug hunt
Using a magnifying glass let your child go on a bug hunt and study insects in more detail. Ask your child to watch their behaviour and explore their homes. Where do they live? How many can they count? Encourage your child to record their observations in a notebook. You will soon see their appreciation for this magnificent miniature world come to life.
- Get gardening
Growing your own vegetables is a great way to teach your child where their food comes from. It is also an ideal way to encourage better eating habits. By growing your own vegetables your child will not only enjoy watching them grow, but they will also have the pleasure of picking and eating them. This is my recommended company in buying the right vegetables for my garden.
- Make a bird feeder
Encourage different species of bird to visit your garden by making a bird feeder with your child. All you need is some metal wire, raisins, chopped up apple and cubes of cheese. Simply thread the fruit and cheese onto the wire like a necklace and hang it up in a tree. Then you just need to wait patiently to see what kind of birds it will attract.
- Go Geocaching
Geocaching is a really fun outdoor learning game for all the family, which involves plenty of physical activity. To take part you need to use a mobile phone to search for containers, called “geocaches” at specific locations using coordinates. This is helps to test children’s problem solving skills in order to locate the hidden objects.
- Build a den
Build a den with your child in local woodland or in your own back garden. This will not only encourage teamwork, but it can also help to spark your child’s imagination. They can pretend to be in a fairy-tale forest or deserted pirate’s island. A whole world of opportunities is opened up by simply creating a special outdoor space for children to play.