Who said classrooms need to have 4 walls?
Out and About is a nature play project created to provide opportunities to my preschoolers to enjoy extended periods of free play at our natural local areas. For nearly a decade, we’ve been embarking on weekly excursions to our local beach, (Rosebay beach) and nearby parks, ( Panerong Reserve and Lyne Park). With each adventure, our little ones are given ample opportunity to immerse themselves in the wonders of nature.
Out there, children have lots of time to observe, wonder, connect, discover, and enjoy the natural world around them. The big open spaces give them the chance to explore learning dispositions, abilities and skills in ways that would not be possible at our preschool. Week after week we see the children become more adventurous, capable, and confident on how they use their bodies, explore the spaces and interact with each other and the environment.
Nature’s abundance and its rich profusion of open-ended resources (sticks, leaves, stones etc) invite children to become more creative and resourceful exploring whats is available to play. Resulting in their play becoming more interesting and imaginative.
The increase familiarity with the natural settings, creates an emotional bond to those areas, reinforcing the children’s sense of belonging, care, and responsibility for those environments. As they become more aware of what is happening in their surroundings, our children develop an emergent sense of agency to address problems and take action to look after the environment, others and themselves.
With more time to explore and play, children tend to get more experimental and keen to go beyond the comfort zone of favourite play scenarios and close circle of friends. They become more open to try new things and play with a wider range of peers, expanding in play styles and skill.
The results of our nature play project are truly amazing, and it begs the question – why aren’t more preschools taking advantage of the great outdoors as a teaching tool?
Important: Conducting thorough risk assessments prior to excursions is essential to maximise safety for all involved.