| It's a fact that fresh air and outdoor play is a vital | | | | objects to be found outdoors, all encouraging |
| part of childhood. Being outdoors is a fantastic | | | | creative thinking - a simple stick becomes a tool |
| source of inspiration and creativity and playing out | | | | for the imagination. |
| provides mountains of opportunities for learning as | | | | Providing quality outdoor play experiences for |
| well as many other key aspects of child | | | | children involves more than simply constructing a |
| development. The outdoors is full of wonderful | | | | safe climbing structure and allowing them to |
| things for children to experience, discover, and | | | | experience fresh air and exercise. Language, social |
| explore - so much more than simply allowing | | | | and creative skills in particular benefit from play |
| them to let off steam by running, swinging, | | | | areas with landscapes and equipment that enable |
| climbing and sliding, although all essential and brilliant | | | | them to try new experiences and extend their |
| fun! Being in the open air encourages our children's | | | | horizons and which provide opportunities for social |
| observation skills, they'll notice the weather, | | | | discussion, problem solving and increased |
| insects, plants, and everything going on around | | | | communication. |
| them; in fact all that the natural world provides to | | | | Splitting the playground into zoned areas is an |
| stimulate the senses - wonderful colours, different | | | | easy way to ensure the play space has all the |
| smells, sounds and textures. Being outdoors allows | | | | right play and developmental opportunities. For |
| children to explore and develop a relationship with | | | | example, having an area for active play, running |
| the natural environment, gain a sense of freedom | | | | and ball games, a friendship stop to encourage |
| and self-exploration, space to imagine and think, | | | | nurturing and communication, an adventure |
| and to learn the skills required to self-manage risk. | | | | playground for climbing, swinging and balancing, a |
| They'll also see, hear and learn about who or | | | | quieter space suitable for playground games, |
| what is sharing their habitat; can you see a | | | | fantasy or imaginative play and even an area for |
| cobweb? Who lives here? Can you hear that | | | | outdoor musical instruments. In fact, making music |
| buzzing noise? | | | | available in the playground ticks all the right boxes |
| There are three interrelated aspects to children's | | | | - musical play offers cognitive, emotional and |
| development - cognitive, emotional and physical. | | | | physical play opportunities. Playing music can relax, |
| Play in the outdoors is able to support each of | | | | revive or rally us depending on our mood, musical |
| these aspects in a way that is different from play | | | | play encourages creativity and the physical action |
| in an indoor environment. Outdoor play | | | | that accompanies it helps improve coordination. |
| encourages the holistic development of the child | | | | Music in a playground and the space and freedom |
| by providing children with opportunities for the | | | | it offers, makes it more likely that gross motor |
| development of physical and social skills, improving | | | | activity and development will occur. |
| self-esteem and help gain confidence in their own | | | | Its true that we may not be able to allow our |
| abilities. | | | | children the same sort of 'free-range' lifestyle we |
| Young children love physically active play and it is | | | | had as children. This makes it so much more |
| good for them in a number of different ways; it | | | | important to offer outdoor play environments and |
| benefits their growing bodies and gives them a | | | | equipment that will develop their bodies and minds. |
| healthy outlet for their abundant energy while | | | | Children have a right to high quality, safe outdoor |
| subconsciously developing a confidence in their | | | | play and recreation facilities; however just being |
| bodies and in their growing physical strength and | | | | outdoors releases children's natural exuberance! |
| capabilities. Active play ensures both fine and large | | | | So let's open the door and let the playground |
| motor movements and skills are being developed. | | | | provide the social interaction, equality, turn taking, |
| An outdoor area with varying levels and surfaces | | | | negotiation, excitement, risk, challenge and |
| enables children to enhance their spatial | | | | opportunities to use their imagination that children |
| awareness. The outdoors has open-endedness in | | | | enjoy and need to learn and develop to grow into |
| terms of what it represents to children - from | | | | well-rounded individuals, hopefully with a love of |
| the fantastical to the domestic. This is also true of | | | | the outdoors! |