A child doesn’t need to be in a classroom in order to learn. Learning can happen anywhere; the great outdoors, for example, offers countless opportunities for children to develop key skills and grow as a person. Perhaps you could arrange a scavenger hunt for your child, in which they have to look for natural materials such as a conker, a leaf, a feather etc. Even a walk through the woods or some help with the gardening are opportunities for your child to learn and explore. I have teamed up with a boarding school in the UK to explore the benefits of outdoor learning in further detail below.
Improves Health and Wellbeing
One of the most obvious advantages of spending time outdoors is the fact that it allows a child to stretch, exercise and get some much-needed fresh air. This is fantastic for their physical health but is also great for their mental health too. Spending time outdoors encourages the production of feel-good hormones in the body, which helps to reduce negative emotions such as anxiety and stress. So, even if you don’t have a garden for your child to run around in, try and take them for a walk to the park once in a while so that they can enjoy some fresh air and vitamin D.
Improves a Range of Skills
When children spend time outdoors, they are exposed to new opportunities that aren’t available inside. As a result, they are able to develop a range of skills, such as risk assessment, critical thinking and problem solving. For example, they might look at a tree and decide it isn’t safe enough to climb. They might fall and scrape a knee, but that will only make them stronger and more resilient going forward. Spending time outdoors also allows children to learn about wildlife and different plants and trees, and how everything changes with the different seasons. The list is endless. As a result, they start to find a sense of respect for the environment.
Engages Different Learners
Reading from a textbook or listening to someone explaining something verbally works for some children, but others prefer hands-on, sensory activities. Outdoor learning is great for engaging these types of learners; children who need to engage all of their senses in order to understand something.
Boosts Confidence
As children develop these varying skills and become physically fitter and stronger, they also start to believe in their own abilities and become more confident. This is important because confidence will help them thrive in other areas of life. Without it, your child won’t want to step outside of their comfort zone and try new things.
