Rooted in Nature – How outdoor play, shapes our every day
Can you describe a typical day in your setting?
Our days are very much child-led, with The Young Ones taking the lead in their play – so no two days are exactly the same! The children have access to our continuous and enhanced provision and we offer play provocations and learning invitations inspired by the children’s current interests and relevant world events, which aim to support their development, celebrate diversity and create opportunities for them to explore and experience new things. That said, we do have consistent core elements woven into our routine, such as outdoor play, stories and daily self care, such as tooth brushing as part of our commitment to promoting positive oral health. We also place great importance on nurturing mental health and emotional wellbeing and we ensure we include daily opportunities for exploring emotions, practicing simple mindfulness techniques, and engaging in calming activities like yoga and breathing exercises. One thing is for sure – every day is packed with fun and rich learning experiences for everyone- including for me!
Have you always been an outdoor, nature-focused setting?
We’ve always valued and spent plenty of time engaging in outdoor play and learning, knowing the countless benefits nature offers. However, over the past few years, my own understanding has deepened through personal research, which has led to an even greater integration of nature into our learning experiences, within our outdoor provision, our learning adventures and also, within our indoor environment too.
Do you have a favourite memory of the children learning something unexpected outdoors?
I have so many cherished memories of The Young Ones discovering unexpected things during outdoor learning – because, as we know, children often take their own learning in surprising and delightful directions! However, there is one that stands out and is still regularly talked about to this day by my Young Ones… On one of our nature walks, we discovered a lady bird, we counted it spots and then along came another one – they were different and we used some of our books and learning resources from our forest school backpack, to learn more about different types of ladybirds and we soon discovered more. By the end of our walk the children had independently counted 62 ladybirds and they still remember it to this day, despite the fact it was over a year ago! We continued our ladybird learning both indoors and outdoors and it was that day, that ignited a love for mini-beasts in a child who had previously been afraid of creepy crawlies. Days like these highlight the powerful impact we can have on children’s learning and confidence, while also nurturing a lifelong love for nature.
How do you prepare for outdoor play in less-than-perfect weather?
When “bad” weather hits – and let’s face it, we live in the UK, so it often does – it pays to be prepared! All the children here use waterproof suits and wellington boots (with other weather appropriate clothing/layers, as required) and I also have purchased in my own waterproof trousers and coat set because it’s no fun for us “big kids” when we are wet and cold too! When we explore in our local area, I always ensure I take our forest school backpack, which is packed up with all sorts of supplies to make our adventures more fun! To support us in our garden provision, I initially used a pop-up “all-weather” gazebo purchased from Amazon to provide shelter whenever the children wanted it and providing us with the opportunity to use resources that aren’t weatherproof. However, since we use our outdoor space so frequently for our learning, I’ve recently invested in a permanent wooden gazebo and we have been thoroughly enjoying this enhanced space, no matter the weather!
What are your top tips for encouraging reluctant children (or parents!) to embrace outdoor play?
I’ve always found that tapping into a child’s interests and bringing those interests outdoors is a great way to introduce outdoor learning – especially for those children who aren’t used to spending time outside. It can be something as simple as taking toy cars into the garden or as imaginative as going on a Gruffalo hunt in the woods! Whatever sparks a child’s curiosity can be woven into outdoor experiences, helping to ignite those first steps toward a love of nature and the outdoors.
I am very lucky to currently have incredibly supportive families, who understand the importance out outdoor learning. However, I appreciate this is not always the case and I n my experience, parents can sometimes be a little trickier to navigate – haha! Joking aside, it’s really about helping families understand the many benefits of outdoor play while also addressing any concerns they may have. For instance, some parents might worry that children aren’t learning outdoors, but we can reassure them that learning not only continues but it often thrives in natural environments. Others may be concerned about the weather, and we can support them by ensuring children have weather-appropriate clothing and access to shelter when needed.
Some educators feel put off by the idea of outdoor play because of the wet, the cold, or the effort of setting things up every day. What would you say to those providers? Do you have any top tips for keeping it simple and manageable?
I believe that having accessible resources makes setting up for the day much easier, whatever the weather and season. That doesn’t mean everything needs to be out all the time – especially for those working in pack-away settings but there are plenty of creative ways to stay organised. For instance, small storage units can make a big difference, and they don’t have to be expensive! One of my storage solutions is a repurposed greenhouse, and another is simply a large plastic box with a lid.
It’s also important to be realistic and kind to ourselves. There will always be days when we need to keep things simple – and that’s perfectly okay. In my experience, some of the most valuable learning happens through the simplest forms of play. Just think of the joy children find in splashing through puddles or experimenting with different containers in water play. There’s real magic and learning to be found in those everyday moments!
Any budget-friendly or unexpected materials you use regularly?
Since starting my journey as a childminder and especially over the past year as part of my continued professional development – I’ve been focusing more on sustainability and environmental responsibility. I’ve become much more mindful about where I buy and source resources and the types of materials I bring into our setting. I’ve also made a conscious effort to reuse items where possible and to recycle what might otherwise be discarded – after all, one person’s trash truly can be another’s treasure!
As well as some amazing educational retailers and small businesses, local car boot sales have been a fantastic place to find hidden gems and authentic, affordable resources that we’ve loved incorporating into our provision. There’s also so much joy and creativity to be found in everyday items, like using old flowers in water play, adding used teabags to the mud kitchen, or repurposing old CDs for light and sensory play. I always recommend using open-ended, natural loose parts such as sticks, stones, pinecones, and more, in both indoors and outside learning environments. Reaching out to local businesses can also be incredibly rewarding and we’ve received generous donations like a tree stump from a local tree surgeon and tyres from our village garage and added these to our outdoor provision.
We know you have done lots of training and have many awards, which are you most proud of?
This is a difficult question, as I’ve gained so much from my training, which I have applied in my setting. However, I would have to say that achieving both Gold and Platinum award statuses from the Woodland Trust and officially earning the title of a ‘Platinum Green Tree School’, has been one of my personal favourites, as nature plays such a crucial role in early years development and is a massive part of our curriculum and pedagogy at The Young Ones. Whilst completing this award, I have also been involved in more training which I hope to have completed that soon and I will be sharing more about that over the coming months.
Overall, I believe the diverse training I’ve completed has enabled me to focus on enhancing both our learning environment and my practices, ensuring that I can continually develop and provide the best experiences and educational opportunities to help my Young Ones thrive.
What would you say to other Early Years educators who want to get outside more but don’t know where to start?
Start simple and start small… There’s no need to overwhelm yourself by trying to change everything all at once. Begin by taking some activities your children enjoy indoors and bringing them outdoors or take walks around your local area, encouraging the children to really engage with their senses – talking about what they can see, hear, touch, and smell.
If you have an outdoor space (like a garden) that you would like to develop, start by focusing on one area to adapt or enhance. Perhaps your little ones would love a mud kitchen, or maybe they enjoy water play and you could build on the resources they use? If you enjoy or would like to start going on nature adventures, I would also recommend putting together a little backpack or bag, with some some of your favourite nature inspired resources – such as books, magnifying glasses, binoculars and/or any other treasures you desire, so you’re ready to explore whenever the urge to venture strikes.
What impact has outdoor play had on your wellbeing as an educator?
It’s a well-established fact that nature and fresh air offer numerous benefits for the wellbeing of people of all ages and as an educator, I have only seen positives to all of us here at The Young Ones. Being outdoors allows me to connect with nature, which helps reduce stress and recharge my energy and be fully present with the children. Outdoors, every child has the freedom to move, explore, and experience a true sense of autonomy in their learning. This approach provides more opportunities for self-expression and supports the development of their physical, cognitive, and creative skills, helping them become deeply engaged in their learning process and making teaching easier and more enjoyable.
The natural environment also provides a refreshing change of pace from indoors, offering more moments of calm, reflection and inspiration for us all. I highly recommend that all educators and settings embrace the outdoors and incorporate nature-based learning into your provision, in any way possible – you’ll not only support children’s development but also experience the benefits yourselves.
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