Why is Outdoor Play Important?

As soon as babies are a few days old, parents will be taking them out in their prams to go shopping, visit relatives or just take a walk. Outdoors babies experience a different view of the world than they do in their homes.

Sunlight creates shadows against the parasol of their pram, it dapples through shadows of things you pass, cars vroom past and birds sing. People stop to say hello and make the baby smile, the checkout at the supermarket makes a strange sound, toys hung from the top of the pram make sounds and provide visual distractions as the breeze and light catches them. All these experiences, from days and weeks old, begin to acclimatize the baby to the wonders of the outdoor world beyond the home, providing a range of every changing sensory stimulation that comes for free and is richer in potential than any bought toy.

A lifelong relationship between the baby as a new human being and his or her natural environment is fostered through these early interactions and experiences. As parents gradually increase the time spent outside, or the range of outdoor places to be, babies enjoy a pleasure from being outside.

Parents, friends, carers, siblings and grandparents are all partners in encouraging and offering daily opportunities for babies and toddlers to experience the outdoor world.

Developing Individual Preferences

Every baby is an individual and has their own unique way of interacting with the world outside and, at the same time, there are many things that they will have in common with other children, such as a love of running and splashing in puddles.

Children will often enjoy what their parents like, but not every child is an all-weather outdoor type and this needs to be respected too. Parents will tell their child’s teacher how well they can tolerate types of weather and even the youngest child needs to have a choice about playing outside.

Measured Risks

Robust play, whether running around, climbing or using wheeled toys promotes toddlers’ physical development and allows them to feel what it is like to be in a large space, developing confidence and spatial awareness. Safety is important and parents take great care to assess risks, such as steps, or outside water features, to ensure that babies do not come to harm.

New Sensory Experiences

The outside world offers babies and toddlers their first experience of communities. For some this will be an urban environment with varying degrees of outdoor space, while for others it will be in rural or semi-rural areas where large green areas, beaches or sandy spaces are nearby. The built environment will become increasingly of interest to toddlers as they get older, but at this age moving objects have endless fascination.

Toddlers often develop their lifelong interest in cars in this second year and sitting in their buggies, they will notice all sorts of vehicles and start to name the different kinds, differentiating their size and appearance. Buses and vans are fascinating and the social experience on a bus can make a journey even more fun for children.

The Environment as a Learning Experiences

Shopping malls and supermarket shops are often avoided by parents with toddlers but they are wonderful learning opportunities for children. As social experiences, they teach children the world from a different viewpoint and with some imaginative interaction, involving a toddler with shopping can make it bearable for all involved.

Grassy areas often allow children to interact with animals. Not every family can have a pet, or have access to an animal through grandparents or friends, so finding ways to introduce the animal world to toddlers is important. Animals are another something that moves; toddlers are fascinated by this and will want to follow a pet cat or dog in the house or one that they see in public.

At IDEA ELC, our staff know that the outside world is a fascinating place for children so it is important we make sure they experience it as widely as possible and don’t take these learning opportunities for granted.

Would you like to find out about how IDEA ELC build in outdoor learning into our curriculum? Pop along to meet our Curriculum Co-ordinator Lauren and find out what makes the Creative Curriculum so exciting. Schedule a tour by calling us on 042766714.

At IDEA ELC we are interested to know that there is growing evidence to support the view that playing outdoors in the early years is not only enjoyable for young children, it is also essential to them developing healthily as well as learning about their world and developing appropriate attitudes to the environment.

A survey by the Children’s Play Council found that 80% of children prefer to play outdoors rather than indoors. When asked about their preference for different activities, 86% of children preferred outdoor learning activities.

As adults, both as parents and practitioners, we need to listen to the voice of children and ensure we do all we can to provide them with good quality outdoor experiences.

Research conducted in Scandinavia found that children who play in natural landscapes are healthier, have better balance and co-ordination and demonstrate more creativity in their play. The environment also influenced the kinds of play children engage in, suggesting that the environment stimulates the imagination in powerful ways and promotes pro-social and co-operative play. Natural environments tend to me more effective in this respect. Researchers such as Rivikin (2000) believe that we need to give great consideration to outdoor play spaces for children and views them as ‘habitats- places where children can live.’

Early childhood is a time when children develop positive attitudes towards the environment, and that lack of opportunity for this may result in children being dissociated and unconnected to their natural world. This is one of the reasons why IDEA ELC promote as much contact with nature as possible.

Would you like to come in and see our Creative Curriculum in action in our outdoor space? Book a tour through www.ideaelc.ae.

At IDEA ELC we are interested to know that there is growing evidence to support the view that playing outdoors in the early years is not only enjoyable for young children, it is also essential to them developing healthily as well as learning about their world and developing appropriate attitudes to the environment.

A survey by the Children’s Play Council found that 80% of children prefer to play outdoors rather than indoors. When asked about their preference for different activities, 86% of children preferred outdoor learning activities.

As adults, both as parents and practitioners, we need to listen to the voice of children and ensure we do all we can to provide them with good quality outdoor experiences.

The best aspect about playing outdoors has to be that children can make as much mess as they like and it’s so easy to clean up. An outside area, even a balcony, is a perfect space for children to play with water or other natural materials, get messy and not get into trouble for it.

Many parents will know that some activities will draw their child in for hours, whether indoors or outdoors, messy or otherwise. Tina Bruce calls this kind of play as ‘wallowing’ a deep level involvement and concentration that involves a ‘free-flow’ of children’s ideas, thoughts, feelings, relationships and movements. She says this is where children reach their deepest level of concentration.

‘Free flow play deeply involves children so they wallow and reach their greatest levels of concentration…free flow play enables children to apply what they know, reflect on it, use it in different ways, experiment and explore with what they know and have learnt.’ (Bruce 2004).

Play in outdoor environments promotes this kind of free-flow play very well. Early years practitioners should provide rich opportunities for outdoor free-flow play and allow time to observe children, linking their observations to what parents say about their child’s learning.

Observing children playing outside enable practitioners to see new ways in which their ‘schemas’ or repeated patterns of behavior within which children assimilate experiences- are evident. Dynamic schemas- those that involve movement or action – are more observable outside because of the greater opportunity afforded by large spaces.

In playing and learning outdoors, children gain essential experiences that enhance their physical and cognitive development, promote their social skills and connect them to life. Their early experiences with their families set the way in which children will respond to the kinds of experiences they will receive in their setting. Good quality, positive and challenging experiences at IDEA ELC contribute to their happiness and wholeness as human beings.

Find out more by chatting to some of our parents on our facebook group: IDEA Early Learning Center’s PTFA.

At IDEA ELC we are interested to know that there is growing evidence to support the view that playing outdoors in the early years is not only enjoyable for young children, it is also essential to them developing healthily as well as learning about their world and developing appropriate attitudes to the environment.

A survey by the Children’s Play Council found that 80% of children prefer to play outdoors rather than indoors. When asked about their preference for different activities, 86% of children preferred outdoor learning activities.

As adults, both as parents and practitioners, we need to listen to the voice of children and ensure we do all we can to provide them with good quality outdoor experiences.

Outdoor play provides children with essential opportunities for robust play, taking risks, testing strength, challenging their physical and cognitive skills. Many parents and practitioners worry about children having accidents or are concerned for their personal safety. Statistically, children have more accidents in the home than they do outside.

At IDEA ELC, outdoor play is seen as essential for learning. In high quality settings children can play outside under thorough risk assessments. Our staff carry out risk assessments in such a way that strikes a balance between the need for challenge and healthy risk and prevention of unnecessary accidents.

Our staff take account of individual children and what they can safely manage and support them in developing skills. They know that accidents cannot be totally avoided; while risk assessment will prevent many serious accidents, minor accidents, such as falling off a bike, will be a part of any child’s life and can be used as a learning opportunity.

‘Unfortunate as accidents are, they do provide children with opportunities for positive life lessons. A too safe environment may be the cause of accidents if a child has no awareness of risk or has not developed the ability to rise to challenges.’ (Learning through Landscapes, 2006).

Find out more by chatting to our teaching team. You can arrange a time convenient for you by emailing admissions@ideaelc.ae.

The Importance of Exploring with Two-Year Olds At IDEA ELC we know that two year olds need exercise, good sleep patterns, healthy diets and opportunity for movement and exercise, which, if established early on in their family, makes sound foundations for their future wellbeing. Challenges for Parents With busy lifestyles this can appear challenging, but only requires simple adjustments, some imagination and a positive attitude. Using the garden, balcony or parks; walking instead of taking the car, making shopping trips interesting, all cost very little and are much more fun. By two years old, children are more active and steady on their feet, ready to explore and use these new found skills of walking and running or rolling and jumping to their best effect. Strengthening Little Bodies The lower body is the area that needs strengthening for two year olds, especially their knees and legs. Riding a small, three wheeled bike, climbing steps to a low slide, or dancing and moving to music provide opportunities to develop this. Having the space to run a distance is important so if it’s too hot outside, clear furniture to one side and allow your child regular time to run around. Parents, siblings and grandparents are often exhausted by two year olds who have lots of energy, are always on the move and want to explore everything. Once walking has been achieved and then running, two year olds will want to use their bodies to jump and climb, learn to pedal and steer and push wheeled toys with increasing skill and dexterity. Giving children the space to explore provides them with a canvas for their play. Motor Skills When two year olds have opportunities to exercise their new found large motor skills, they will easily acquire small motor skills such as early mark making (writing and drawing), pouring, using a knife and fork or doing puzzles, they develop the strong connections between their large and small muscles. Child Initiated Play Play that is initiated by children and is responded to by adults allows children to try a new experience. By getting involved in children’s play in this way and tuning into their ideas and their thinking, parents and grandparents are paving the way to develop sustained shared thinking, a way of tuning into where children’s thoughts and ideas are going in order to build on them and help discover what it is they need to learn. This kind of play deepens relationships, building secure, confident and happy two year olds, eager to experience new things and to learn. Cultivating a love of the exploring is important in the life of every child, no matter where they live. Would you like to find out how IDEA supports parents to know what is best for their child? Email admissions@ideaelc.ae to arrange a meeting with our team.

‘Typical’ Pre KG children By the time children are three and four years old they have a wide range of experiences of the outdoor world. Their physical development benefits enormously from this. Children are now skilled movers, according to the abilities of their bodies. Long periods of inactivity such as watching videos or the television or being in a small play space will affect not only their physical development and health, but their behavior and their disposition towards learning as well. Physical Activity At IDEA ELC we know that three and four year olds are more aware of what they can do using their bodies, they want to climb and balance more. They are beginning to co-operate with their peers and enjoy using items such as see-saws, balls and bikes. They like to demonstrate what they can do and gain recognition for this. There is still a need to ensure they are playing safely and that they are given a variety of appropriate resources that challenge and stimulate them. All of this can be provided in a home environment to enhance the learning at IDEA ELC. Linking Home Experiences with Learning At this age, the earlier experiences of the natural world and their communities are forming into the development of understandings about natural phenomenon, such as changing seasons as well as a sense of place and location. The increasing concern that many parents share for their environment is taught to children, whether this is about not dropping litter, or the importance of walking to nursery, recycling rubbish or not leaving the tap on when cleaning teeth. Pets or interests in other animals is shaping into concern for living creatures, how to care for them or knowledge about where they live and whether they are endangered. Family Involvement Parents, grandparents and family friends are all involved in promoting young children’s experiences of being outdoors. They way that each family member does this is a unique interplay of their wider culture and how they interpret it and share it with children. Their interests, education and beliefs combine with the way that they interact with the environment to provide these rich opportunities for their children’s learning. They build on what their children show an interest in and support this as much as they can. Families are the perfect educators to offer children a range of experiences for learning outdoors, rooted in their cultures, lifestyles and knowledge, and provide their children with firm foundations that support their learning in nursery and school. Parents can further enhance a child’s experience of home by:

• Taking children to the library to get stories that feature the environment, animals and birds
• Helping children develop a love for living things
• Helping children to respect their environment by putting litter in the bin
• Having a pet or taking a neighbour’s dog out for walks
• Using their outside space to its best effect, whether it is a garden, balcony or shared communal space
• Exploring the locality, finding out where things are or new places to go, from libraries to museums to art galleries
• Talking about the features of the environment
• Following on whatever the child is interested in- be it cars, lorries, dogs, insects – helping to develop language and concepts
• Truly recognizing that what they do as parents with their young children in the outside environment supports their learning and development in many way and that their children benefit from and enjoy this so much.

Would you like to find out how we complement the relationship a child has with their parents at IDEA ELC? Email admissions@ideaelc.ae to arrange a tour and see our wonderful team in action.

Did you know that you can help your child…

• Enjoy physical activity?
• Feel good about his or her physical skills?
• Use physical skills to solve problems?
• Feel confident when playing with friends?
• Live a healthier life?

Physical activity is a big part of your child’s life. Every time you and your child take a walk, gallop down the road, or throw and catch a ball together, you are helping your child develop physical skills. The early years are an important time for young children to learn these skills, which they will use every day as they play and move. When you help your child practice and use physical skills, your child becomes stronger, healthier and more confident. At IDEA ELC our Creative Curriculum focusses on the importance of these skills. Learning basic physical skills is essential for your child’s healthy growth and development. Sadly, an increasing number of children are obese. This alarming situation is due in large part to unhealthy eating habits and the fact that too many children are not physically active. Children who are overweight are more likely to develop serious health problems as they grow older. Strong physical skills don’t just develop effortlessly. Children needs lots of practice and support. As their physical skills improve, their strength and self-confidence grow. When children discover what their bodies can do, they are able to learn new physical skills more easily. They also learn more about their environment and the world, which will help them become more creative and more successful in life. All of these wonderful traits will make it more likely that children will be physically active and therefore lead healthier lives as adults. Throughout the day, look for opportunities to be physically active and play with your child. Whether you walk to the park, play on playground equipment, ride bikes, or move to music, you can find ways to have fun and be active with your child. You don’t need to buy special toys or fancy equipment; an old rolled up sock makes a great ball to throw and catch! You don’t need to be an expert to be physically active either. If you support your child’s natural interest in being physically active and learning new skills, you’ll help your child build a solid foundation for a healthy lifestyle. If you’d like to hear about how our Creative Curriculum is tailored to enhance travelling and balancing skills, please visit our website www.ideaelc.ae to book a tour.