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Getting children outside in the fresh air has numerous benefits for their physical and mental health and can be a great opportunity for them to learn new things. Often, taking children outside of their normal learning environment allows them to see subjects from a different perspective. Here are 4 outdoor learning activities you can do with your child from a private school in Surrey.
Gardening
Your child will love getting their hands dirty and gardening provides an all-round development opportunity. As well as giving them some moderate exercise, it can help build your child’s confidence as they learn to plant a seed, tend to their plant, and patiently watch it grow over time. Knowing that they facilitated this provides a self-esteem boost. You can also teach your child about science and what plants need to survive and grow.
Bug hunt
Take your child to an open space and challenge them to spot different types of insects. Take a magnifying glass so they can look at bugs up close, something which will most likely fascinate them. Get your child to draw pictures of the different types of insects and teach them about their habitats and ecosystems. You could encourage them to use new adjectives to describe what they find, which helps develop their vocabulary, or ask them how many legs an insect has so they can practise maths. Ask questions and encourage your child’s natural curiosity about the world.
Den building
Go to the woods and challenge your child to build a den. This will help develop their problem-solving skills as they think how to design it and what materials they’ll need. Once they’ve built the den your child will feel proud of themselves and this will boost their confidence. It can be a fun activity for you to do together and working as a team to build the den will help develop your child’s communication skills.
Star gazing
Outdoor activities don’t have to be limited to the daytime. Take your child into the garden at night and do a bit of star gazing. You can talk about the constellations and what stars and plants are made of, and the place our world has in the wider universe. Children often find going outside at night exciting, which can help facilitate learning.
The great outdoors provides ample opportunities for your child to learn about the world and develop important skills, so make the most of it!
