Enabling Environments: Collections - It's a breeze

The weather, rain or shine, offers unique opportunities for outdoor learning. Jumping in puddles, tasting raindrops, feeling the strength of the wind, watching shadows dancing in the sunlight - these are all examples of how letting young children loose in the elements can support their natural disposition to learn using all their senses.

There is a wide range of weather-related resources on the market to boost children's outdoor learning, from wind chimes and sundials to grab-and-go weather kits. Indoors, early years practitioners need to think carefully about providing meaningful resources that reflect children's actual exposure to all weathers.

Playing outdoors should not be restricted to warm, dry weather. Children need first-hand experience of all weather conditions - rain, snow, sun, fog, frost and snow. Although practitioners must protect children from harsher weather conditions, through suitable clothing and shade, it's rarely unsafe for children to head outdoors. They may sometimes have to be restricted to shorter periods of time, but if the children are mobile, they can be out running around and keeping warm.