Nursery World - Gaining ground

Step outside with Julie Mountain of Learning Through Landscapes for an appreciation of why outdoor experiences are so important for young children's development Welcome to the first in a series of articles promoting the value of the outdoors and outdoor play at your setting. We will be demonstrating imaginative ideas to spur you on to achieve change in your own setting, no matter how small or awkward your outdoor space might be. There will be practical ideas for activities and games, as well as background information on how the children in your setting will benefit from having regular access to the outdoors.

Welcome to the first in a series of articles promoting the value of the outdoors and outdoor play at your setting. We will be demonstrating imaginative ideas to spur you on to achieve change in your own setting, no matter how small or awkward your outdoor space might be. There will be practical ideas for activities and games, as well as background information on how the children in your setting will benefit from having regular access to the outdoors.

There is a great deal that settings can do with little or no money and without digging up all of the tarmac or grass. What settings do need is a commitment to getting very young children out and about, plus support from colleagues and parents to enable the setting to become a place where learning takes place seamlessly indoors and outdoors, and where children are able to make their own choices about where they'd like to play.

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