Outdoor play is vital for children’s well-being, offering opportunities for physical activity, exploration, and connection with nature. In Australia, however, educators face a unique challenge: how to balance children’s right to outdoor play with the risks of extreme heat and high UV exposure. With summer temperatures often exceeding 35°C, services must make careful, informed decisions about when it is safe to go outside.
Loose parts Play in outdoor areas transforms the everyday environment into a dynamic, open-ended learning space. The following article provides information on What Is Loose Parts In The Outdoor Area, Benefits Of Loose Parts Outdoors, How To Integrate Loose Parts Play Outdoors, List Of Loose Parts Play For Outdoor Areas, Innovative Activities for Loose Parts Play Outdoors, Extending On Loose Parts Play and more.
Cold weather play is incredibly beneficial for early childhood development! It helps children build resilience, strengthen their immune systems, and develop essential motor skills. Here’s why outdoor play in winter is important.
The following provides a list of outdoor activities for babies and toddlers that promote sensory exploration and interaction with the natural environment. It also includes linking to the EYLF and the benefits of outdoor play for babies and toddlers.
Designing engaging outdoor learning spaces offers stimulating resources and rich play-based learning opportunities that cater to all children’s interests, capabilities, cultures, and communities. The following article provides information on Physical Features Of Outdoor Spaces, Characteristics Of Outdoor Learning Spaces, Consideration For The Design Of Outdoor Spaces, Roles Of Adults In The Outdoor Learning Spaces and more.
Early education care services are increasingly making bush kinders part of their educational programs. These involve excursions to sites in the midst of nature and away from structured service settings. The following article provides information about the Benefits of Bush Kinders, Supervision, Planning and more.
Playing or even just spending time outdoors has long been recognized as crucial to positive learning and life outcomes in children. Outdoor spaces thus hold great significance in early education and care learning settings and have been addressed in Quality Area 3 – Physical Environment of National Quality Standards. Element - 3.2.1 mandates that “Outdoor and indoor spaces are designed and organised to engage every child in quality experiences in both built and natural environments”. As such, outdoor spaces must be and must be designed with care and conscious thought.
Right from the earliest years, outdoor experiences are an invaluable aspect of healthy human growth. Engaging with the outdoors and nature helps even babies to develop fully, realise their physical and intellectual potential as well as bond with the surrounding environment.
Bounce Cards are designed for OSHC Educators to go with you, wherever your OSHC children play and to share ideas to encourage your children to be active every day.
Outdoor play is enjoyable for children and important for their growth and development.
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