Tuesday 19 September 2017

5 Tips to Building a Great Outdoor Learning Environment



We all know that the environment where our children are exposed plays a significant role in their holistic development. In order for our children to grow up as happy and secure kids, we need to make sure that they are surrounded by a positive learning environment. Not only do we need to focus on the environment inside our houses, but we also need to focus on the environment outside. That is why, most child experts today advise on creating and developing a great outdoor learning environment for kids. This will not only help their individual growth but also greatly help in developing their social and communication skills. If you are planning on building an educational outdoor environment for your kids, then these 5 tips below will surely be of great help;

1. Safety

The thing that you should prioritize first when building a learning environment for kids is the place’s safety. The area where you will be setting up the play area should be well-secured by a sturdy fence or a wall that is high enough to ward off stray dogs or suspicious persons that might try to harm your kids. Furthermore, if you are planning on including natural elements on the play area, then removing big rocks and sharp branches is definitely a must. Kids at their young age are very curious about everything, thus, they will try to touch everything they deem mysterious.


This safety netting is perfect for fencing and protecting kids from other areas.

2. Flexibility

The next thing that you should think about when setting up the great outdoor play area is its flexibility. Children sometimes want to play by themselves, and sometimes they want to play with others also. Thus, it will be good to include areas where children can play by themselves, or by pairs or groups. Giving them a flexible play area will contribute to the development of their inter-personal and interpersonal skills.

This digger is perfect for kids of all ages to play together or on their own! 


3.  Accessibility

Another useful tip is to make sure that the play area is accessible enough for any kid’s size. We don’t want to limit the space by filling them up with many toys and set-ups because kids love to run around – banging and crashing on things. Thus, it will be better to make the play area spacious enough for the kids to run around. If you make to too tight, then chances are, all of the toys and your set-ups will not last long as they will be run over and crashed by the kids.



This camping set is spacious and roomy for multiple kids to enjoy together! 

4. Interactive

For the toys and educational set-ups that you plan to include in the play area, most experts recommend interactive toys such as talking dolls and toys, educational shows and other toys that has a reaction mechanism. Interactive toys have been proven to develop the intelligence and problem-solving of children especially when they are alone with the toy. It is also good to include toys that require groups of children in order for it work, this will develop their camaraderie and social skills.


This mud kitchen is perfect for creating tasty dirt treats with friends and family! 

5. Materials

Finally, to building a great learning outdoor environment you must consider the materials that will be used in the play area. Natural wood is recommended as it contains less toxins that won’t harm children’s health. Toys should also have those labels that prove that they are safe enough for kids. Never forget that safety and health comes first before fun and play.

This gardening centre with some fake plants and tools will be the perfect addition if you’re trying to incorporate more outdoors, nature, and greenery to your backyard! 

For additional reference on building a great interactive outdoor learning environment, you can visit this site, https://pdplay.com/outdoor-learning-environments/.
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