outdoor play and free flow

outdoor play and free flow

by: jam - 11-04-08 19:48

My Nursery is attached to a school and we have a large concrete playground. This area is used as car park am and pm! My Nursery has alloted times for outdor play although we can utilise it at other times - we have a shed with various toys, bikes etc and I am looking for innovative ideas as to how to improve the childrens learning opportunities etc.Do you have any suggestions? I am currently doing Foundation degree in childcare and education and this would help me in my next essay!

by: Millie

Hi Jam

This is a great topic!  So many providers do not use the outdoor play area to its maximum potential.  Even car parks that are only used for arrival and departure can be used effectively, providing it can be cordoned off appropriately and safely from stray vehicles coming in during the day. and staff and children are taught how to use the area with regards to Health and Safety. 

Adults canl devise play opportunities based around themes and children's interest, taking/extending learning from indoors outdoors. 

With good adult input, children can learn to use the area responsibly.  A good book that I have found is Creating a Space to Grow by Gail Ryder Richardson (David Fulton Publishers).  Within it, not only does it give you some good outdoor activities, it helps you prepare staff to open their eyes as to how outdoor areas can be accessed, firstly by looking at barriers to access and then asking staff to come up with ways around the barriers. You will find that liaising with your team and other staff will open up a flurry of good ideas for its use.

Also if you google 'Learning for Landscapes' you will have tapped into a wonderful resource with much information as to how you can make your space work for you.

Good Luck 

by: Skyenet

I was on one of the "Grounds for Learning" (Scottish section of Learning for Landscapes) 'Outdoor Play & Learning with Early Years' courses and it was really good and we came away with loads of ideas.  Well worth it.

by: perky

we have themed boxes that we have for outside, such as a car washing box containing sponges, a length of hospipe, chamois ect , a windy day box containing kites, wind chimes etc, and things like that , thsi way when the children say they helped daddy clean the car at the weekend, we can recreate it and if its windy outside we can take immediate advantage ithout having to root around for bits and peices,