When children play, their imagination lets them conjure up just about anything from their surroundings – from turning a cardboard box into a rocket ship or an obstacle course into the slopes of an erupting volcano.
Just imagine the flow of molten lava licking at the little ones’ heels as they make their escape. It’s a kind of make believe much more real than any storybook.
Kids are not just expanding their creativity; by playing outdoors they are learning much more. Which way is the fastest? Which way is the safest? Deciding how to assess risks and make decisions are key skills that children pick up through seemingly simple outdoor play.
And that’s not to mention the social skills kids are developing as they play together, or the physical balance and coordination practised by clambering over obstacles.
Discover more about the benefits of outdoor learning by signing up for Outdoor Classroom Day.