Read on Twitter
Our penultimate session of the #EYPlayParty is a chat on Outdoor Play with @MuddyTeachers, Anne-Marie Evans, Christina Pickles, hosted by @MsNursery.
Chat has absolutely taken off, with people saying hello from China, Egypt, Thailand, USA, Pakistan, Italy, Uzbekistan...and more.
Chat has absolutely taken off, with people saying hello from China, Egypt, Thailand, USA, Pakistan, Italy, Uzbekistan...and more.
First of all, Christina stresses on the importance of the adults getting in touch with how they feel about the outdoors themselves? Insects? Heat? Dirt? She flags that teaching outside requires HUGE flexibility, since you may not even have a window to throw your plan out of!
An urgent reminder: what did outdoor play look like for us? We fell down, stayed out till dinner time, climbed up trees, got dirty, etc...children today don't have that opportunity, and it's our job to bring it back for them, says @MuddyTeachers.
How can we get started? Clothing - make sure you're appropriately dressed, base camp - have a familiar station that you can keep coming back to, safety - for example while using sticks, stones, and natural resources. Great tips from @MuddyTeachers!
What if we don't have easy access to an outdoor space, asks @MsNursery. Anne-Marie immediately responds that that can never be the case, since elements of the outdoors can be found everywhere - windows, weeds, small gardens. #EYOutdoors
Benefits of outdoor learning? The list is endless, but @MuddyTeachers calls our attention to the benefits for neurodivergent learners. The outdoors necessitate a platform for spontaneous, active, bite-sized learning, removing barriers that neurodiverse students may experience.
@MuddyTeachers The research overwhelmingly shows that getting outside is the right thing for everyone. However Christine believes that we need to go past the research and get into the doing. Children need to climb trees, roll down slopes, & pick flowers 🌳🌻 #EYOutdoorPlay #LearningThroughPlay
You don't need a playground to play outside - you just need to get outside, urges Christina. Wonder, curiosity, exploration - all of it exists outside everyday, just go be part of it. #OutdoorPlay #EYlearning #ToddlePlay #EYPlayParty
As we move towards #SustainableDevelopmentGoals, we're going to need leaders who are in tune with the environment. Outdoor play also presents careers possibilities. Anne-Marie cites examples of students from her outdoor school: park ranger, wildlife photographer, botanist.
Bring in crates & planks of wood & loose parts, & engage your children outdoors, advocates @MuddyTeachers. If you can't, go on nature walks or bring twigs & stones indoors. Never mind the gimicky, expensive toys. Spend that money on appropriate clothing instead, to stay outdoors!
Loose parts and open-ended toys meet children where they are at, as opposed to an expensive playground that are inflexible and cannot be changed - use buckets, baskets, sheet, tarp, boards, nails & hammers. Families can engage with this and contribute the collection as well!
3 Ms - Mother Nature, Movement, Mental health: @MuddyTeachers Such a great of thinking of outdoor play!
How can we get parents and colleagues excited about outdoor play, asks @MsNursery .
Christina suggests that we need to understand family values (e.g., concerns around expenses of laundry, clarifying links between outplay and academic achievement) cont.👇
Christina suggests that we need to understand family values (e.g., concerns around expenses of laundry, clarifying links between outplay and academic achievement) cont.👇
Encourage adults to engage in hands-on experiences that can help children . Finally, come to the (research-backed) logic. Bottomline, it is a process and takes time. Sustained change takes time.
Anne-Marie makes the wonderful suggestion of including senior citizen communities in EY outdoor activities like gardening. Parents can be involved in executing projects and observing without intervening - show, rather than tell. #EYcommunity #OutdoorLearning
Putting together policy for outdoor play, to manage expectations including those around risks and getting dirty could help to embed outdoor play into the fabric of learning in your setting. #ToddlePlay #OutdoorLearning #LearningThroughPlay
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
