Children's outdoor play is different from time spent indoors. The sensory experiences are different, and different standards of play apply. Activities which may be frowned on indoors can be safely tolerated outdoors. Children have greater freedom not only to run and shout, but also to interact with and manipulate the environment. Children are free to do 'messy' activities outdoors that won't be tolerated indoors.
Young children are naturally active, but they need a little help from us to give them time and opportunity to use their bodies actively every day. Offer children two types of outdoor play: structured play and unstructured (or free) play. Structured active play is when an adult leads an activity or does an activity together with the children. In unstructured play, the children choose what to do, either playing on their own or with others, while the adult closely supervises the children.
Outdoor areas lend themselves to meeting children's individual needs. Natural environments allow for investigation and discovery by children with different learning styles. Using universal design principals, play areas and events can be designed as accessible to children with special needs without accessibility features being obvious.
Related Training:
Making the Most of Outdoor Play
Outdoor Play Safety
A Simple Approach to Knowing the WAC's: Outdoor Play Area
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