Most of us are well aware of the benefits of daily outdoor activities. Mother Nature exerts her positive influence on mental and physical health for both adults and children. And it also plays a strong part in brain development during the early learning years.
The Reggio Emilia approach, with its focus on the natural world, has long absorbed this into the educational setting. Its concept allows educators to utilise the wonders of the environment as a landscape that stimulates curiosity and encourages exploration.
The Principles of Learning in the Great Outdoors
One thing that’s immediately evident when walking into a Reggio classroom is the flow from the interior to the exterior. But it goes further than this. The curated use of light and space is also important, as are adventures into the great outdoors.
Australian Reggio Emilia classrooms are rarely far from nature. From the bush and countryside that surrounds every village and town to city parks and the thousands of kilometres of coastline, early learning educators have a myriad of options to incorporate the natural world into the curriculum.
The art of Reggio education is to provide children with the tools they need to become co-constructors of their learning pathway. Add the natural world into the mix and the potential options are, quite literally, endless. Examples might include:
- Finding a worm after a bout of rain, which leads to the construction of a worm farm back home or in the classroom garden.
- Hearing birdsong and learning about how to attract birds to a garden with the help of a feeder.
- Feeling the wind and wondering what makes it blow, which might lead to further research about the (age-appropriate) science of weather in general.
- The all-time favourite of playing with crunchy autumn leaves. Truly the stuff that some wonderful childhood memories are made of…
- The wonders of natural aromas, such as spring blossom and flowers, freshly cut grass or the salt of the ocean.
Vitally, the one thing that all of these have in common is that they stimulate the senses – and it’s this that’s so important during the crucial early learning years. No environment is more fruitful than the great outdoors and by piquing the senses, children are driven to further explore.
Such experiences help children connect with the world around them, stimulating cognitive development and the neural connections within the brain that are forming in their hundreds of thousands. And the stronger the feelings, the deeper the learning process.
Regular outdoor experiences benefit children in so many ways. As well as connecting them with nature, learning advantages include:
- Language development: What’s that? Why does that happen? What’s that called? The outdoor environment is an endless landscape of new words for children to learn. From plant and animal names to discovering and understanding broader concepts, like water flowing downhill or the lifecycle of plants, being outside is a wonderful co-educator for literacy and language.
- Encourage freedom and independence: Remember running downhill so fast that your legs wouldn’t stop? The joy of making a daisy chain? Playing with mud? The feeling of sand running through your fingers? Outside exploration provides a world without walls and multiple opportunities for self-directed play, (safe) risk assessment and a playground that encourages the development of problem-solving skills.
- Emotional and social development: Being outside with their peers allows children to nurture the art of communication. We’re all naturally gregarious at some level, and it only takes one child to delight in the joy of a grass whistle (for example) for everyone to want to have a go.
- Physical and mental wellbeing: Humans are built to move, and children need to do this to promote healthy physical growth. From climbing over obstacles to running around, crouching down to competing for who can jump the highest – or the simple act of a nature walk – there’s no better place to be active than outside. This also extends to mental health, with the natural world well known to help reduce stress and increase wellbeing.
Regular time spent outside is essential for children, something that we take very seriously at Evoke Early Learning. Both our Albert Park and Clayton centres blend indoor and outdoor spaces, allowing our children to meet their required quota of outdoor time for the best physical and mental health. Our Reggio-inspired early years program is dedicated to catering to each child’s individual needs, and we take full advantage of our wonderful climate to maximise outdoor time.
Call for more information or book a tour today – we’d love to show you our talented team in action.
Tracey is a highly qualified educator and administrator and brings a strong combination of academic achievement, extensive work experience in the education and business sectors as well as drive and passion to her role as General Manager of Operations at Evoke Early Learning.
Tracey has a Master of Education and an Advanced Diploma of Business and holds VIT Dual Registration to teach in Early Childhood and Primary School settings. She’s also a VIT Trained Mentor Teacher and has worked in ECEC settings as a Director, Educational Leader and as a Victorian Senior Area manager. Her recognition as a state finalist in the recent Director of the Year Awards is testament to her achievements in the early education sector.
Her extensive work experience also included a stint as Head of Curriculum at the Royal Children’s Hospital Education Institute and positions as head of ICT at a number of large primary and secondary schools. Tracey is also experienced in not-for-profit sessional kindergarten settings and long daycare environments, so she has a deep understanding of what’s required to support the needs and expectations of young children, educators, parents and caregivers.
Tracey is responsible for operational management at Evoke Early Learning’s Clayton centre in Oakleigh East and their Albert Park centre in South Melbourne and is deeply committed to leading and driving effective and sustainable service delivery throughout the company.
Tracey is passionate about making a meaningful difference to young children, their parents and the wider community and under her expert guidance, Evoke Early Learning is continuing to raise the bar in quality early education and childcare.
