The Role of Nature in Early Learning: Why Outdoor Exploration Matters

The wonders of the great outdoors bring incredible benefits at every stage of life, and the formative years are no exception. In fact, there’s an increasing level of scientific evidence that shows it’s not just a nice-to-do, it’s crucial for early development. This is and always has been something that the Reggio Emilia approach strongly advocates.

In a world where children are spending an increasing amount of time indoors, educators and caregivers need to be mindful of how much time is spent discovering and basking in the joys of Mother Nature. This can be approached in two ways:

1. Nature contact: The act of being outside.
2. Nature play: Spending time discovering and playing with natural elements. This could be outdoors or indoors. For example, learning to press flowers, using leaves and twigs in an art project or sorting pebbles and stones into groups, all count, even if they take place inside.

Of course, the gold standard is to leave the comfort of the classroom or living room and take the adventures into the open air.

But why is being exposed to the elements so important? And does it matter whether it’s in an enclosed safe space, like a garden, or does it have to be in the bigger, wilder outdoors?

Leaving the Safe Space Behind: How Exposure to Nature Stimulates Everything from Neural Growth to Better Sleep

Let’s talk about one of the obvious benefits first, which is how it affects cardiovascular health. Most children, given the freedom to roam, will ramp up the energy with running, jumping and all kinds of athletic shenanigans. This works the heart and lungs, building stamina, muscle tone, balance, movement and a healthy attitude towards exercise.

Even those with a more introspective or solitary nature will likely take more steps outside than they would when confined by four walls.

Other ways that outdoor spaces play a role in early childhood development include:

• It’s highly social: Natural inquisitiveness is stimulated by others. When one child makes a discovery or is interested by, say, a beetle or a beautiful autumn leaf, others will gravitate towards them to see what the fuss is about. Children will naturally compete, perhaps running races, playing tag or who can swing the highest. Yes, this can also happen indoors but, when you bring the big outdoors into play with all of its additional stimulants, the benefits are enhanced tenfold.
• More information promotes cognitive development: The more there is to see, do and discover, the more the brain has to process. The first few years of life are when neural connections are expanding at their fastest, and exposure to the natural world provides more data to process than any artificial environment can ever do. It pervades all the senses, from the salty smell of the ocean to the shifting shades of a sunset, the gentle sound of a breeze rippling through the trees to the silky feel of sand slipping through fingers…
• Risk taking: Learning how to approach and assess risk is a vital learned skill. Outdoor play gives children opportunities to discover their potential and limitations (in a safe and supervised way), such as climbing a tree, jumping from a height, swinging on a rope, paddling in the ocean, etc.
• Building a healthy relationship with the environment: Discovering that caterpillars feed on leaves, that rivers swell after rain and that soil is teeming with insects and bugs are all examples of how children make connections with nature. Many an eminent environmental career stems from a fascination with the natural world that began from early outdoor play and exploration.

Of course, it’s not always possible for educators, parents and caregivers to meet the World Health Organisation’s recommended three hours outside per day for their children. Weather, urban living and other aspects can often affect this.

However, bringing nature inside - AKA, the above-mentioned ‘nature play’ - also counts. Again, this is something the Reggio Emilia approach is renowned for, incorporating natural elements into virtually every aspect of early learning life. This can be as simple as some messy play with mud, sand and water, perhaps an on-going project involving the lifecycle of a tree or counting the number of birds that can be seen flying past a window.

Enjoying nature and regular time spent in natural surroundings, whether it’s a walk in an urban park, a day at the beach or simply a car drive away from the hustle and bustle of the city, is critical for early childhood development.

Getting enough outside time is known to:

• Help children learn to regulate their emotions.
• Reduce stress and anxiety.
• Improve resilience.
• Increase curiosity and creativity.
• Benefit attention span, memory and problem solving.
• Stimulate academic skills.

At Evoke Early Learning, we champion the benefits of both nature contact and nature play. Each of our centres has dedicated outdoor spaces, where our children can enjoy all the benefits of being outside. Our educators are all highly skilled in the neuroscience of play, and don’t be surprised if your child regularly comes home and tells you all about the big old mess that they enjoyed creating today (because messy play is such a great way to enhance early learning).

Want to find out more? Get in contact or book a tour today and come and see our talented teams in action.