Taking your child outside and spending time in nature will not only benefit their physical and mental health but will also provide valuable learning opportunities. You don’t need to go far or do anything elaborate to make the most of the great outdoors whilst teaching your child some valuable skills. Here are 5 outdoor learning activities you can do with little ones from a nursery school in North London.
Beach trip
Take a trip to the beach and use it as an opportunity to teach your little one about science. You can talk about different types of rocks and how they’ve been shaped by the Earth’s processes. Talk about what makes the tide come in and out, and what the sea and sand are made of.
Planting
If you have a garden or allotment get your child involved in planting some seeds and doing some gardening. You can talk to them about how plants grow and what happens to them during each season. If you don’t have a garden, you can still grow plants in small pots on your windowsill and encourage your little one to take responsibility for looking after them. Through this they’ll learn what plants need to survive and grow.
Reading outdoors
If the weather is nice, take a blanket and some books into the garden or to a local park and do some reading outside. Often children will respond better in a new learning environment as it offers a different perspective. You might be able to relate some of what you’re reading to the environment around you, depending on the topic.
Water play
Fill a bucket or water table with water and gather different objects. Ask your child to guess which ones will sink or float when put in the water. Use it as an opportunity to explain why certain objects sink and why others float. This can be a great activity to teach your child about science.
Go on a bug hunt
Take a walk in the woods and challenge your child to spot different insects. Take a magnifying glass with you if you have one so they can see them up close. Talk about the different types of habitats they live in and how they survive. Your child will no doubt find this a fascinating activity.
The great outdoors provides ample opportunity to help your little one learn about the world around them, and to introduce them to subjects such as science, so make the most of it!
