5 Outdoor Learning Activities for Children

 Outdoor learning provides a range of benefits to children, playing a vital role in their overall education and development. It teaches them that learning can happen in lots of environments, not just inside the four walls of a classroom, which opens their eyes to a whole host of new opportunities. 

What’s more, learning outdoors can help young people develop a sense of respect for the environment, which we could certainly use more of in recent years. An independent school in Buckinghamshire have the following suggestions for outdoor activities to get you started. 

 

1.     Build a Bird Feeder

 Building a bird feeder is a great way to entice some feathered friends into your garden. It’s easy to do and fun for everyone. There are lots of ways to do it, like with an empty milk carton or an old teacup and saucer – have a look online for some inspiration. You could even invest in a pair of binoculars so that your child can keep an eye on it and learn about different species of bird.

 

2.     Survival Skills

 

A great outdoor activity that many of us remember from our own childhood is building a den out of twigs and leaves. You could also teach them how to read a map or even camp out for the weekend.

 

3.     Prepare a Scavenger Hunt

 Write a list of some items exclusive to the outdoor, like a sycamore leaf, an acorn, a conker etc. Take your child and some of their friends for a trip to the woods and have them find the items on your list. The first one to find all of the items could win a prize. Allow them to work in teams if that helps. This is not only a fun activity, but it also teaches children about nature and how to participate in healthy competition. 

 

4.     Grow Your Own

 

Planting fruit and vegetables will only work at certain times of the year, but it’s a rewarding activity that teaches kids about patience and persistence.

 

5.     Observe Some Bugs

 

Head to the woods with a magnifying glass and allow your child to observe the bugs. Ask them to count how many they can see and talk to you about the kind of habitat they like to survive in. You could even encourage your child to write their observations down in a diary. 

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