Taking learning outside can lead to explorations that connect us to our senses and calm troubled minds, says Tina Stubbs, who is passionate
about the myriad benefits of going outside.
We instinctively know that fresh air and natural open spaces affect us in a positive way. It’s well known that natural light balances hormones, mood, sleep, and diet and offers many other incredible health benefits. I’m lucky to witness the daily well-being benefits of children engaging in their natural surroundings, and to see the effect this has on some of our more ‘challenging’ young people.
Learning through outdoor experiences is extremely important for sensory development and our natural environment is a sensory playground waiting to be explored and discovered, nurturing creativity and building confidence, resilience, and curiosity. Through evolution and our co-existence with the outdoors, our bodies naturally relax when we are in nature. We can absorb far more information when there is no artificial light, mechanical sounds or noisy chatter in confined spaces. When we replace ‘indoorness’ with ‘outdoorness’, we are moving out of a largely sedentary environment and celebrating the joy of squatting, exploring, noticing, running and balancing on uneven surfaces.
As delicate as a flower, as tactile as tree bark
There is much in nature to explore through touch, smell, sight, sound and taste. Outdoor play and learning stimulates the senses calmly and enjoyably and children can interact and engage with their surroundings under the sky, even in restricted circumstances. For those who struggle in the classroom, being outside can often decrease anxiety levels as they are drawn into making, creating, observing and sharing and using gross and fine motor skills as nature intended.
A tree or plant can provide enough to gently stimulate all the senses, just by touching a flower’s petals and leaves and smelling the scent. Look at the shapes and colours; some you can taste or get adventurous with making potions and perfumes. Get mucky! Not only does dirt have feel-good chemicals, but it can be a fabulous natural sensory material, like clay or water. Be mindful of children who are more sensitive to new sensations so you can adapt to suit them. Slowly introduce new natural materials and gauge their reaction; we want this to be an enjoyable experience for them. Consider adding some objects for them to ‘find’ and spades to dig up treasures. Watching how they interact or what they’re curious about can provide great insights into aspects of their personality that may not surface in the classroom. There’s a lot more fun potential.
Children move around more when outside, supporting better health, balance and coordination. Exercise plays a vital part in mental health, too. A change of environment can help to calm the senses if challenging behaviours arise. Another benefit of outdoor play and learning is the space to expend energy, reducing tension and anxiety. Don’t we all breathe better outside as well? Through my work, I often see the positive effect outdoors has on children with behaviour issues, and these often seem to diminish dramatically when there is space or activities that meet their needs more effectively than class-based interventions. Some children who struggle in the classroom seem to be nourished by outdoor experiences.
Come rain, come shine, there’s a sense of freedom calling
A swing or hammock is a great way to regulate, and digging, pulling or using tools can engage the hard-to-reach child. Rolling a heavy log, watering the plants—this kind of activity can become almost mindful. Everyone is different, so I try to work out what seems to work for them and acknowledge when they’ve taken back control of their behaviour. Sincere praise helps support and highlight their adjustment to positive behaviour. Through outdoor learning activities and being in nature, children use judgement and decision-making much more. Children can happily be part of a group or find a space with an activity they enjoy on their own. I often have two or three different activities to choose from and let the child gravitate to the one that appeals to them. Risk-taking challenges, such as using tools or climbing help build awareness of potential dangers such as overhanging branches, prickly leaves, or uneven surfaces. By developing tactics and strategies, some children discover personal strengths they were unaware of, while gaining an understanding of safety rules and being alert to possible dangers when outdoors. If necessary, I will add a quick lesson on handling tools safely. It gives a child a feeling of responsibility and trust. Using natural materials and outdoor activities is a great way to engage a child and help them become more aware of their emotions. You can use natural materials to create pictures that can help explain things. Outdoors feels less restrictive and gives them a sense of freedom, so this may result in a child being more willing to communicate. Outdoorness reconnects the child to the universe and can re-balance perspectives.
Collect natural materials to take home for crafts, a vase of flowers to discuss and admire, or start a micro garden with some pots and seeds on the window sill and watch them germinate and grow. You could even study some minibeasts that may have ventured into the home. My best advice: always take a magnifying glass.
Author: Tina Stubbs
Tina Stubbs
Tina Stubbs is an award winning author and founder of Life’s Little Bugs Ltd, whose books and workshops teach children fundamental healthy habits. Her own passion for nature and its benefits in childhood development led towards the popular Outdoor Learning programme ‘Life’s Little Bugs Go Wild’.
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