An educator planning a lesson plan, or supervising children during a class-room session should offer both indoor and outdoor activities. Research proves that a child’s physical, emotional, and mental development is enhanced by play. Play is a foundation of learning where children learn motor skills, build social repour, foster their creativity, and discover the world. Research proves that the environment in which a child plays acts as a powerful ‘third teacher’ which can shape how they interact, explore, communicate, move and learn.
For children at a nursery level, indoor play areas need to be safe, controlled, and stimulating environments, ideal for structure and activities that build foundational academic and social. This includes cognitive skill development, fine motor skill learning, and fostering creativity and imagination where a child can freely express themselves in a safe environment. During play, they can grow, learn and discover.
Outdoor play is equally important offering children freedom to run, move, explore, and interact with the natural world in ways that are not possible indoors. Being outdoors invites a child’s curiosity, as there is always something to look at, or touch – it can often be seen as a meaningful engagement for all children. Outdoor play can foster a child’s physical development like gross motor skills, overall coordination with running, climbing, jumping and maybe even cycling. Outdoor play offers mental health and well being, with sunlight and being in nature which can calm the mind and contributes to a positive emotional well-being. It can also enhance their social skills by playing outdoor games which are often played in groups. Outdoor play also allows the child to explore their sensory touch with sand, water, tree branches, and hearing with the sounds of birds, trains, cars, planes etc.
When an educator fosters a child’s learning or encourages either indoor or outdoor play, they uphold a child’s right to play, offer development learning, and offer a child’s simulation and imagination across many areas, whether indoor or outdoor.
