The Benefits of Outdoor Learning to Health and Wellbeing in Early Years
Guest blog by Charlotte Ng: Author, Director & Founder at Earthlings Outdoor Learning Services
In recent years, more and more childcare settings have recognised the benefits of getting children outdoors, not just for physical development but also for emotional health and mental well-being.
Have you ever noticed that when you’re having a bad day, stepping outside into the fresh air and natural light can instantly bring you a sense of relief and calm?
Let’s explore why.
How outdoor learning supports brain development
In a digital age, where children and adults spend more time than ever in front of screens, vitamin D deficiency is rising worldwide. This is largely due to the significantly reduced time spent outdoors and being exposed to the sun’s natural rays.
The sun is our most powerful natural source of vitamin D, which is crucial to aid the production of serotonin (otherwise known as the “happy hormone”), as is the fresh air. Fresh air increases oxygen levels in the brain, which also increases serotonin. This helps us to stabilise our mood and regulate the nervous system and emotional state, bringing us a feeling of overall calm and happiness.
This is particularly important during neurodevelopment, as it shapes the way our brain forms connections that result in learning. Our emotions influence our ability to focus our attention on a task, remember information, and problem-solve.
If we feel stressed, anxious, frightened, or any negative emotion, our cognitive functions can become impaired, making learning much more difficult. We are distracted by our worries and thoughts.
When we feel happy, calm, and safe, we are more open to new experiences and trying new things. We are also more motivated and more susceptible to retaining information and learning.
The physical and emotional benefits of outdoor play
Going outside for 20 minutes each day, both first thing in the morning and late afternoon, can make a huge difference in your setting to both the children and staff team.
Exposure to early morning sunlight kickstarts your body clock (circadian rhythm) by sending signals to the brain that let it know the day has begun. This makes you more alert, boosts your energy levels, prepares your children for a day of learning, and can also improve staff productivity!
Exposure to afternoon sunlight helps with the production of melatonin, which is a hormone that regulates our sleep cycle. This will help your children and staff wind down after the day, and feel calmer and more relaxed at home time. They will sleep better and longer through the night, which in turn, makes them more rested, happy, and ready for the next day.
Not only this but being in a natural environment offers exclusive experiences that help with the development of emotional intelligence. Being exposed to all weather, seasonal change and diverse risks opens us up to challenges that would not otherwise be presented to us indoors. Managing these aspects provides vital transferable tools and skills in dealing with all aspects of life, and challenges it throws at us.
Being exposed to the environment that is exclusively found outdoors is also imperative to our physical health. Aside from the obvious advantages of having more space to run free and exercise more easily than indoors, it also helps to boost the immune system and can help reduce the likelihood of developing allergies and autoimmune diseases. Getting down and dirty and enjoying muddy play, or exercising your green fingers with a spot of gardening puts our bodies in contact with helpful microbes found in mud, soil and dirt.
There is much evidence to suggest that mud holds magical properties and is more than just sticky brown goop! But what do I mean by magic? Well, the soil and dirt in mud actually house a complex ecosystem of microorganisms. Bacteria, fungi, and other microbes present in mud and soil are a crucial factor in the body’s ability to trigger “immune training”, which is an important part of a child’s early years to keep them strong, healthy, and fight off illnesses. Immune training is a process the immune system undertakes to learn what is harmful, what is not, and what it can work with to fight off infection and inflammation.
This exposure has become ever more important since the rising pressure on childcare settings to provide overly sterile “clean” environments to stop the spread of illness and disease, particularly since the recent pandemic. However, researchers are now saying that it’s this very lack of exposure to these environments that is responsible for the rise in allergies and auto-immune diseases, and for a happy mind, we need a happy body too.
How outdoor learning shapes the whole child
If you explore the pedagogy of outdoor learning practices, such as Forest Schools or nature-based curriculums, you will hear the term “holistic development” mentioned in their teachings. Holistic development refers to the missing pieces of the puzzle or parts that create the full circle in the broader picture of what a child needs in their learning and development journey. Aspects that are gained exclusively through being in the outdoors- the well-being principles that need to be put in alongside classroom learning such as; managing emotional intelligence, greater physical development, and building a deeper sense of self and connection to who we are. This is what we call “the whole child approach”. When we have each piece of the puzzle, we complete the circle of needs- the whole mind, the whole body, the whole child.
But it doesn’t stop there; these benefits are not exclusive to children or child development. We can all improve our quality of life by being outdoors. More and more workplaces recognise this, and many are providing employees with out-of-office days in nature to improve staff morale, mental well-being, and productivity. Medical professionals are even prescribing nature as part of patients’ treatment plans for faster recovery.
Providing opportunities for children to explore nature
There are countless ways you can provide opportunities for children to explore the natural world even with limited outdoor space.
From starting a container garden to creating a mud kitchen area, providing habitats to support local wildlife within your nursery garden, or even taking a daily walk to a local nature reserve or green space. With access to so many free online resources, it’s never been easier if you know where to look.
The RHS offers a free online gardening course for educators, the Woodland Trust has free tree packs for schools, and the Wildlife Trust, RSPB, WWF, and many other organisations provide free printable activity sheets and advice on how to create spaces for wildlife. There are even many websites that connect gardeners and educators with tree surgeons who provide free wood chippings to use for gardens and outdoor play areas, and they will even deliver it to your door!
So, why not try starting the day at your setting with a nature walk, time exploring the nursery garden, or outdoor circle time? You could wash away the Monday morning blues with a muddy puddle splash and paddle. Ending your day outside could be as simple as sitting under a tree and having a story, lying on your back and looking at the clouds, and reflecting on an exciting day of learning.
A little bit about Charlotte
Charlotte began her career in early years over 20 years ago, working in various settings across the UK and Europe. In 2012, after qualifying as an adventure sports coach and outdoor leader, she discovered Forest School and fell in love with its holistic approach and child-centred ethos.
After becoming an accredited Forest School leader, Charlotte founded Earthling Forest School in 2016, delivering sessions to a wide range of clients, from parents and children to educational settings both early years and beyond. Today, she runs a Forest School agency and consultancy, Earthlings Outdoor Learning Services, providing training and expert advice on all things outdoor learning and Forest School.
Charlotte has recently published a book, Mud Kitchen Magic, sharing her extensive knowledge and experiences as both an educator and a parent.
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About the Author
Charlotte has over 20 years of experience in early years, working across the UK and Europe. A qualified Forest School leader and outdoor specialist, she founded Earthlings Outdoor Learning Services, offering Forest School sessions, training, and consultancy. Charlotte is passionate about child-centred, holistic learning in nature for all ages and settings.