Posts by gwen

We all know the benefits of outdoor play versus sitting kids in front of screens inside, but it is surprising just how far-reaching those positive outcomes are.

‘Outdoor learning’ is such an umbrella term, used for all sorts of situations around being with kids, outside! Whether you’re trying to take a more traditional classroom-style learning environment into an outdoor context, looking to help broaden children’s capacity to play, teach a little about sustainability and ecology, encourage the development of peer relationships and…

We all have a vague sense that children should be outside; we’ve all been herded outdoors as children, and as adults have felt creeping unease about parking children in front of the television or screens. This gut feeling is supported by the evidence – screens make us unhappy, unfit, and stimulated in the wrong ways.…

All over the UK, more and more schools are realising the benefits of outdoor learning and are moving some of their classes outside into purpose-built outdoor classrooms. Outdoor learning is becoming more popular all the time, with things like the recent extreme weather and the pandemic making the option to be outside more and more…

“Nature wants children to be children before men […] Childhood has its own seeing, thinking and feeling.” Jean-Jacques Rousseau  Getting developing children out into nature – to play, forage, climb and build is crucial for their overall wellbeing and functioning. But, even though we might not yet fully understand the therapeutic nature of a good…

Outdoor learning has been shown to enhance interpersonal communication skills between children, as well as supporting their mental health. It provides a heightened awareness of, and appreciation for the environment, and allows children to assert control over their selfhood and become sensitised to their own well-being levels. That’s all on top of the physical benefits…

Plenty of studies over the years have illustrated the positive impact of outdoor play and the outdoors generally upon students and learning. Whether it’s for a Forest School specifically or to provide a different kind of outdoor education setting for some hours of school-based curriculum learning, an outdoor classroom is key. Forget any stereotypes you…

Most parents and carers love the idea of encouraging active play outside. It can be imaginative and sociable, as well as great for physical development and fitness.  But outdoor playsets aren’t always cheap. How do you know which to choose, to make sure your child loves their new equipment? Well, here at Landscapes for Learning…

The idea of actively encouraging children to play in mud makes the colour drain from many parents’ faces. We get it – everybody will definitely need a thorough wash by the end! But the benefits for kids and their development are huge. Need persuading? The benefits include:  Emotional Development (encouraging creativity through drawing, painting, and…

Do you remember being lost in imaginative play when you were a child? Living in a dream scenario that you, and perhaps your friends, had built together?  Den building is an age-old pastime that is still just as pertinent to a child’s development today as it ever was. Den building often takes place outdoors, allowing…