Our favourite pieces of outdoor learning equipment

Outdoor Wooden Stage With Benches

‘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…

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Should outdoor learning be part of the curriculum?

Young Boy Sitting With Large Teddy Bear

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.…

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What are the essentials for an outdoor classroom?

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…

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Frolicking in Nature is Serious Business

“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…

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Outdoor learning in all weathers: How to build your outdoor classroom for all weather conditions

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…

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Building an Outdoor Classroom: Where to start

Wooden Construction Set For Kids

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…

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What outdoor play equipment should I get my child?

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…

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4 Ideas for Muddy games with kids

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…

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