Have you put a nursery with outdoor areas high on your criteria list? Discover the benefits of adding outdoor play and adventures to your child’s daily routine below.
What are the benefits of outdoor play in childcare?
1. Physical health
Outdoor play helps in developing physical fitness and will top up their vitamin D levels, which helps to improve bone health and density while also helping to regulate mood. It also allows children to burn off energy, which will help them concentrate better and excel in the classroom.
2. Emotional and social development
Outdoor play provides opportunities for children to make friends, engage in group activities, and develop social and emotional skills. It also allows them to explore and process feelings in a different environment.
3. Stimulated imagination and creativity
Environments such as gardens, playgrounds, fields and woodland all help to stimulate children’s imaginations, allowing for endless play and discovery of the natural world.
4. Mental health
Spending time outdoors can have a positive impact on both mental and physical health at any age, encouraging relaxation, calmness, and a heightened sense of wellbeing.
5. Learning through movement
Outside in the fresh air, children can engage in activities that are more active, including sports, team games, playing in a sandpit and using apparatus in a secure playground. All this helps to foster a more positive attitude towards learning and the great outdoors.
Summary
In summary, choosing a day nursery with outdoor areas, such as a garden, can significantly contribute to the overall development and wellbeing of children, encompassing physical health, emotional and social development, imagination, creativity, and a lifelong love of the great outdoors.
Want to find a day nursery near Peterborough that offers secure outdoor spaces for your little ones? At First Steps Day Nursery, all children have access to our garden area, and we recognise that outside play is an important part of your children’s learning and development. Book your tour today.
