Playing outdoors is a wonderful way to help your child’s development, but often it can be difficult to think of things to do. Below, you can discover some ideas for outdoor play, provided by our experts at Blue Nest Montessori School, helping your children to grow further.
Create a Fairy Garden
Great for fuelling their imagination, creating a fairy garden in your outdoor space can be wonderful for your little ones. Allowing them to find building materials in your garden can encourage them to explore the outside world and think creatively about which materials might look good. As imaginary creatures, creating a space for fairies can also help to engage your child’s creative instincts and help them use their imagination.
Make a Pond
Making a pond doesn’t need to be complicated, nor does it need to be permanent! A pond could be something as simple as a washing-up bowl, used to mimic a pond. Creating a pond allows you to teach your child about the world around them, particularly if you use props and representations of pond life. Try adding moss, for example, to give your pond a real feel and give your child the opportunity to explore different textures.
Craft a Mud Kitchen
While messy, mud kitchens can be incredibly fun. The roleplay of cooking can help your child to grow their independence, while also using their imagination to make believe. Mud kitchens are also an opportunity to use their senses, exploring the unique texture of mud and making it into something new entirely. You could even create a mock kitchen in your garden, ready for them to play with.
Grow Some Flowers
Getting your child involved in gardening can be incredibly rewarding, as they learn about how the world works. From planting the seeds together, to tending to the garden, to harvesting the resulting flowers, it’s a great opportunity to bond with your little one and to help them grow their language skills. Growing flowers together can be an enjoyable long-term project that also introduces the idea of responsibility and helps them to care for something.
Have a Picnic
Spending time outdoors doesn’t always need to be an active experience. Picnics can be wonderful and easy ways to spend time outside, while also helping your child to develop their skills. Encourage them to bring their toys outdoors too, using them as guests at the picnic. You could also encourage them to pour drinks and serve food, whether real or imaginary, helping them to develop their fine motor skills by grasping crockery.
Our Early Childhood Daycare
At Blue Nest Montessori School, we know how important it is for children to spend time outdoors. Each of our nursery schools, including our Harrow nursery, is equipped with an outdoor play area for the children in our care to enjoy and learn in. Additionally, we offer Forest School, which is designed to help children of all ages to benefit from hands-on learning opportunities.
If you’re interested in our early childhood daycare services or Forest School, please don’t hesitate to visit the Blue Nest Montessori School website or get in touch with our team today.
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