Children are curious at heart and this curiosity can be ignited by nature. Our natural world provides great opportunities for supporting learning and can stimulate each of the body’s senses. Getting outdoors in nature can also meet children’s physical, emotional, and educational needs. Nature can be the ultimate classroom.

Physical Education in Nature

Encouraging movement is even more necessary as society becomes increasingly dependent on electronics. Children need a chance to develop their physical bodies in open spaces. Nature provides space for cardiovascular, strength, flexibility, balance, and agility exercises. Activities like playing hide-and-seek, hiking, and enjoying outdoor sports all support healthy motor skills. In addition to gross motor skills, children can develop fine motor skills in nature by using natural items, such as nuts for sorting or seeds for planting a garden.

Sunshine State of Mind

Feeling the sun on skin and breathing in fresh air can be an instant stress reliever. Being surrounded by the sights, smells, sounds, textures, and sometimes tastes of the outdoors can provide a distraction from heavy emotions and lighten one’s mood. Time spent outdoors gives children the chance to play together, developing social-emotional skills. Children can experience increased clarity and creativity from their time spent in nature. Using nature journals is a great way to connect with emotions while being in nature.

Earth Education

Outdoor classrooms provide support for physical and emotional needs, which must be met for children to learn and reach their full potential. Education cannot only happen in nature, but it can happen using natural materials.

Counting and basic arithmetic can be performed using items such as sticks, nuts, or rocks. Data collection and representation can be developed by having children make and record observations. For example, they can record the type of birds they see. Science is everywhere in nature. Plus, the arts can be fostered by improvising instruments or painting brushes from natural items.

Wrapping It Up

Using the outdoors as a classroom is completely natural. Children can benefit from simply being in nature, and they can also be better educated through it. When children’s bodies and emotions are at ease, they are more receptive to learning and able to concentrate. Nature experiences have an unlimited ability to be tailored to any need or age, making nature the ultimate classroom.