The Great Outdoors Considering We Are Not

The Great Outdoors

Considering we are not confined to the walls of a school building or the affixed schedule, we cherish the freedom to enjoy time outdoors whenever the mood strikes and our partially filled schedule allows.

Whether we’re wrapping up in coats and gloves, or generously applying SPF 50, the children enjoy adventures in all weather.

From a parental perspective, and not only that of a home educating one, it is plain to observe that time outdoors can spark a child’s curiosity of all things natural.

My daughter, much like myself, has developed a fondness of the sky. She will sometimes spend great lengths of time gazing at the clouds, the moon or stars. Later she will ask questions, or (my personal favourite) she will form her own ideas about why things happen and share them with me. This provides a great opportunity to research and learn, without prompting her to partake in formal education.

Responding to her thoughts with the offer to delve deeper encourages the study of subjects she has unwittingly volunteered. Her questions and musings about nature have offered various topics, including astronomy (which she also covered in group science class), horticulture, seeding and pollination, meteorology, cosmology, geography, and even maths (we once spent an afternoon measuring our lawn to calculate what large species of animal or multiples of them would fit).

Open space can provide elements and styles of learning that an inside space cannot, and for a child who finds it challenging to remain still and quiet, it can be the perfect environment to engage their intrigue.

My son, who is younger, has a fascination with insects. Until he came along, I had never seen

a child so eagerly run up to a bee until his nose almost touched it and shout “Hello bee, how are you today?” He also adores getting messy, in stark contrast to my daughter. He will enthusiastically dig in the sand, covering every inch of his entire body. He will jump in mud. The rain will begin to pour and he will carry on playing, undeterred.

But no matter which element of being outdoors grabs a child’s interest, there is no denying the benefits to both their physical and mental health. “They’ll sleep well tonight” is a phrase commonly uttered by parents who watch their children play outside endlessly, because it is so stimulating to their bodies and minds in comparison with a day spent inside.

Of the time we do spend indoors, one day per week consists of science class and is a firm favourite of my daughter’s. Science is widely enjoyed by children because it is one of the more exciting and hands-on subjects to study, covering an array of topics.

And although most children have no idea what they want to do with their future, consistently offering ideas, provoking their thoughts, and encouraging them to experiment will help them to identify what appeals to them.

Beyond learning about what science and nature can offer to us, teaching children about all about what we can offer in return. Environment, climate, pollution, waste, sustainability… these are all subjects we have touched upon in our

own time and in formal class settings. All of which provide valuable lessons to our children about caring, nurturing, and responsibility.

I can recall being six years old, and I never once stopped to consider helping a struggling bee, or to pick up litter at the park.

So when I see my daughter doing these things of her own accord, I can thank nature and aspects of our planet will prompt questions

science for providing awareness which is key to instilling crucial values for future generations.

Soft play is great for those rare days we can’t be bothered with much, but we’ll take a picnic in the woods any day.

Article By Missy Hitchcox

Missy Hitchcox is a Norfolk mother of two. She has a background of English Literature and Creative Writing studies. Her professional career has centred on the Beauty industry, and she now home educates her children.