Last week, you reflected on your own play history, which perhaps included rich descriptions of time spent outdoors: playing with friends and alone, running, meandering, climbing, building, and imagining. But what is time outdoors like for children today? Many spend far less time actively and freely engaged in outdoor play with extended days in care and school and an emphasis on structured sports at younger ages. The prevalence of time spent on “screens” and safety concerns also have taken their toll. Researchers in many fields have raised alarms as to why a lack of time outdoors is detrimental to the healthy development of children. However, at the same time, there are also a number of fascinating ideas and approaches that have emerged within the early childhood field that position outdoor and nature-based play as not only accessible but indeed central to helping young children thrive. In preparation for this week’s Discussion, consider your own experiences with and perspectives about young children and the outdoors. Then, review the resources and think about your reactions and the role of early childhood professionals in making sure children participate in the breadth and depth of what the outdoors has to offer. post your response to the following: – Explain the value of nature-based play, forest schools, risky play, and big body play to every child’s healthy development and learning. – Describe issues that you notice pertaining to accessibility and inclusion in outdoor/nature-based experiences for all children. – Discuss specific challenges related to each of the categories of outdoor play for early childhood teachers. – Analyze your own discomfort related to any or all of these areas and explain how you might move yourself further along on the continuum of comfort and risk.
