Uninterrupted Outdoor Free Play
“Let the children be free; encourage them; let them run outside when it is raining; let them remove their shoes when they find a puddle of water; and, when the grass of the meadows is damp with dew, let them run on it and trample it with their bare feet; let them rest peacefully when a tree invites them to sleep beneath its shade; let them shout and laugh when the sun wakes them in the morning as it wakes every living creature that divides its day between waking and sleeping.”
While this isn’t necessarily an activity for inside the classroom, it is one of the most important nature-based learning experience outside of it. Children need uninterrupted playtime in nature—whether in urban, suburban, or rural settings—to explore, play, and transfer their learning to the real world.
Through child-led play without adult intervention, children develop problem-solving skills, build resilience, and deepen their connection to the natural world. Playing in grass and around trees, rather than relying solely on structured playgrounds, helps children develop gross motor skills, balance, and coordination. This type of play enhances their proprioceptive (sense of body position and movement) and vestibular systems (sense of balance and spatial orientation) as they run, climb, jump, and navigate uneven terrain.
Playing with other children fosters social-emotional growth as they learn to collaborate, resolve conflicts, and regulate their emotions. Additionally, nature's rich landscape of colors, sounds, textures, smells, and even tastes engages the senses, sharpening visual and auditory discrimination while heightening tactile awareness. These sensory experiences help build concentration, problem-solving skills, and a deeper connection to the natural world.
When we trust children to interact intuitively with their environments, we allow their natural instincts and rhythms to guide them. This engagement with the natural world helps children discover the magic and beauty of life on Earth, a sentiment they may carry with them throughout their lives.
