It supports the children’s mental health and wellbeing
It’s a near-universal truth that closer contact with nature has tangible emotional and mental benefits, and this is as true for children as it is for adults. Research has shown that taking the classroom outside increases children’s serotonin levels and decreases stress. With the increase of the chemical neurotransmitter serotonin, children feel happier, more confident, and safer at school, and are therefore more likely to enjoy and learn in their lessons.
What’s more, research by the World Health Organisation has shown that children who are raised with access to nature are far less likely to develop mental health problems. That alone is an excellent demonstration of why outdoor learning is a vital component to supporting a child’s mental wellbeing and boosting their development.
It encourages the children to appreciate and discover nature
One of the brilliant things about outdoor education is the exposure children have to the flora and fauna of the natural world. From mini-beasts to plants and ponds, the added freedom helps to foster children’s curiosity and desire to learn in a practical environment. It also helps children build a connection with and develop a greater understanding and appreciation for our world.
A four year study conducted by Nature England found that 95% of students found outside lessons more enjoyable, which then led to 94% of students having a greater understanding of nature.
It enhances the development of critical thinking and interpersonal skills
Speaking of academic studies, a 2019 study from Swansea University also found that well-planned outdoor lessons help children to develop key skills such as critical thinking, problem solving and reflection - all of which are skills needed to navigate later life. Outdoor learning is conducive to more favourable academic outcomes, as students learn better when they are at ease and genuinely interested. By the same token, an increased exposure to green spaces was found to result in a better attention span and an increased aptitude for English and maths. Crucially, having regular access to nature helps students to progress further in science too, as teachers can make use of the environment for hands-on learning.
It enriches and promotes a more inclusive environment
Lastly – but by no means least importantly – outdoor learning helps to connect children to nature, their local heritage and culture. It also provides rich stimuli for children that can help to encourage positive developments in their relationships between their classmates as well as their teachers, helping students to develop a greater sense of self-awareness and understanding for others. It boosts their social skills by giving all students a fair opportunity to partake in the same activities as their peers no matter their educational needs or physical requirements. This in turn helps to encourage greater sense of self-esteem and confidence in children.
Those are just some of the most universal benefits – you might even discover one or two unique benefits for your own class, depending on their personal outlooks and educational needs. When it comes right down to it, working outdoor learning curriculums in tandem with standard classroom learning can provide a more productive, nurturing and varying environment for your students to learn in. And of course, you can always foster your students’ learning and educational development further by providing them with quality printed supplies and stationery.
Here at EPSL, we supply a wide variety of exercise books, personalised exercise books and supplementary reading materials, so why not take a look at what we’ve got available on our site? If you have any questions, please do give us a call on 01254 686 500. We’ll be happy to h
