Explore the outdoors with the children in your classroom this term! Now that the weather is becoming warmer and brighter it is the perfect time to get outdoors. Being outside has many benefits, both physically and mentally. Physically, children will have exposure to Vitamin D and the opportunity for movement such as jumping, running, stretching and balancing.
Mentally, children can benefit from being in the outdoors with improved mood and emotion. They are less restless when outdoors thus reducing stress and anxiety. Simply being outdoors can relax children and give them a break from the everyday routine. They have the opportunity to improve self esteem and confidence as they move around exploring and learning as they go.
If you are looking for some new resources to help with your outdoor play then look no further! At the Early Years Shop we have created a category especially for 'Exploring Nature with Children'. In this section you will find a number of various resources that will enhance the outdoor play environment. This includes resource books, kits and educational products.
Explore the Outdoors with Insect Lore
We have a great range of educational products from Insect Lore. These products will help to set the environment when encouraging children to explore in the outdoors. Use the Ladybird Magnifer to get up close to insects, flowers, leaves or bugs! It has been designed especially for little hands and allows for 5 x magnification.
The Best Ever Bug Jar allows children to collect items while on a nature hunt. Then they can take an up close look at a bug or insect without the worry of it creeping up their arm! The Creature Peeper is also a great resource that allows children to explore bugs, insects, leaves and petals up close. Children can simply place any item they wish into the holder for a closer look and easily release them when they have finished.
The Butterfly Garden is an excellent educational resource that allows children to experience firsthand the life cycle of caterpillar to butterfly. Watch as the caterpillars eat and grow, go into chrysalises and emerge as beautiful Painted Lady Butterflies! Children will love the opportunity to feed the butterflies when they emerge and then let them go back out into the wild to begin the process all over again!
Inspiration from Thrive Outdoor Nature Books
If you are looking for some inspiration connecting with the outdoors you will love this Thrive Book Bundle. This set of four books was written by Irish Author and Early Years Educator, Gillian Powell, M.Ed. The aim of the books is to inspire and guide early years educators to connect with nature during each season.
Each book includes over 50 pages of ideas with each idea using natural materials, nature and the outdoors. The activities are centred around math, science, well being, language, sensory and many other areas. The books are suitable for children between the ages of 2 and 8 years old with a book for Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter giving plenty of inspiration all year round! Check out the below video on Thrive Summer to give you a brief insight!
