Outdoor play

Outdoor play, natural play and nature play are different terms used to describe children 'being' outdoors. Being allowed to lead their own play, explore, investigate, be curious and take risks in a natural/outdoor environment.

Jan White introduces this section and details the importance and benefits of child-led and child-initiated play.

This section is filled with information surrounding the theory and practice of outdoor play - articles, policies, books and research.

Outdoor Hub

Activities

All Activities What's New Art & Creating mud, clay & sand pine cones & conkers leaves, sticks & petals weaving & wool wooden discs campfire craft sun print inks, dyes & perfume pebbles ice & snow with tools Tool use & Traditional Crafts tool guides weaving felting pewter hammers knives secateurs & saws palm drills & rotary hand drills fire craft Outdoor Play mud kitchen book mud kitchen case studies den building Other outdoor play ideas Curriculum Outdoors numeracy literacy science Inspirations Festivals & celebrations Fire, Shelters & Bushcraft fire knots & cordage shelters Food Outdoors foraging campfire cooking campfire recipes Nature Growing & Gardens Health & Wellbeing Activity Downloads Product Information

events

All Events Courses, Training and Workshops Forest School Training Forest School Leader Training (Level 3) Forest School Assistant Training (Level 2) Other Forest School Related Training Outdoor Learning Courses CPD Conferences and Lectures Annual/Special Days/Weeks/Months Festivals, Camps and Residentials Study visit

Training

All Training Bushcraft trainers Forest School trainers Muddy Faces Trainers Discount Package Outdoor Learning/Nature Play trainers

Loose parts, dens & block play

All Loose parts, dens & block play Block play Dens & den building Loose parts Loving Loose Parts Outdoors

Forest School

All Forest School Benefits of Forest School Forest School activities & ideas Forest School articles & blogs Forest School Day Forest School guides & books Forest School history Forest School kit lists Forest School principles Forest School qualifications Forest School Tools Forest School training Forest School videos FS research & reports Key Forest School organisations Muddy Faces & Forest School What is Forest School? Why forests & woods?

Mud

All Mud Creepy Crawly Café FREE Mud Kitchen book International Mud Day Introduction Mud activities Mud articles Mud campaign Mud Champions! Mud gallery Mud on Social Media Mud play tips Mud reports & research Muddy case studies Shop for mud kit The importance of soil

Active Boundaries

All Active Boundaries Bridges & stiles Gates & doorways Introduction to Active Boundaries Paths & edges Peepholes Squeezes & gaps Tunnels

Woodworking

All Woodworking Activities with tools & wood Books on woodworking Introduction from Pete Moorhouse Research & reports: wood Woodwork & learning Woodwork & safety Woodwork & tools articles Woodwork tools & tips Woodworking & tools guides

The Outdoor Practitioner magazine

All The Outdoor Practitioner magazine Practitioners Voice

Outdoor play

All Outdoor play Books on outdoor play Child led play Creating an outdoor setting Mud play Natural Play Principles Outdoor play articles Outdoor play case studies Outdoor play guides Outdoor play links Outdoor play reports & research Outdoor play videos Play Dates Water & sand

Health & wellbeing

All Health & wellbeing Connecting to nature Going to the loo & hygiene outside Hand washing Health & wellbeing articles Health & wellbeing books Health & wellbeing videos Introduction Mental health & being outdoors Pandemic & COVID-19 Ready for any weather Reasons to be Outside Research, reports: health, wellbeing Shop for Health & Wellbeing kit Sit spots Useful websites: health, wellbeing

Outdoor clothing

All Outdoor clothing Buying guide Environmental guide How to get ready Introduction Layering video Layers explained Outdoor clothing articles Waterproof ratings guide Waterproofs care guide

Bushcraft, shelters & traditional crafts

All Bushcraft, shelters & traditional crafts Bushcraft Shelters Traditional crafts

Fire, foraging & food

All Fire, foraging & food Books on fire Campfire recipes Dragons Sneeze Dragons Sneeze stories Fire guides & activities Fire guides & articles Foraging & food articles Foraging & food useful websites Foraging books Foraging guides Foraging tips, recipes & ideas Introduction to foraging Reclaiming snack time:

Methods & approaches

All Methods & approaches Books Child led play Evaluation Forest School John Muir Award Reports & research Signposts to key approaches & organisations Videos

Inclusion & diversity

All Inclusion & diversity Access & diversity useful websites Benefits of access to nature Festivals & celebrations Outdoor access articles Projects, reports, policies

Risk

All Risk Books on risk Flora & fauna risks Research & reports on risk Risk articles Risk videos & podcasts Risk-Benefit Assessments Risky play references Risky play tips & gallery

Learning outdoors

All Learning outdoors Learning outdoors articles Learning outdoors books Learning outdoors guides Learning outdoors reports Learning outdoors videos Learning outside research Learning outside resources Learning outside useful websites Schools outdoors Top tips & inspiring quotes

Nature & nature connection

All Nature & nature connection Books on nature Nature connection & nature deficit Nature connection article & tips Nature connection in the news Nature guides & resources Nature Premium Reports & case studies: nature Research: impact of nature Useful websites: nature Videos & podcasts

Art & creativity

All Art & creativity Art & creativity articles Art & creativity resources Arts & creativity research Introduction Muddy Faces art & craft ideas Useful websites: art & creativity

Farms & animals

All Farms & animals Farming & food articles Guides Introduction Reports & research Useful websites

Growing & gardens

All Growing & gardens Compost Garden & growing guides Growing & gardens articles Growing & gardens videos Growing & gardens websites Growing reports & research

Sports & adventure

All Sports & adventure Adventure & sports websites Articles: sports & adventure Camps, camping & residentials Introduction Research: physical activity outdoors Research: sport & adventure Sports & adventure guides

Authors

All Authors Alex White Gerda Muller Marina Robb Richard Irvine Rikke Rosengren Teacher Tom

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Child led play

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Outdoor play guides

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Outdoor play case studies

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Creating an outdoor setting

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Natural Play Principles

Outdoor play reports & research

Books on outdoor play

Outdoor play links

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Water & sand

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Mud play

Outdoor play articles

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Play Dates

Outdoor play videos

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