What Is Outdoor Learning And How Does It Benefit Children?

Times and at the same time teaching and learning methods are evolving and changing. Schooling today is very different from 50 or even 20 years ago, and many of today’s children would find the teaching of past decades boring. Learning outdoors or teaching abroad is one of the teaching methods that is being invested more in today.

What is outdoor learning?

It was long thought that the only right way to learn was to sit in a classroom and focus on the teacher and the blackboard. Even today, study takes place in schools largely in traditional classrooms under the guidance of a teacher, but the study is much more diverse.

Both teaching and learning methods and the tools used are evolving, constantly changing the school world. The benefits of learning outdoors are also being talked about more and the technology is being used, especially in many kindergartens and primary schools.

Outdoor learning, in all its simplicity, means learning outdoors, with a focus on functionality, collaboration and extending the learning environment beyond the walls of the school. Outdoor teaching can take place in any setting, such as a school yard, forest, or park, and can be utilized in any subject.

Spending time outdoors and in the heart of nature has always been a natural activity for children, but with social change, children and young people today spend more time indoors than previous generations, ultimately leading to a loss of contact with nature. Many believe that a large proportion of today’s children are united by immobility and short-sightedness.

Changes in society also affect the teaching culture and thus pedagogy, which also requires attention to be paid to the development of new types of learning environments. Motivation plays a significant role in learning and school success, and it grows as the issues learned are addressed in a variety of different learning environments.

Although outdoor learning is gradually becoming more common in schools, there is still no clear line as to what outdoor learning and outdoor teaching mean. What is certain is that by spending time outdoors, children get fresh air and exercise as if unnoticed.

The benefits of learning outdoors

As already mentioned above, learning outdoors and changing the learning environment can work wonders on a child’s motivation to study. At its best, outdoor learning develops a student’s social and communication skills, improves physical and mental health and general well-being, and develops aesthetic and sensory awareness.

Experiential outdoor activities also develop a child’s fine and rough motor skills. In addition, it supports personal development, self-esteem, and community action. In addition to all this, the child learns to respect nature and his environment.