Outdoor play in EYFS

Outdoor play in the EYFS is an important part of what an early-years practitioner espouses. Outdoor play enables the children free movement and is especially important for those children who are more active learners. The outdoor environment offers more space than the traditional classroom and offers activities that an indoor classroom cannot replicate.  The EYFS curriculum is best served from all sorts of different environments and most children love playing outside. In these days of phones, tabs,  notebooks, and interactive TV channels, it is more important than ever that children have the opportunity to play, particularly outside, free from the restraints of indoor living.

Outside the children have an opportunity to see butterfly, birds, leaves and trees, and to observe what happens to these over time.  The children can build with big blocks, ride bikes and scooters and run and play creatively, engaging with a wide variety of those activities that are best undertaken in a large space. They can develop their gross and fine motor skills and can turn any play item into a creative learning experience. The children are particularly keen to engage in water play, which is much easier outside! Out-door play complements what is happening inside and any topic under discussion can be taken forward outside.

The children in the EYFS have no limits to their creativity and they are can express this both inside and outdoors. Watching children play is a wonderful thing to do and teachers are very lucky to be able to observe what the children are doing outdoors and to sensitively help the children to see their way forward in the way that suits them.

The outdoors has been completely changed lately to be more adaptable and have ‘play-zones’ that enable the children to choose what they do with real information of what might be done in each zone. There are more plans to make our outdoor space even more wonderful and we are all looking forward to this. Onwards and upwards.