It is hardly worth asking why the outdoors matters to young children: you may as well wonder why water matters to a fish. There is nothing more evocative of early childhood than having the freedom to enjoy movement and the pleasure of experiencing the sun, wind, rain and snow.
My experience of working in inner-city nurseries has also convinced me that children need gardens, not just playgrounds. Children benefit hugely from taking part in gardening, putting their fingers in soil, running and sitting on grass, splashing in puddles and messing about with mud.
PLANNING THE OUTDOORS
The news of additional funding for outdoor play in the Early Years Foundation Stage is very welcome, but it will not benefit children in the long term if it is spent quickly on large items of equipment that may overcrowd and even worsen the quality of the environment.
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