Boosting Emotional Wellbeing Through Outdoor Learning

Building Resilience and Emotional Wellbeing Through Outdoor Learning

The simple act of stepping outside holds profound benefits for young children. Outdoor learning is not just an opportunity for academic discovery—it’s a powerful tool for nurturing emotional resilience and wellbeing. Through nature-based play and exploration, children develop the skills to navigate challenges, regulate emotions, and foster a deep sense of connection with the world around them.

This article explores how outdoor learning supports emotional resilience in early years children, we look into the science behind its impact, and offers practical strategies and activities for educators to implement in their practice. We have a companion article on the use of the sensory garden.

Why Emotional Wellbeing Matters in Early Years

Emotional wellbeing in early childhood lays the foundation for long-term mental health, self-esteem, and interpersonal skills. Resilient children are better equipped to handle stress, adapt to change, and solve problems. However, building resilience isn’t about shielding children from challenges—it’s about helping them face those challenges with confidence and support.

Incorporating outdoor learning into the curriculum provides a natural avenue for developing these skills. The unstructured, open-ended nature of outdoor exploration creates opportunities for children to encounter manageable risks, practice problem-solving, and experience the calming effects of the natural world.

The Science Behind Outdoor Learning and Emotional Wellbeing

Research consistently highlights the mental health benefits of spending time in nature. Here’s how outdoor learning positively impacts young children:

1. Reduces Stress and Anxiety: Spending time in green spaces has been shown to lower cortisol levels (the body’s stress hormone). Natural environments offer sensory experiences—like the sound of birdsong or the feel of a cool breeze—that calm the nervous system and promote relaxation.

2. Encourages Mindfulness: Nature provides countless opportunities for children to focus on the present moment. Observing a snail inch across a path or feeling the texture of bark invites children to slow down and fully engage with their surroundings.

3. Builds Problem-Solving Skills: Outdoor settings present children with challenges, like navigating uneven terrain or deciding how to build a den. These experiences teach perseverance and adaptive thinking.

4. Develop Autonomy and Confidence: Unstructured outdoor play allows children to take the lead, make decisions, and test their abilities in a safe environment. Over time, these experiences build self-esteem and a sense of agency.

Practical Strategies for Using Outdoor Learning to Build Resilience

1. Create Opportunities for Risk-Taking: Risk-taking doesn’t mean danger—it means giving children the freedom to challenge themselves in age-appropriate ways. Encourage activities like climbing, balancing on logs, or building structures from sticks.

Why It Matters: Taking risks teaches children to assess situations, trust their instincts, and build confidence when they succeed.

2. Emphasise Process Over Outcome: Encourage children to explore without focusing on perfection. For instance, let them experiment with building a dam in a stream, even if it doesn’t hold water for long.

Why It Matters: Focusing on the process fosters a growth mindset, where children learn to value effort and persistence over immediate success.

3. Model Emotional Regulation: Use outdoor experiences to demonstrate calm responses to challenges. For example, if the wind knocks over a stack of rocks, show how to rebuild it with patience.

Why It Matters: Children learn emotional regulation by observing adults who model calmness and problem-solving.

4. Incorporate Reflective Practice: At the end of an outdoor session, gather the children and ask questions like:

• “What was your favourite part of today?”
• “What was something tricky you did?”
• “How did you feel when you solved that problem?”

Why It Matters: Reflecting on experiences helps children process emotions and recognise their achievements.

5 Activities to Develop Emotional Wellbeing Outdoors

1. Sensory Scavenger Hunt

Objective: Scavenger hunts can encourage mindfulness and sensory engagement.

Instructions: Create a checklist of sensory items for children to find (e.g., “Something soft,” “Something that smells nice,” “Something rough”). Let children explore at their own pace and share their findings with the group.

Emotional Regulation Benefit: Focuses attention on the present moment, reducing stress and encouraging curiosity.

2. Building a Den

Objective: Develop problem-solving and teamwork skills.

Instructions: Provide natural materials like sticks, leaves, and stones, and invite children to build a shelter. Offer gentle guidance but let them lead the process.

Emotional Regulation Benefit: Builds resilience by teaching effective collaboration and teaching children to overcome challenges together.

3. Nature Journaling

Objective: Journaling can support emotional expression and creativity.

Instructions: Provide simple notebooks and encourage children to draw or write about what they see, hear, or feel during outdoor time. Prompt them with open-ended questions like, “What made you smile today?”

Emotional Regulation Benefit: Encourages self-reflection and helps children process their emotions.

4. Balancing on Natural Objects

Objective: Build physical confidence and risk-taking skills.

• Instructions: Encourage children to balance on logs, jump between stones, or climb gentle slopes. Provide a safe environment and support as needed.

• Emotional Benefit: Helps children push their limits and gain a sense of accomplishment.

5. Nature Mandalas

Objective: Promote focus and a sense of calm.

Instructions: Collect natural items like pebbles, petals, and leaves. Show children how to arrange them in circular patterns to create mandalas.

Emotional Regulation Benefit: Mindfulness and concentration while encouraging creativity.

Overcoming Barriers to Outdoor Learning

While the benefits of outdoor learning are clear, implementing it consistently can pose challenges. Here are some tips for overcoming common obstacles:

• Limited Outdoor Space: Use small outdoor areas creatively—focus on sensory exploration with portable items like water trays or potted plants.
• Weather Challenges: Embrace the weather as part of the experience. Provide waterproof clothing for rainy days and sunscreen for sunny ones. Teach children to appreciate how nature changes in different conditions.
• Safety Concerns: Conduct thorough risk assessments and set clear boundaries. Educators can mitigate risks while still encouraging exploration.

Partnering with Families

Resilience-building doesn’t stop at school—it thrives when educators and families work together. The home environment plays a crucial role in reinforcing the emotional wellbeing strategies children develop outdoors. By encouraging families to integrate nature-based activities into their routines, we can create a seamless connection between school and home, ensuring that children receive consistent opportunities to explore, connect, and grow.

Here are some practical ways to involve families in building resilience through outdoor learning:

1. Take Regular Nature Walks

Encourage families to explore local parks, woodlands, or even their neighbourhood. Suggest that they:

• Observe Together: Look for natural details like birds, flowers, or interesting tree shapes. Parents can ask open-ended questions, such as, “What do you think that bird is doing?” or “How does the bark feel?”
• Use Senses: Prompt children to engage their senses by describing what they see, hear, smell, and touch.
• Document Their Adventures: Create simple nature journals where children can draw pictures, collect leaves, or write about their discoveries.

Nature walks provide families with quality time together while teaching children to notice and appreciate the world around them.

2. Create a Family Garden

Gardening is a powerful activity for teaching responsibility, patience, and resilience. Encourage families to:

• Start Small: Plant herbs or flowers in pots if space is limited.
• Involve the Child: Let children choose what to grow and take charge of watering and weeding.
• Discuss Growth and Change: Talk about the time and care plants need to grow, reinforcing the idea that progress often requires patience.
• Celebrate Results: When a flower blooms or vegetables are ready to harvest, celebrate the child’s efforts to show the rewards of perseverance.

A family garden can become a special shared project that brings a sense of accomplishment and pride to both children and their parents.

3. Practice Mindful Activities Together

Mindfulness activities help children and parents relax, refocus, and connect with nature. Suggest simple practices such as:

• Cloud-Watching: Lie on a blanket and look for shapes or patterns in the clouds. This activity encourages imagination and brings a sense of calm.
• Listening to Nature: Sit quietly in a garden or park and list the sounds they hear—birdsong, rustling leaves, or the hum of insects.
• Gratitude Walks: During a walk, take turns naming things in nature they’re grateful for, fostering positivity and awareness.

Mindful moments in nature help families slow down and experience the restorative benefits of being outdoors.

4. Set Up a Family Nature Corner

Families can create a dedicated space at home to celebrate their outdoor adventures:

• Display Natural Finds: Collect items like shells, pinecones, or pressed flowers during outdoor trips and display them in a special spot.
• Create Rotating Themes: Focus on seasonal changes, such as autumn leaves or spring blossoms, to keep the corner fresh and exciting.
• Include Creative Projects: Add drawings, photographs, or crafts inspired by nature.

A nature corner can be a visual reminder of family experiences and spark conversations about resilience and exploration.

5. Share Resources and Ideas

Educators can support families by providing practical tools and inspiration:

• Activity Ideas: Share easy-to-implement activities like making bird feeders, building mini bug hotels, or creating leaf rubbings.
• Local Guides: Provide information on nearby parks, nature trails, or wildlife reserves.
• Books and Apps: Recommend books about nature for young readers or family-friendly apps for identifying plants and animals.

By equipping parents with these resources, you empower them to engage with their children meaningfully, deepening the connection between family life and outdoor learning.

6. Encourage Family Participation in School Activities

Invite families to join outdoor learning events or projects, such as:

• Garden Days: Host a family gardening session where parents and children can work together to plant flowers or vegetables at school.
• Nature Walks: Organise group walks and encourage parents to share in the exploration.
• Celebrations: Create events like “Nature Night” where children showcase their outdoor discoveries through crafts, stories, or songs.

These shared experiences not only strengthen the school-family partnership but also show parents the benefits of nature-based learning in action.

Conclusion

Outdoor learning isn’t just a teaching strategy—it’s a way of empowering children to navigate life’s challenges with confidence and curiosity. By connecting with nature, children learn to embrace risk, handle frustration, and find joy in discovery.

As teachers, we have the privilege and responsibility to provide these opportunities. Let’s make outdoor learning a cornerstone of emotional wellbeing in early years education. The natural world is waiting, ready to help children grow stronger, calmer, and more resilient. Let’s step outside and make it happen.