Outdoors is the place for all children, especially those working through the autism spectrum lens of life:
Why The Most Valuable Education Can Be Found Outside
American children spend an average of 5-8 hours a day on a screen, with time spent outdoors now at an all-time low. This is not only worrying for children’s physical health but their mental health too. It has been noted that encouraging children’s play positively impacts prospective jobs later on in life. In a similar way, there are numerous benefits to a child’s health and development that mean we should be encouraging them to be outside as much as possible.
The great outdoors teach us life skills
The diverse ways in which we can connect with nature are invaluable, whether it be as part of a a family camping adventure, feeding and tending to animals or doing some gardening. Meanwhile, researchers in the Porto Biomedical Journal observed the relatively limited opportunities children have to explore outside freely, partly due to carers’ and parents’ concerns about accidents happening during outdoor play. By restricting exposure to ‘risky environments’, children are missing out on opportunities to develop leadership skills and the confidence to deal with unpredictable situations.
Being outside is good for our mental health
Significantly, research at The University of Essex has revealed that being outside can lift spirits and self-esteem. With anxiety disorders affecting 1 in 8 children in America, finding ways to boost self confidence is more important than ever. Giving children the freedom to explore and take ownership of their learning outdoors can help significantly in this way.
Children can develop STEM skills outside
Doing outdoor activities regularly is a good way of helping you physically. However, one significant advantage of being outside that may be overlooked is the many opportunities for children to build on knowledge related to STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). Nature can bring STEM topics to life, whether it be through planting seeds and enabling them to grow, building shelters, studying wildlife and growing food. All these types of activities can make a topic more accessible to a child compared to solely reading about them in the pages of a textbook.
Nature and learning go hand in hand
Being outside has huge benefits for our emotional and physical health. In addition, it can also play a significant part in helping children learn and build self belief. As a result, the educational potential that comes with offering children plenty of opportunities to play and explore outside is invaluable.
Jane Sandwood spent over a decade working in interior design, inspired by her husband and daughter who are on the Autism Spectrum, she’s angled her career toward researching and finding solutions to common problems for people on the spectrum. Now she spends more time with her family by writing and editing from home.
