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The Benefits of Outdoor Play

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The Benefits of Outdoor Play
The Benefits of Outdoor Play

Within this assignment I will explain the value of outdoor play experiences on children’s development then outline my settings current outdoor play provisions and examples of good practice within them. I will suggest areas for improvement in my settings outdoor play provision before moving onto outlining my setting’s current use of Welsh language within the outdoor area. I will then suggest areas for improvement in the use of Welsh language within the outdoor area including some activity ideas.

Outdoor play is a vital part of a child’s development and should be used within childcare settings and schools as much as possible. According to Nicole Therlin for www.ehow.com, in the article ‘The Importance of Outdoor Play in the Early Years’: “Active outdoor play increases health and physical development by improving sensory development, reducing obesity and stimulating brain cells” (Nicole Therlin, www.ehow.com, 25/06/12)
She goes onto explain that children use all of their senses whilst outdoors as they are naturally curious and will explore new experiences using their senses, developing them through stimulation.
Another reason that outdoor play is beneficial for children’s development is explained by Melanie J. Martin for www.ehow.com in the article ‘Why is Outdoor Play Important for Children’. She states that: “...Many of the developmental tasks that children must achieve – exploring, risk taking, fine and gross motor development and the absorbtion of vast amounts of basic knowledge – can be most effectively learned through outdoor play.”
(Melanie J. Martin, www.ehow.com, 25/06/12)
She goes onto explain that children don’t only gain physical skills through outdoor play but they develop skills in lots of other areas and gain knowledge of mathematics, science, ecology, gardening, construction, vocabulary and the seasons and the weather.
Children gain social skills through the use of outdoor play and an awareness


Bibliography: Geiriau Bach Notes EAGB 4008C (May-July 2012) www.brighthub.com/education/early-childhood/articles/107367.aspx#secn_2 25/06/12
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