The Developmental Benefits of Outdoor Play.

Abstract

Play is a pivotal part of a child’s life. Outdoor play fosters opportunities for creativity, imagination, social learning and physical development. When children are given the opportunity to be engaged in outdoor play during the school day the effect is positive for both teacher and student. Children’s direct experiences in outdoor play shape their development in the classroom. Even though these positives have been identified, many classrooms during the school day do not give the students a chance to learn in the outdoor environment. A qualitative study was designed to get experienced teachers opinion about the importance of outdoor play during classroom time. Understanding the overall benefits of play will create a better learning environment for the students and a better teaching environment for the educator.