How does our outdoor environment support learning?

Written by Zoe McBride

Piccolo Park Early Learning Centre in Botany was purpose-built with the natural environment in mind. The Guys Homestead, which was restored as the Whenua (under 2’s) room was originally built in 1898 on an Orchard and Dairy Farm.

Piccolo Park honours this rich history, with a unique philosophy and natural environment for learners.

At Piccolo Park we believe that children need the freedom and space to explore, to wonder and to be curious! Our natural environment nurtures this, providing a place of discovery and adventure for young children. The outdoor environment at Piccolo Park mimics the real world and children are involved in experiences that foster a connection and appreciation for the natural world. Children play freely, take risks, get dirty and wonder about the living world around them. When visiting us you may see children busy looking for insects in our bushes and gardens, collecting the eggs from our chicken coop or having their afternoon sleep under the shade of our trees outside.

We value the natural environment as more than a place to play and work in partnership with children to honour Te Ao Māori and respect, cultivate and care for Papatūānuku (mother earth). Children at Piccolo Park recognise the important role they have as Kaitiaki (guardians of the land) and are actively involved in caring for our environment. Children plant and harvest vegetables from our gardens, pick our fruit crop and care for our chickens.

Research tells us that being outdoors has a positive impact on children’s mental, emotional and physical health and engaging in play and learning in the natural environment supports the development of skills, dispositions and attitudes that children need to be successful not only in school but to be lifelong learners!

How does our outdoor environment at Piccolo Park support learning?

Our Gardens, Chickens and Orchard

When growing vegetables, harvesting fruit and caring for our chickens, children are involved in learning about ‘farm to table’, gaining an understanding of how food is grown and harvested. Through being actively involved in this, children are able to develop a connection and respect for Papatūānuku (the land) and develop an understanding of the importance of sustainability. Children take responsibility when caring for the environment and engage in meaningful scientific learning watching plants grow and discovering living things in the gardens. Children also learn the value of mahi as they work with their peers and teachers to weed and water the gardens, plant and harvest fruit and vegetables and care for the chickens.

Sensory Exploration and Natural Resources

The natural environment fosters freedom, expression and creativity, allowing children to collaborate, develop new understandings and use natural resources in their play. Opportunities to engage with play involving the water, sand, dirt and mud in our outdoors at Piccolo Park enables children to express their creativity and imagination. Using resources from the natural environment promotes problem solving and social skills as children work together.

Risky Play

Our outdoor environment provides children with the opportunity to take risks and develop their physical abilities. The outdoors at Piccolo Park is specifically designed with this in mind and purposefully presents challenge and therefore opportunities for learning for young children. Our outdoors is anything but flat, with uneven surfaces and ample opportunities for climbing, jumping and balancing. All too often we worry about children taking risks, however, in doing this we restrict their learning about their own abilities and limitations. At Piccolo Park, we encourage children to test their physical abilities with the support of their teachers. We view mistakes as learning accidents and have a positive attitude towards this, always encouraging our learners to have another go! Such risky play promotes the development of confidence and resilience. Children develop agility, spatial awareness and control of their body. Through taking risks have an understanding of their own abilities and they are able to apply this knowledge to assess situations and make decisions as drivers of their own learning.

Being Outdoors In All Weathers

Generally being outdoors in all weathers is beneficial for children’s learning and development. The saying ‘There is no bad weather just bad clothing’ is indeed something that we need to keep at the forefront of our minds when thinking about children’s learning. Outdoor play in cold weather strengthens children’s immune systems and weather conditions such as rain, snow, hail and frost provide meaningful learning opportunities for children as they wonder and develop theories about the world around them. We, therefore, encourage our whānau at Piccolo Park to support children in dressing appropriately so that we can continue to learn, grow, create and explore no matter what the weather!