The Little Book Of Outdoor Play

A huge range of ideas for outdoor games and activities.

This essential resource is designed to help busy early years practitioners to support the mental health of young children through outdoor play. Promoting social and emotional wellbeing in childhood has never been more important, and outdoor play is a crucial tool to build resilience, develop healthy relationships, and boost self-esteem. Using relatable case studies that demonstrate achievable change, the book is full of practical advice and strategies for exploring nature in both natural and man-made landscapes, and includes guidance on how to co-create inviting play spheres with children. Each chapter provides: Adaptable and cost-effective activities designed to help children feel more confident and connected to the world around them. Case studies and reflective opportunities to prompt practitioners to consider and develop their own practice. An accessible and engaging format with links to theorists, risk assessment, and individual schemas. Outdoor play allows young children to explore who they are and what they can do. It supports them as they learn to think critically, take risks, and form a true sense of belonging with their peers and with the wider community. This is an indispensable resource for practising and trainee early years practitioners, Reception teachers, and childminders as they facilitate outdoor play in their early years setting.

Take Your Toddler's Education Outside There's almost nothing better for toddlers than outdoor play. It promotes creativity, strengthens muscles, enhances social and emotional development, and most importantly, it makes learning fun. So grab The Outdoor Toddler Activity Book, take your toddler outside, and watch the joy of learning in the fresh air. Spring or winter, rain or shine--these simple-to-setup toddler activities are designed to make the most of being outdoors no matter what the season or weather. And with chapters devoted to the type of outdoor activity, you can let your toddler be as messy, loud, or active as they want. Best of all, skill-building icons show what each activity teaches your little one so you can help guide their growth. The Outdoor Toddler Activity Book includes: TONS OF WAYS TO PLAY--From "Make it Messy!" to "Embrace Nature," discover 5 categories of outdoor fun featuring more than 100 educational toddler activities. ACTIVITIES FOR EVERY SEASON, ANY WEATHER--Keep going year-round with toddler activities designed for more than just sunny spring days. A GUIDE TO TODDLER DEVELOPMENT--Developmental milestones help you determine your toddler's level of readiness for each activity. Skill-building icons tell you what your toddler is learning. Get your toddler ready for preschool and beyond with these fun and educational outdoor toddler activities.

"Angela Hanscom is a powerful voice for balance." —Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods In this important book, a pediatric occupational therapist and founder of TimberNook shows how outdoor play and unstructured freedom of movement are vital for children’s cognitive development and growth, and offers tons of fun, engaging ways to help ensure that kids grow into healthy, balanced, and resilient adults. Today’s kids have adopted sedentary lifestyles filled with television, video games, and computer screens. But more and more, studies show that children need “rough and tumble” outdoor play in order to develop their sensory, motor, and executive functions. Disturbingly, a lack of movement has been shown to lead to a number of health and cognitive difficulties, such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), emotion regulation and sensory processing issues, and aggressiveness at school recess break. So, how can you ensure your child is fully engaging their body, mind, and all of their senses? Using the same philosophy that lies at the heart of her popular TimberNook program—that nature is the ultimate sensory experience, and that psychological and physical health improves for children when they spend time outside on a regular basis—author Angela Hanscom offers several strategies to help your child thrive, even if you live in an urban environment. Today it is rare to find children rolling down hills, climbing trees, or spinning in circles just for fun. We’ve taken away merry-go-rounds, shortened the length of swings, and done away with teeter-totters to keep children safe. Children have fewer opportunities for unstructured outdoor play than ever before, and recess times at school are shrinking due to demanding educational environments. With this book, you’ll discover little things you can do anytime, anywhere to help your kids achieve the movement they need to be happy and healthy in mind, body, and spirit.

Get messy with this collection of unusual ideas for creative play and exploration. These activities are REALLY messy, but great fun!

The Little Book of Free and Found Resources gives practitioners the confidence to get out there and source unique, free resources to enrich the curriculum they offer their children. Guidance is provided on choosing resources, risk assessing their use, and then encouraging children's creative use of the objects in their free and found collection. The focus is very much on outdoor play.