by Sylvia Roberts and Rachel Humphrey
Little Earthworms Children’s Nursery and Pre-school
The importance of children playing outside is essential to their development – countless studies over the years have shown the benefits on children’s, physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. Having worked with children in nurseries and as nannies since we were teenagers, Rachel and I are quick to spot when it’s time to get outside!
When we opened our nursery 15 years ago, one of our top priorities was having a good-sized outside space so that all our children could benefit from being outside as much as possible throughout the year. Popping on a sun hat and exploring the outdoors in the warm sunshine or dashing outside to chase the snow, no matter the time of year, being outside improves us all.
Time outside in the sunny days has an immune boosting effect on our bodies, producing vitamin D, improving our cognitive performance, and boosting our serotonin levels to support our mental health. The benefits really are endless. The quote “There is no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather” has been said in many ways over the years and we really incorporate this sentiment at our little nursery, engraining it into all our daily lives.
There is nothing better on a rainy day than getting the waterproof clothing and a good pair of wellies on and going outside, jumping in puddles. Jumping, splashing and running are just a small part of being outside. At any time of year children are able to explore risk and help work together at tasks such as setting up a game or activity together, digging in the garden preparing the vegetable patches, or going on a hunt to find where the best snails, slugs and woodlice are hiding.
Children’s friendships and social interactions can change and be explored in new ways while being outside. Children gain new confidence alongside their peers while they push the boundaries of not only their physicality but also expanding their emotional intelligence along the way.
Children love being outside, as their young minds are naturally geared towards creativity, problem solving and role play games. Vivid imaginations can flourish with outside play, all of this being harnessed and strengthened with the use of the many natural resources available to them through the art of exploration.
Children of all ages benefit from the vast sensory experiences when outside; the squelching of mud, the crinkle of leaves, the smell of flowers and plants while watching birds or looking out for rainbows overhead. There are endless opportunities within the outside environment for children to expand their knowledge and develop through their play.
We are very passionate about every aspect of outdoor learning. Children thrive outside and often have a fantastically engaged learning experience when the learning environment is based in nature.
Having structured play and free play both inside and outside is essential for children to adapt and learn in their younger years. Playing and learning new skills during their early developmental years gives children the tools to grow and thrive. So many developmental aspects are pushed to engage and prosper when being outside.
Communication and language are expanded naturally when playing outside as children feel freer to engage in loud vocal play such as shouting and whooping. Language can develop through curiosity of a new environment and enthusiasm of sharing their new experiences as they adventure through new rich habitats.
Outside time can certainly be hard to come by when living in a city but at those times it becomes even more important to pop outside and let the play begin.
Living in Sussex, we are lucky that there are so many outside spaces and fantastic natural areas that, with adult support, children can explore and enrich their lives through. There are many parks, small green spaces, gardens, open fields, nature reserves and, of course, not forgetting the beautiful beaches. The joy of engaging with nature is limitless!
Being outside, children are engaged and full of life while gaining so much through the opportunity of developmental play. Children harness their natural environmental experiences, socialising, growing and learning about the outdoors, while engrossed in nature in a myriad of technicolour ways.
Does life really get any better?
Sylvia Roberts and Rachel Humphrey own Little Earthworms nursery and pre-school on Ditchling Road in Brighton. Having worked in childcare for more than 50 years between them, they have been running the nursery for 15 of those wonderfully enriching years! The nursery is a large open plan bungalow with a beautiful spacious garden for our chickens, vegetable patches and of course our pirate ship for many an adventure! Please call or email to come and have a look around. Tel: 01273 243182 Email: Little.earthworms2010@gmail.com
option to engage them in their own education.
The ability to write is an essential skill to learn and a tool for life. It is interesting to understand that developing children’s upper body strength is essential to help them control their hands and fingers. This is because there is a strength domino effect which starts at the top: once children can control the large muscle groups of the shoulder, upper back and core, they are able to exert more control on their upper and lower arm, which in turn enables them to control their hand well, before finally achieving fine motor control in the fingers. By climbing, pulling themselves up and hanging down, the muscles in the shoulder are well exercised and this has huge benefits for handwriting and, as they grow older, handwriting at speed.
