Outdoor play activities 'crucial to early years development'
11/03/2011 An expert in child development has emphasised the importance of adventurous play and exercising outdoors, which could include the use of garden trampolines, to young children's learning.
Sarah Knight, of Anglia Ruskin University, has published a new book in which she describes the benefits of outdoor play – particularly for youngsters at the early years stage of education.
She told Education Executive how Britain's nurseries were often "nervous" about potential safety risks when allowing kids to engage in outdoor play activities, but insisted that such experiences were vital.
"We owe it to the futures of individual children and to a healthy society to foster habits of adventurous outdoor activities as early as possible," Ms Knight explained.
One way in which parents can help their little ones embrace the outdoors is by investing in trampolines for the garden, allowing kids to combine exercising outdoors with lots of fun.
Earlier this month, a survey by the Parents for Playgrounds campaign revealed that 90 per cent of mums and dads would like their children to participate in more outdoor play games.
Sarah Knight, of Anglia Ruskin University, has published a new book in which she describes the benefits of outdoor play – particularly for youngsters at the early years stage of education.
She told Education Executive how Britain's nurseries were often "nervous" about potential safety risks when allowing kids to engage in outdoor play activities, but insisted that such experiences were vital.
"We owe it to the futures of individual children and to a healthy society to foster habits of adventurous outdoor activities as early as possible," Ms Knight explained.
One way in which parents can help their little ones embrace the outdoors is by investing in trampolines for the garden, allowing kids to combine exercising outdoors with lots of fun.
Earlier this month, a survey by the Parents for Playgrounds campaign revealed that 90 per cent of mums and dads would like their children to participate in more outdoor play games.
