Outdoor play activities 'every young child's entitlement'
21/08/2009 The experiences that children can learn as a result of interacting with nature are essential for their development, according to Annie Davy of Learning Through Landscapes.
She told Nursery World: "Experiencing nature may provide the important well-springs for children's present and future creativity."
A recent National Trust poll found that for many adults their favourite childhood memories are of the outdoors - building dens, playing in the park and observing wildlife.
The same research found that 79 per cent of today's children say they want to get outside more, as they spend too much time indoors, watching TV or playing computer games, activities which few adults (four per cent) viewed as highlights of their childhood.
Ms Davy told the news provider that outdoor play activities are every young child's entitlement. Such experiences can include the sounds of the wind and the birds, the feel of rain or snow on their faces, the shapes of the clouds or the colours and smells of flowers and plants.
Research by Bupa found that children should be taking part in at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day, indoors or outdoors, but four out of ten boys and six out of ten girls don't reach this target.
She told Nursery World: "Experiencing nature may provide the important well-springs for children's present and future creativity."
A recent National Trust poll found that for many adults their favourite childhood memories are of the outdoors - building dens, playing in the park and observing wildlife.
The same research found that 79 per cent of today's children say they want to get outside more, as they spend too much time indoors, watching TV or playing computer games, activities which few adults (four per cent) viewed as highlights of their childhood.
Ms Davy told the news provider that outdoor play activities are every young child's entitlement. Such experiences can include the sounds of the wind and the birds, the feel of rain or snow on their faces, the shapes of the clouds or the colours and smells of flowers and plants.
Research by Bupa found that children should be taking part in at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day, indoors or outdoors, but four out of ten boys and six out of ten girls don't reach this target.
