**Collaborative post**
Children and their teachers spend all day every day in a classroom, which can become quite claustrophobic at times. Of course, teachers can mix it up sometimes with a field trip or a couple of outdoor lessons, but parents are also in a position to promote outdoor learning and broaden their child’s horizons. Here are some ideas from an independent school in Surrey.
Explore Nature
This is an obvious option and great if you don’t have much garden space. Head to a local woods and go exploring. Look around for animal tracks in the dirt and see if your child can guess what could’ve caused them. See if you can spot any rare birds and teach your kids about the different plants and trees. Ask them if they know what the forest will look like during a different season.
Grow Your Own
If you have a big enough space in your garden, you could consider setting up a little vegetable patch. This will help your child develop an understanding of responsibility, patience and persistence.
Free Play
There are many benefits to allowing your child to play outside without any structure or rules. It’s a great way to ensure they’re getting enough exercise and fresh air, which will be good for their physical and mental health.
Survival Skills
You could consider taking your child camping one weekend or during the summer holidays. During your trip you can teach them some survival skills, like how to read a map, how to put up a tent, and what clothes to pack.
It’s really important for children to develop an awareness of the environment from a young age to ensure they grow up to be respectable global citizens. Even just a few hours each week is enough to get your youngsters away from their gadgets for a little while.
