How could the outdoor environment be safe so children could enjoy it?
Some factors that need to be considered to ensure a safe outdoor environment are the number of adults supervising the space, the availability of open-ended material, the provision of supervised water play, and the safety of the equipment.
The publication “Learning Outdoors. Benefits/Risks” explores the keys to success for learning in an outdoor environment. The link is:
https://natureplaysa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/NPSA-Learning-Outdoors-Benefits-Risks-opt.pdf
The main points are:
• Children will experience different seasons and types of weather and, by doing so, they strengthen their immune system.
• Colds spread through viruses. As long as children dress well for the cold weather, they are not at risk of getting sick. Actually, the outdoor environment will bring fresh air.
• The outdoor environment presents diverse opportunities for exploration which could have consequences for emotional wellbeing as all children can get involved with different levels of engagement, complexity, and satisfaction.
• Children walking outside in different seasons will experience the wet and feel of the ground.
• In the warm and hot weathers, it is important to be sun smart and carry out steps for self-protection.
• Children have sensitive skin and need to use sunscreens to reduce UV exposure. One site that could be visited for details is: https://www.sunsmart.com.au/
These are few points that need to be accounted for an enjoyable experience outdoors.
Future Global Children 