Reflecting on What Outdoor Play is in Your Setting.

In a time where there is a rapidly growing disconnect between children and outdoor play, we, as early childhood educators play an important role in ensuring outdoor play doesn't become endangered. By working collaboratively to develop shared understandings about outdoor play, we are better positioned to be strong advocates for the important role that outdoor play has in early childhood.

So what exactly are we advocating for?

Each setting will have it's own unique take on outdoor play and why it is valuable in that particular context. This will be reflective of geographical location, access to different types of resources, the various climates in which we live and much more.  In order to establish a shared language around outdoor play, it is essential that we engage in critical reflection and professional discussions. These processes help us to challenge our thinking and promote positive change in collaborative ways. 

Image by Author: Emily Clark

Lately I have been working with a group of teachers to navigate this journey and have developed some reflective questions as a tool for this process. The questions are designed to guide conversations, facilitate reflective discussion and invite professional debate. 

What barriers prevent us from providing or accessing quality experiences in our outdoor space? Are they real or perceived barriers? How can we respond to/move/shape these barriers? 

How do our practices value or ignore certain learning environments over others and why? How can we ensure our practices aren’t casting shadows over certain learning spaces?

What types of learning do we see occurring in the outdoor spaces? How does this differ from our indoor setting? In what ways do they compliment each other?

What do the informing policies/philosophies/frameworks/research say about outdoor play? What parts of these informing documents are silenced or promoted in our setting? 


In what ways does our setting promote risk taking? Who determines what 'risk' is? In what ways are we risk adverse? 

What are your strengths and passions in the outdoor learning environment? How can these be used to compliment others and to enhance the experiences that occur there?

These questions have been part of a long term process of critical reflection around outdoor play and have evolved as we have moved through the process. The rich discussions that emerge from these are creating a strong foundation for understanding the benefits of outdoor play in individual contexts and how to best advocate for it. 

What questions guide you in your reflections around outdoor play? 

Reflection cards, like the one above, that have been guiding our thinking can be found here

Articles to further your thinking around outdoor and nature play can be found here