Guest Blog featured on: Project Wild Thing
“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no
path and leave a trail.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
In Western countries,
the last century has seen staggering changes in the nature of children’s play,
including ever decreasing opportunities for outdoor play. A culture of fear, over-organisation and the
institutionalisation of childhood has all had a significant impact on childhood
play time.
Schools have a vital role in reversing
this trend, through both the attitudes of teachers and the design of school
grounds - which play a crucial role in not only the promotion of, but also the
type of play and physical activity children engage in. School grounds should be
designed in a way that promotes self-initiated, uninterrupted, creative natural
play.
Natural environments are recognised as
fostering higher levels of physical activity than traditional playgrounds. When
playgrounds contain natural, wild areas it provides children more incentives
for play, and it has been observed that children play more enthusiastically in
these environments. Less structured and creative play not only promotes social
interaction with peers but when compared
with traditional playgrounds, children in naturally designed play areas exhibit
orderly and long-lasting play in mixed age groups, having a further positive influence
on social competencies.
As well as having a positive impact on
social behaviours, spending regular time in natural environments enhances the
development of motor abilities and improves concentration. Significant
improvements in balance and coordination in children who played regularly in
natural environments compared with children who used traditional playgrounds,
has also been observed.
Play within a natural environment promotes and fosters progression
in so many developmental domains because of its holistic approach. Promoting
natural play in childhood realises the need for holistic, rich interactions
with our environment, as well as increasing our physical activity levels and
enhancing social competencies.
As a result, we could begin to see a reverse in
the worrying trends of increasing childhood obesity, attention deficit
disorders and mental health problems. I also believe that children would
develop an even greater passion for learning, and schools would be a place
where their creativity and thirst for adventure has a chance to come alive.
A more holistic approach to learning nurtures and encourages engagement in all areas of the curriculum.
Schools need to feel empowered to deliver this holistic style of teaching by
being given the freedom to organise and deliver the curriculum in a way that
best suits their circumstances and learners.
The
wheels are turning and footprints are being made, we must keep moving in the
right direction, a good work has already begun. Voices are being heard and
governments are beginning to recognise that changes must be made for the health
and well-being of the nation.
We must grasp the need for a child nature reunion, and
be a driving force in encouraging and implementing the changes that need to be
made, both in and out of schools. We must continually strive
for a future, or perhaps more importantly – a present, where we realise the
fierce urgency for natural play, embrace the possibilities of our surrounding
landscape to see a real change in the lives of our
children, ourselves and the environment.
Support
children’s need for learning outside the classroom by visiting here
Menna Pritchard - University of Wales, Trinity Saint David
Menna's recently completed dissertation focuses on natural play in childhood. She is
soon to graduate from the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David where she
has completed the BA Outdoor Education programme and where she hopes to
continue her research through the MA.
The
programme of study offers a multidisciplinary approach to Outdoor Education
which draws upon education, leadership and environmental theory to explore the
potential of the natural environment to offer an alternative, experientially
focused approach to learning. Visit: http://www.uwtsd.ac.uk/sport-health-outdoor/
Follow Menna @goingitalone, University @TSDSHOE for more.
