Why do babies and toddlers need time outdoors?
Taking children outside offers many benefits in all areas of their development and the earlier they get used to being outside, the sooner their love for nature will develop.
It is through their first hand sensory and movement experiences that they learn to make sense of the world and develop key connections in their brain. In order for us to place a greater emphasis on the outdoors in our practice with babies and toddlers we must understand that the outdoors offers a richness that isn't available inside.
We don't want to just take out indoor resources and put them outside - we must use the nature around us!
Yet many of us lack the confidence to make nature based play with babies work. With worries around risk, dirt and over scheduled days being some of the key barriers.
“Children experience the world with their whole being - body, spirit, energy, minds, hearts, compassion, tears, laughter, anger, pride, learning, understanding, love, and soul. Children play, grow, and feel the world around them intensely.” Rusty Keeler, 2008
Less opportunities for movement
Many young infants are experiencing delays in key movement skills that can be caused by a number of reasons: global development delay, genetic disorders, autism, cerebral palsy, born preterm, joint hypermobility, low muscle tone and Down syndrome. However they can also be delayed by having a lack of opportunity to freely move, crawl and explore their environment and being part of the 'indoor generation'.
Many babies find themselves moving from cot to highchair, to pram or car seat with few opportunities to practice and refine their early movement skills. With many adults living such fast paced lives and finding themselves rushing from one activity to the next it can often be easier to pick the baby up and transport them to the next thing rather than encouraging them to move themselves. Even taking a toddler on a regular walk to the shops can provide so many valuable learning opportunities as well as developing muscle strength in their legs. Learning about the regular places that are walked past, the seasonal changes that happen and taking the time to stop and dawdle while noticing a natural curiosity.
On a busy day when a toddler may be in a pram they are speedily moving passed all these moments to notice and learn.
Getting into nature with babies
Every season brings a unique opportunity for babies and infants to get outside and experience the natural elements first hand. From learning to crawl outside they have the opportunity of feeling the change of temperature on their skin, the breeze on their face, the sounds of the birds in the trees to the fluttering of the butterflies. When learning to crawl there is the naturally curiosity spotting something in nature has to get them moving. Then there are the sensory opportunities that come with the different colours of the season; the vibrant reds and oranges of Autumn to the sea of blue's and greens in the summer. As adults we can use this time to talk about what we can hear, see and feel with babies and toddlers which is a key way of supporting language development.
Consider the weather
From a very early age in Scandinavia young children are taken outside to sleep, play and explore. Learning how to live and experience the extreme climate here. If they always waited to go outside until the sun was shining then there would be very little opportunity to learn outdoors.
Making sure we have the correct clothing and equipment for babies and toddlers is important. That way we don't spoil the child's natural curiosity to explore the outdoors.
Simple activities for babies and toddlers
We don't need to spend hundreds of pounds on fixed climbing equipment for babies and infants. Having balance beams and uneven ground or grass, creates enough challenge for them.
“Very young children have a very special way of relating to the outdoor world. It is of enormous interest to them… They have an inborn affinity, curiosity and fascination with the natural world: sky, wind, rain and shadows; plants, trees and leaves; sticks, pebbles and rocks; water, puddles and mud; dogs, birds and beetles and people. Children use their whole body and whole self to engage with, explore, dismantle and think about the world – and this is very apparent when young children are in the real, outdoor world.” Jan White, 2009
Set up a blanket for young babies to lay on outside and look up at the sky. Talk about what they can see, hear and see.
Attach mirrors to your fence and baby and toddler height to encourage them to stand up and look at themselves.
For the crawlers set up a sensory pathway of grass and carpet tiles and a tunnel to crawl through.
Invite babies and toddlers to work with balls of different sizes.
Set up an obstacle course for toddlers to move along with balance beams, hoops to jump into, tunnels to crawl through and something to climb over.
Have a collection of ride on toys and dolls push chairs to practice pushing, pulling and filling up.
Set up a stage and bring the musical instruments outside. Allowing children the opportunity to dance, jump and twirl to the music.
Things to consider
How much time are the babies and infants spending outdoors each day?
Are there ways you can reduce the amount of time indoors? E.g Taking baby sensory outside into nature instead of a class inside?
Are any routines stopping you from getting outdoors?
Can you get out and about into nature (or even your local town) and talk to the baby about what they can see, hear and feel?
Is there a space that can be created outdoors where babies can crawl and walk barefoot on the grass?