Exploring confidence in the wilds (of the park)

Children are natural explorers, often discovering the great outdoors with their senses on high alert. Whether it’s a balcony flower box or an open field, children are naturally inquisitive about the outside world.

Little explorers on a bug hunt touch the damp soil, lift mossy logs, look under leaves and hear almost silent sounds, all the while making observations about where these creatures hide, how they live and what they look like.

Being trusted to go a little out of sight is a critical part of growing up. Finding out what your patch of undiscovered countryside holds expands your child’s imagination and will lead to newfound confidence. Whether they are wizards and fairies in an enchanted forest or intrepid travellers on a mini-beast safari, using their surroundings to build their imaginary world requires resourcefulness and encourages new and inventive ways of thinking.

Discover more about the benefits of outdoor play by signing up to Empty Classroom Day.