Play! What is it good for?

Absolutely EVERYTHING! 

By Heidi Hoskins, Nature School Director

 

Outdoor Education Adventures prioritizes getting children of all ages into the outdoors, not just collecting data, doing close observations and sharing information but also through the joyful and full-bodied experience of play! 

Let’s Reflect: 

I would like to invite you to take a minute and think about your childhood. Try to think of those times of joy and wonder.  For some, this is a smattering of memories, good and bad, running through your mind in blips, clips and words. If you are over 35 – 40 many of these memories most likely took place outdoors. Maybe you were building forts, digging holes, skipping rocks or wading in small creeks. For others you were playing house, building blocks, making up games…. The experiences are endless. But most likely these experiences were enjoyable AND some form of play. 

Play is the brain’s way of making sense of a complex world. 

In other words:  We play to learn! As adults we play when we learn how to ski, or when we learn a new language, instrument or hobby. We play to better ourselves and make sense of our world. Children do the same! And we all play to not only learn but to feel, to build relationships and to connect. Here at Outdoor Education Adventures, we offer these opportunities from early childhood and beyond. 

 

Why Play?

As stated above we play to make sense of the world. At OEA we give opportunities for self-directed consent-based play in all our programs. We know that through meaningful interactions (whether with a natural object, or with another human) is how we make meaning. We also know that in mixed age groups children with lower abilities push themselves more in play, gain more confidence and build skills more than in an environment with learners all the same age. 

Joy is a key element to play. When we connect with others, have space to play with new ideas and explore the world together we learn to become more adaptable, resilient and flexible. Through problem solving and collaboration in play learners find confidence and courage to try new things. We know control is the opposite of trust and in our programs the children have a lot of opportunities to seek out challenges and time to explore and grow within with autonomy and trust. 

Finally, deep engagement is the catalyst for fostering imagination and creativity. In our programs we offer a variety of ways to help children connect with each other and the natural world, all through the lens of PLAY!