5 Outdoor Learning Activities to Try With Your Child*

The summer holidays are a great time for families, full of outdoor adventures out and about in the sunshine. Once your children go back to school and the nights begin to draw in, you may be sad to see your outdoor family time come to a halt. To help you keep up with the outdoor lifestyle your family has grown to love through the summer months, an independent school in Wirral has shared 5 educational activities you can try in any season.

Nature Walk

Encourage your children to take note of their surroundings and talk to you about the things they spot along the way. Look out for squirrels foraging for food and explain that some animals hibernate throughout winter. Go hunting for interesting leaves in autumn and discuss the seasonal cycle of trees. Nature provides endless opportunities for questions and teachable moments.

Litter Pick

A beach or park clean-up is a great way to introduce your child to an altruistic mindset and to teach them how important it is to care for the environment. Teaching the younger generation to care about climate change is absolutely essential, and incorporating this lesson with an activity which helps the planet will give them a sense of accomplishment and pride.

Star Gazing

As the nights start to get darker, soon the stars will be out before your child’s bedtime. A clear Autumn night is the perfect time to sit out and marvel at the night sky. You can teach your children about the solar system and the different constellations whilst cosied up with a hot chocolate under a blanket in your garden.

Bird Watching

Now it’s unlikely you’ll be able to get your five-year-old to sit quietly in a bird hide for 3 hours armed with a pair of binoculars, but there are ways to make bird watching a bit more child friendly. Head to the local duck pond with a bag of seed and see how many different species you can spot. You could look up the unfamiliar birds and discover the names of the ones you haven’t seen before.

Wildlife Corner

Building a wildlife corner in your garden will provide plenty of opportunities for learning. Bird feeders, nesting boxes and insect houses will all attract wildlife and give your child the chance to witness nature right in their backyard. Teach your child about the different species you see and talk to them about the characteristics of the different animals.