Introduction to Outdoor and Nature Play
- Type
- Course
- Date of Publication
- December 14, 2023
- Price
- See Agrilife Learn
Overview
Course Information
A growing body of research suggests outdoor and nature play have immense benefits for children's physical and mental health and learning.
The purpose of this 2-hour course is to introduce early childhood teachers and directors to some of these benefits and offer tips to help you get started integrating outdoor and nature play into your program in meaningful, impactful ways.
After completing this training, participants should be able to:
- Define the importance of outdoor and nature play;
- Describe how to facilitate different levels of engagement with nature in an early childhood setting; and
- Plan meaningful outdoor and nature play experiences for young children.
The development of this online course was 100% funded by federal Child Care and Development Funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as part of an $8,000,000 grant from the Texas Workforce Commission.
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Despite the known benefits of outdoor and nature play for young children, early childhood educators and administrators may worry about issues of safety and liability.
The purpose of this 2-hour course is to equip early childhood professionals to view risk in outdoor and nature play as a process of balancing risks and benefits, rather than a barrier to including outdoor and nature play in your program. - Course
Early childhood educators can make the most of planned outdoor and nature play experiences in terms of children’s learning through the interactions they have with children as they play.
The purpose of this 2-hour course is to offer early childhood professionals actionable strategies for facilitating learning through outdoor and nature play.