Do your tamariki love climbing, balancing, digging, exploring nature and challenging themselves outdoors? Do you sometimes find it difficult to explain the learning taking place or know how to intentionally extend it?
Outdoor play is about far more than developing physical skills. Every climb, jump, investigation and shared adventure helps children build confidence, assess risk, solve problems, communicate, collaborate and develop working theories about the natural world.
This practical two-page guide helps you recognise the rich learning taking place during outdoor play and confidently link it to Te Whāriki learning outcomes.
Page One clearly links outdoor play experiences to relevant Te Whāriki learning outcomes, helping you recognise the learning taking place as children explore, investigate, challenge themselves and work alongside others.
Page Two provides practical intentional teaching strategies, rich vocabulary, open-ended questions, schema examples and simple extension ideas to help you deepen children’s learning through outdoor experiences.
No lengthy theory. No searching through curriculum documents. Just practical guidance you can use tomorrow.
Perfect for:
- Early childhood teachers
- Student teachers
- Team leaders
- Centre managers
- Relievers
This resource will help you:
Instantly recognise the learning taking place during outdoor play.
Understand how outdoor play supports Te Whāriki learning outcomes.
Confidently extend children’s confidence, resilience and problem-solving skills.
Introduce rich language related to movement, nature and scientific inquiry.
Recognise common schemas during outdoor play.
Ask purposeful questions that deepen children’s thinking and curiosity.
Save valuable planning, observation and assessment time.
Whether children are climbing, balancing, building, exploring nature or creating their own outdoor adventures, this guide provides practical, curriculum-aligned ideas that help you turn everyday outdoor experiences into meaningful learning opportunities.
Created by ECE Insights Consulting for Aotearoa New Zealand early childhood educators.
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