Time Outdoors Improves a Child's Readiness to Learn

JULY / AUGUST 2016

Spending Time Outdoors Can Improve Your Child's Readiness to Learn Indoors

As summer draws to a close and we shift out attention to indoor activities and back-to-school routines, it is good to remember that time spent outdoors in nature

actually prepares our brains to focus on indoor tasks.

In a recent article in NAEYC for Families, Andrea Laser writes about the unexpected ways that nature captures our attention when the wind suddenly blowing across our face, our feet slowly sink into the sand, or we see an animal run at full stride in its natural habitat.

Researchers call this "involuntary attention". They found that time spent in involuntary attention enhances our ability to engage in "voluntary attention" - activities such as working out a math problem or writing letters that require us to focus on what they are doing. The sound of thunder, the smell of a flower or the crunch of dry leaves outdoors allows our brains to shift our focus involuntarily and prepares us to focus on tasks when we head back indoors.

This research isn't new, but as academic expectations are pushed down into earlier grades, sometimes what is considered the "non-essential" and non-academic parts of a child's day, including recess, are tragically cut or eliminated. The reality is, "outside matters, and children need time outside to be ready to learn inside," says Laser.

Here are five tips to help you make that happen for you and your child.

Recess Matters. Be an advocate for recess at your child's school or care program. The Society of Heath and Physical Education (SHAPE) recommends that children ages 3 to 5 years old engage in 60 minutes of structured physical activity and 60 minutes of unstructured physical activity every day.

Windows Matter. Research suggests that simply looking out a window can have the same effect as being outdoors. When looking at child care programs and classrooms, note how many windows there are, if the windows are uncovered and if they are low enough for children to see out.

Take the Outdoor Route. If you live close enough, try walking or biking with your child to their care program or school. This not only gives your child's brain time to revitalize, it also provides a great opportunity for conversation and a way to start the day off right for both of you.

Take an Outdoor Break. Outdoor time is good for all of us. Adults, as well as children, can revitalize our brains by spending a few minutes outdoors during the day. Take a walk during your lunch or coffee break, feel the breeze on your face, enjoy the sounds of nature and come back indoors refreshed and ready for your next focused task.

Bring Nature Indoors. Weather conditions and location can be a deterrent to safe outdoor play for children. If you can't get outside, bring the outdoors inside. Collect some natural materials for children to sort, count, or draw with. Consider having plants, fairy gardens and nature areas where children can observe and document what they see.

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Q. I've heard that some schools and child care programs are cutting out most of their outdoor play. That can't be a good idea, can it?

A. Outdoor play is an essential component of healthy development. The book, Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv, describes the powerful benefits of being outside in nature for children. Outdoors is an amazing place to burn off energy, explore, experience new sounds and smells and let your mind wander.

Do you have a question or a topic you'd like us to explore? Contact Parent Services at [email protected] or call 800-997-8515

More Resources to Explore

Read the full article, Tuning Out to Tune In: How Time Outside Can Improve Readiness to Learn Inside by Andrea Laser at http://families.naeyc.org/how-time-outside-can-improve-readiness-to-learn-inside

Visit the Child Care Aware® website and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest to discover more nature-inspired activities that you can share with your child.

Child Care Aware® of North Dakota | www.ndchildcare.org