The benefits of being, playing and learning outdoors

Most of us are familiar with the positive feelings that being in the outdoors brings. Whether that’s the peace and awe that a view inspires, the energy derived from a walk or run in the woods, or the calmness felt from listening to birdsong or waves crashing. These feelings aren’t unique, in fact, there is now a wealth of research that has shown the positive impact being outdoors has on our mental and physical wellbeing.

 It’s this personal positive experience of being in the outdoors that staff at Dorset Wellbeing share, combined with research, that inspires some of the ways we work at Dorset Wellbeing. We create opportunities for our children and young people to be, play and learn outdoors as much as possible; from growing vegetables to caring for animals on our farm sites, and forest school activities like fire building, shelter making and sensory walks.

Here are just some of the benefits of being, playing and learning outdoors that research has identified and that we’ve had the joy of observing in our alternative provision setting:

1.     Building confidence and self esteem

2.     Reducing stress and anger

3.     Improving physical health

4.     Promoting creativity and imagination

5.     Encouraging responsibility and personal autonomy

6.     Encouraging cooperation and builds social skills

These benefits are part of why Forest School is an important element of the work we do with the children and young people we have here at Dorset Wellbeing. It’s also why we choose to be members of ‘Social Farms and Gardens,’ an organisation whose mission it is ‘to improve the health and wellbeing of individuals, communities and the environment through nature-based activities.’

If you’re interested in discovering more about the benefits of outdoor learning for children and young people, explore the research listed here by Forest Research.