Educators have a key pedagogical role in promoting early years outdoor play in natural environments. Active outdoor play involving risk-taking has been linked to positive effects on social health and behaviour, and encourages physical activity and motor skill development. At the same time, it has been recognised that opportunities for children to experience outdoor learning have been reduced in recent decades due to the impacts of technology, urbanisation and social change. This book brings together renowned authors, with research and professional experience in a range of disciplines, to provide a comprehensive guide to developing positive and engaging outdoor learning environments in the early years. Part 1 looks at pedagogy and outdoor environments, and considers the value of risk-taking and developing a young child's appreciation of the natural world. Part 2 examines the key principles involved in the design and planning of these spaces, such as applying the relevant equipment standards and regulations. Part 3 explores how educators can develop an understanding of children's own perspectives on outdoor spaces, including promoting agency and recognising the importance of private playspaces. Part 4 examines different cultural perspectives on outdoor play, including Indigenous approaches, while Part 5 considers the range of experiences possible beyond purposefully-designed spaces, from visiting nature reserves to exploring urban environments. 'A much needed and comprehensive resource for pre-service teachers and educators of young children that encompasses philosophies, theories, pedagogy and practice for purposeful engagement of children in all kinds of outdoor spaces in Australia.' - Dr Kumara Ward, Director of Academic Program: Early Childhood Education, Western Sydney University 'This seminal work will provide a shared language and framework for educators, policy developers, community builders and researchers in exploring the justifications for engaging children in well considered outdoor learning places and spaces.' - Leanne Grogan, School of Education, Outdoor and Environmental Studies, La Trobe University.

This book explores contemporary developments in outdoor learning, where the outdoors is seen as the context rather than the subject of learning. Ranging from pathfinder pieces written by practitioners to rigorous research-based pieces of work, the book explores the growing interest in animals as the basis for wider learning strategies as well as drawing together a wide range of outdoor learning approaches for all ages. Within these two discrete sections the contributors, who are drawn from a wide range of practitioners, academics and researchers, describe and analyse innovative approaches that address the need to explore alternatives to current test-based approaches to education in the western world. The whole offers a contemporary, informative, alternative approach to outdoor learning for teachers, practitioners and students.

Packed full of strategies and activities for enhancing outdoor play, this practical guide will enable practitioners to recognize the true value that outdoor spaces can have on a child's educational development.

The outdoor play environment has an integral role to play in a child’s learning across the pivotal early childhood years. An outside space that is well designed allows for enriching, stimulating and challenging play experiences that meet children’s ongoing developmental needs. Early Childhood Playgrounds provides a step-by-step guide to planning, designing and creating an outdoor learning environment for young children. Written by an experienced practitioner that has consulted on over 2000 early childhood settings and schools internationally, this book considers all aspects of the outdoor learning environment and provides practical support on: planning procedures and ideas for designs; a wide variety of play within a playground through the inclusion of quiet, open and active play areas; stimulating and challenging play; a natural environment that will provide interest and sustainability; spaces for toddlers and babies; playground needs for children with additional needs. This book will be fascinating reading for those studying early childhood and practitioners looking into the ways and means of setting up, improving or expanding their outdoor play facilities. It is also geared towards other disciplines, making it an essential guide for architects and planning professionals wanting to gain a greater understanding of play and the vital role it takes in meeting children’s needs and development.

"Children deserve to spend their days in well-designed environments that support their needs and stimulate their learning. Adults who spend their days teaching and caring for young children deserve environments that maximize their skills. Caring Spaces, Learning Places is a book of ideas, observations, problems, solutions, examples, resources, photographs, and poetry. Here you will find best of current thinking about children's environments - 360 pages to challenge you, stimulate you, inspire you." - product description.

Reimagine the potential in your outdoor space.

Ask people what they remember most about the physical surroundingsof their childhood and they're likely to describe a special placeout of doors--a school yard, a patch of woods, a community garden.For it is outside space that is most conducive to the ebb and flowof spontaneous activities, offers rich and often surprising sensoryinput, and provides endless possibilities for exploration. If theclassroom is the place where children are taught, the outdoors iswhere they learn on their own. A growing legion of landscape architects is exploring andexploiting the ability to create outdoor environments that optimizethe learning experience and mirror the ideas, values, attitudes,and cultures of those who inhabit them. In Landscapes for Learning,Dr. Sharon Stine presents 11 case studies of the very best of thesedesign projects from around the world. Her findings describe notonly design concepts and end results--rich outdoor learningenvironments--but, more importantly, the processes that led to thecreation of these environments. She examines the roles ofdesigners, teachers, and the children themselves, and how theirinteraction affects the planning, building, and use of thespace. Dr. Stine shows how the most successful designs address the needsof both the children whose job it is to "mess up" the space and theadults who supervise them. She defines nine pairs of contrastingelements that are essential to any play environment and uses theseboth as the basis for her analyses of particular environments andas the foundation of a common language that designers and educatorscan use when developing a new design. She also addresses the issuesof safety and security and demonstrates that learning environmentscan be stimulating, interesting links with the natural world andsafe places for children to run free. Landscapes for Learning is the ideal source for landscapearchitects, architects, planners, school administrators, andteachers who want to collaborate in the development of useful,intriguing outdoor environments for students in day care,preschool, elementary school, junior high, and high school. Discover the keys to creating delightful, stimulating, challenging,and educational outdoor environments for children and youth This unique volume explores the vital and growing movement that istransforming school yards, day-care facilities, and museum groundsaround the world. Dr. Sharon Stine presents detailed analyses of awide variety of outdoor environments for children and theprinciples and processes that enabled their design, creation, andongoing operation. Special features of this book include: * Eleven case studies of outstanding outdoor environments forchildren and youth--both contemporary and historical * More than 140 photos and line drawings that illustrate theapplication of specific design principles * Nine pairs of contrasting elements essential in any playenvironment that form the basis of a shared language for the designand analysis of outdoor learning environments * In-depth analyses of the development and evolution of outsidespace in two schools over a period of 80 years * And much more

There has been a growing academic interest in the role of outdoor spaces for play in a child′s development. This text represents a coordinated and comprehensive volume of international research on this subject edited by members of the well-established European Early Childhood Education Research Association Outdoor Play and Learning SIG (OPAL). Chapters written by authors from Europe, North and South America, Australasia and Asia Pacific countries are organised into six sections: Theoretical Frameworks and Conceptual Approaches for Understanding Outdoor Play & Learning Critical Reflections on Policy and Regulation in Outdoor Play & Learning Children′s Engagement with Nature, Sustainability and Children′s Geographies Diverse Contexts and Inclusion in Children′s Outdoor Play Environments Methodologies for Researching Outdoor Play and Learning Links Between Research and Practice

This Open Access book examines children’s participation in dialectical reciprocity with place-based institutional practices by presenting empirical research from Australia, Brazil, China, Poland, Norway and Wales. Underpinned by cultural-historical theory, the analysis reveals how outdoors and nature form unique conditions for children's play, formal and informal learning and cultural formation. The analysis also surfaces how inequalities exist in societies and communities, which often limit and constrain families' and children's access to and participation in outdoor spaces and nature. The findings highlight how institutional practices are shaped by pedagogical content, teachers' training, institutional regulations and societal perceptions of nature, children and suitable, sustainable education for young children. Due to crises, such as climate change and the recent pandemic, specific focus on the outdoors and nature in cultural formation is timely for the cultural-historical theoretical tradition. In doing so, the book provides empirical and theoretical support for policy makers, researchers, educators and families to enhance, increase and sustain outdoor and nature education.

′Theresa′s book is full of lots of inspiring, practical, ′how to go about it ideas′ coupled with thought provoking and sometimes challenging comments and views. The range of ideas and information contained in this book will go a long way to support the development of flexible, imaginative, yet not prescriptive play spaces that contribute to supporting children′s play. A very readable and worthwhile publication to add to your resources′ - Muriel Young, Grounds for Learning (Learning Through Landscapes) ′This practical book helps the reader plan, design and manage the kinds of settings that afford children the opportunities to carry out the wide range of self-directed activities that are so important to their development. It′s ideal for community development workers, the organizers of after-school programs, children′s hospital staff and groups of caring parents′ - Roger A. Hart, Director of the Children′s Environments Research Group, The Graduate School of the City University of New York ′This readable and usable book is full of advice and ideas which will take every professional nearer to understanding the way to provide opportunities for children which the children themselves would want and enjoy... A necessary addition to the bookshelf for all interested in the subject′ - PlayRights Journal (online journal of the International Play Association) ′Refreshing and insightful... One of the best things about this book is that Casey offers us a fresh perspective on our role. While we may long for a world where we opened the door and sent children outside to play, we are faced with the reality that, for a variety of reasons, these opportunities are no longer occurring naturally in our communities. It is encumbent upon us now to recreate these "essential childhood opportunities." This will take intentional, thoughtful, informed design. Casey′s book gives us some great starting points. A must read′ - PlayRights Magazine ′I like the attention to individuality, children′s perspectives and community. The author brings a strong playwork perspective to considering outdoor spaces, which early years practitioners considering the design of new or refurbished areas should find valuable. It′s crucial to free up our thinking about playful spaces, and this book brings a refreshing focus on working from children′s motivations for play, using playful values (such as choice, spontaneity, freedom and meaning-making) to drive thinking, being careful not to over-design, and the organic growth of a space into a place through the play that occurs′ - Nursery World ′Casey′s extensive research and years of practice in award winning play services are very much in evidence in the various techniques and ideas that she describes in this publication... a great resource for any play setting considering setting up or developing thier outdoor play space′ - SOSCN News Update ′If you are daunted, but excited, by the challenge of developing your outdoor spaces to meet the needs of all children, this book is an excellent resource′ - Early Years Update Exciting spaces to play are vital if we are to provide children with challenging, flexible, inclusive and stimulating opportunities to learn, develop and have fun together. This book provides readers with ideas for developing play environments that will meet the needs of the children in their care. It illustrates how improving the play environment also offers a better, more positive way of dealing with a number of issues from inclusion to playground management and the need to promote physical activity. It includes: - clear frameworks for designing play environments; - case studies showing examples of how play environments can be developed; - ideas and activities which lead to interesting designs, with the participation of the children; - practical examples, illustrations & photographs; - research evidence showing the importance of good play environments. The book is aimed at practitioners and managers in all early years and children′s play settings, and students on education, early childhood, child care and playwork courses. It is also very relevant to playground designers, landscape architects and community education and development workers.