Children's play today has changed dramatically compared to how we used to play. As children, we would wander around the estates, independently and adult-free. In fields making daisy chains, swinging from scrap wood in trees, pond dipping and rolling down hills — we had very little to play with, but it didn't matter. We had big imaginations! Sticks became swords, leaves became confetti and we had the freedom to socialise, fall out, make up and find our tribe.
In contrast, most of the play children do today differs significantly from ours. Children talk about the technology they are on, the games they play, the TV they have watched and the social media filters they have used.
Yes, granted, with time, things do change. Technology is here and it's here to stay. However, we must reflect upon the differences and how they could impact our children. The types of things children play with, such as iPads, computer games and phones, means they spend more time alone. This has resulted in a notable decline in children's speech, fine and gross motor skills, socialisation and imagination.
So what's the answer? Where can we find the middle ground? How do we get our kids outside again? We have to start to make our educational settings more suitable for the outdoors and provide a more playful environment, giving children more opportunities to explore nature with their peers.
Who said academic learning had to be at a desk? The National Curriculum doesn't, nor does the EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage). I have read both over 100 times (very likely more than that!) and not once does it state that these objectives should be taught inside the classroom. It is simply how we ended up translating them.
I now challenge you to translate it another way and expect everything to be taken outside. How? Return to your childhood, remember how you played and use the creative, original thinking brain you gained by playing that way.
Take this as an example: can we offer children an iPad to practice their timetables when we know they already are on these far too much at home? Not really. So why not take times tables outside? Offer the children some chalk and dice and ask them to work in groups to create a giant board game. It could resemble snakes and ladders. Use leaves for snakes and sticks for ladders and write times tables in the squares. If the child that rolls onto the square gets the times table right, they get to roll next time; if not, they stay where they are!
So, what sounds more enriching? Children learning times tables alone on an iPad or heading outside and watching the wonder of collaboration with friends? Outdoors, children can gain a physical workout, fine motor development, heightened speech and peer talk, creative thinking and problem-solving, all WHILE practising their timetables!
