Outdoor Learning and Play

This book delves into children's interactions with nature and outdoor learning, highlighting essential insights for educators and policymakers. Outdoor Learning and Play presents research from multiple countries.

This Open Access book explores the intricate ways children engage in dialectical reciprocity with place-based institutional practices, drawing on empirical research from diverse countries including Australia, Brazil, China, Poland, Norway, and Wales. It emphasizes the significance of outdoor environments and nature in shaping children's play, learning experiences, and cultural development. By grounding the analysis in cultural-historical theory, the book reveals how these outdoor settings provide unique opportunities for both formal and informal learning, fostering a deeper connection between children and their surroundings.

The study also sheds light on the inequalities that exist within societies, which can restrict families' and children's access to outdoor spaces. These limitations often stem from various factors, including pedagogical content, teacher training, institutional regulations, and societal views on nature and education. The findings underscore the necessity for a more equitable approach to outdoor learning, ensuring that all children can benefit from the rich experiences that nature offers.

Given the pressing challenges posed by climate change and the recent pandemic, Outdoor Learning and Play addresses the urgent need for a renewed focus on outdoor and nature-based education. By providing both empirical evidence and theoretical insights, the book serves as a valuable resource for policymakers, educators, researchers, and families, aiming to enhance and sustain outdoor education practices for young children.