Engaging Children in Holistic Learning in the Outdoor Environment

ENGAGING CHILDREN IN HOLISTIC LEARNING IN THE
OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENT
The outdoor environment has unique features and characteristics. With outdoor learning,
support of attentiveness and positive impact on the children’s well-being are developed. As an
educator, it is necessary to engage children in certain sort of activities. One of the activity
practised is playing in the sandpit. The Portrait depicts the age group of 4-5 years children
engaged in the sandpit with implements. I have involved two children purposeful to play
sandpit independently. At one point the educator made a comment to one of these children. As
per the NQS, QA3, Element 3.2.1- outdoor and indoor environments are designed and
organised to engage every child in quality experiences in both environments which is
considered here (Livingstone, 2016).
This helps in enhancing children’s level of thinking and providing an opportunity to handle the
problems and resolving them. Allowing the child to play in the sand by themselves develops
their fine motor skills. It can lessen their anxiety level and promote healthy mind balance in the
child (Burgess, 2015). The strategies adopted by the educators and caregivers at the learning
centres promote those activity by organising programs and encouraging awareness in the
children towards the environment. Sustainable practices are supported by involving those
activities in daily practices, through which interaction with others and resources are articulated.
The strategy involves key challenges between the children’s like among them who can prompt
first in sandpit filing is promoted with reward. This strategy of scaffolding helps me to involve
them in the outdoor activities.
Another activity which is focused is gardening for children. The first thing that gardens do is give
children’s the experience of being in nature and living things. The people of all ages can enjoy
gardening but children in particular gain special benefits. Gardening as a part of education
development emphasizes on developing self-confidence and responsibility in the child. It is
something fun and productive as the physical activity (Waite, et al. 2017). Here the children I
have involved in the gardening activity as shown in the portrait by keeping it simple.
Encouraging children to dig in the dirt is the fun-loving thing which young children love to do
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