It’s time to get outside!
Do you have a dedicated outdoor space for children in your childcare setting? There is no set way of creating an outdoor childminding area – but it is important to provide plenty of opportunities for children to be outside, with a variety of outdoor resources that will enhance a child’s development and learning in all the key areas. So we have created a list of essential outdoor resources for childminders to make sure that you cover all the key development areas!
How enhanced is your outdoor childminding area? There’s no need to clutter your garden with masses of outdoor toys and equipment – just make sure that you offer a varied selection of the following essential outdoor play resources and equipment in a safe, secure and well-maintained outdoor space.
The ultimate outdoor resources checklist for childminders:
1. Active Play Resources
Direct the children’s bundle of energy into active play! Explore a range of exciting active play activities and outdoor games to enhance a child’s fine and gross motor skills and social development.
- Balancing: this could include balance beams, stilts, wooden stepping stones, large wooden slices, balance boards, see saws or planks
- Riding: including bikes, trikes, scooters
- Dancing: incorporate dance wands, dance rings
- Throwing and Catching: this could include balls, bean bags, goals and nets
2. Role Play
Explore the world of role play in a different surrounding and let the children’s imagination run wild outdoors – an unlimited creative space for children to express themselves!
- Hideaway: play tent
- Small World: outdoor dolls house
3. Gardening Resources
Transform your garden into a fun, vibrant and colourful learning environment! Experience the wonders of gardening and let the children gain a better understanding of the world around them – where they can watch a mere seed change into a flourishing flower.
- Planting: planter, wheelbarrow, spades
- Watering: watering can
4. Messy Play Supplies
What better place to explore messy play than the great outdoors! No need to worry about the mess – it’s much easier to clean up outside and won’t ruin your home.
- Sand: sand table, sand play accessories, sandpits and sandboxes
- Water: water table, water play accessories
- Mud: mud kitchen
- Natural Resources: pebbles, twigs, shells, bamboo, shells, moss
5. Creative Supplies
Arts and crafts isn’t bound to the indoors! Take creative play outside and create even more mess. Splat, splodge and squirt to your heart’s content.
- Painting: outdoor mark making kit
- Drawing: outdoor learning boards, outdoor whiteboard, chalk, outdoor chalkboards
6. Outdoor Learning Resources
Who says you can’t bring the classroom outdoors? Sometimes the best learning environment is outside with nature!
- Numbers and Words: outdoor learning boards
- Minibeasts: bug base, spider house, ladybird tower
Now that you’ve transformed your garden into an outstanding playground paradise where children can unleash their energy, it’s time to head on an exciting outdoor adventure with the kids!
Don’t forget to always make time for outdoor play – whatever the weather! The great outdoors offers unlimited play possibilities and gives children a space to express themselves creatively and be free. By encouraging children to go outside, it promotes an active and healthy lifestyle, boosts their confidence and lets them begin to understand risks. Young children learn through play, so what better way to learn than in the fresh air!
Still want to enhance your outdoor setting further? Head to our outdoor section on our website to explore an extensive range of child-minding outdoor play resources.
Let us know what your favourite outdoor activity is on our social media by tagging us or using the hashtag #ExploreWithEYR
