Teacher's Role in Outdoor Play

Teacher's Role in Outdoor Play

• Teachers play a pivotal role in facilitating and enhancing outdoor play experiences for children, and their approach can significantly influence the quality of play and overall development of children.

Permission to Play

• Valuing play is essential to learning, and teachers should recognize and communicate the value of play as a critical component of learning and development.
• Teachers should provide opportunities for children to engage in self-directed play, where they can follow their interests and curiosities, supporting the development of problem-solving skills, creativity, and a sense of responsibility.

Provision of Materials

• Teachers should offer a wide range of open-ended materials that do not have a specific purpose, such as natural elements like sticks, stones, and leaves, and man-made items like blocks, fabric, and recycled materials.
• Loose parts with no set purpose allow children to assign their own meanings and purposes, fostering creativity and innovation.

Modeling Play

• Teachers should actively participate in play alongside children, modeling playful behavior, and providing opportunities for scaffolding and extending children's learning.
• Teachers should exhibit playfulness in their interactions with children, demonstrating enthusiasm, curiosity, and a sense of humor, creating a positive and inviting atmosphere for play.

Design of Play Spaces

• The best play spaces evoke a sense of wonder, excitement, and discovery, and can be achieved by incorporating elements of the natural environment, varying levels and textures, and hiding places.
• Play spaces should include elements of the unknown and the unexpected to stimulate curiosity and exploration, and should be designed with minimal adult control, allowing children the freedom to explore and interact with the environment in their own ways.