The Power of Outdoor Play: Why Nature Still Belongs in Early Childhood Education

Go outside and listen. Hear what is not there. No testing timers, no worksheets, no digital dashboards. Just wind, sunshine, and the voices of children learning to love the world. 🌿

The benefits of outdoor play are immense. But in an age of ever-increasingly indoor and on-schedule early childhood classrooms, we’ve lost touch with one of the most effective tools for whole-child development.

🌳 The Outdoors As a Classroom

Outdoor play and learning aren’t frivolous. Research shows students who participate in daily nature-based education have better physical health and stronger senses, attention and executive functioning than peers (McCree, Cutting, & Sherwin, 2018).

Spending 20 minutes or more outside each day can benefit children’s:

✅ Cognitive abilities

✅ Risk assessment and motor skills

✅ Creative thinking and problem-solving

✅ Emotional regulation and mental health

And most important—it can foster awe. That sacred, hushed wonder we all lost along the way.

🛍️ Faith-Filled Tools to Encourage Outdoor Learning

Here are a few simple Amazon tools I personally love using to make outdoor playtime even more meaningful:

🪵 Wooden Nature Scavenger Hunt Board

Perfect for toddlers and preschoolers learning about God’s creation through observation and touch.

👉 Backyard Bugs—touch and Feel Board Book

🌦️ Weather Wheel for Outdoor Learning

Great for daily observation + science integration in homeschool or morning circle.

👉 Bug Catcher Kit

📖 Sunshine Bible Craft (Freebie)

Use them outdoors during quiet time or attach to nature walks with reflection prompts.

👉 Backpack Explorer: On the Nature Trail: What Will You Find? (affiliate link)

These simple additions can turn your backyard, church yard, or homeschool co-op lawn into a living classroom full of wonder and worship.

📉 The Indoor Trend

A 2022 study from Early Childhood Education Journal reports less and less time outdoors or on recess for many early childhood programs. Recess, exploration and unstructured outdoor learning are giving way to formal classroom time, and the decrease is significant for academically intensive preschools and kindergartens (Kochan et al., 2022).

But we can choose differently. As homeschooling families, co-op teachers or classroom leaders, we have the power to celebrate play, nature and rest.

✝️ Faith + Formation In God’s Good Earth

God taught his people first outdoors.

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.” – Psalm 19:1 (KJV)

Children running barefoot in the grass, catching butterflies, or splashing in a creek are engaging with God’s world. They’re learning about their Creator as they learn about their creation. Outdoor education gives us time to wonder at, worship and work with our God.

Worried about how to point to Bible truths? Try incorporating faith into everyday observations:

🌼 Aligning seasons with relevant Bible stories (planting season = Parable of the Sower)

🌤️ Memory verse time outside

🌿 Journaling or drawing what God made each day

This is learning. This is worship.

💛 Encouragement For the Week

If you’re homeschooling or co-op teaching and feeling the need to “get through curriculum” to compete with online schools or peers, don’t forget that nature is the most effective kindergarten. Stop and step outside. Enjoy the moments. Let your little ones feel the earth on their feet, chase ants or count the clouds. Those precious pockets of time just might be your children’s (and your own) favorite learning moments of all year.

🔗 This Week’s Resource Spotlight

Looking for printable tools that support this slow, intentional approach to learning?

✨ My Preschool Bible-Based STEM Challenge Cards are a fun, hands-on way to integrate outdoor exploration and Scripture-based thinking.
They’re designed for PreK–2nd and include activities like nature observations, building with blocks, and connecting STEM to the Bible.

🛒 Find them here: Bible STEM Challenge Cards – TPT

✨ Also available: The Encourager Award Pack – celebrate spiritual and personal growth with character-based awards like “Always Curious,” “Bible Verse,” and “Kindness Captain.”

🛒 Browse both in my Crafty Teacher Designs TPT Store

🌐 Or explore all my resources at www.ctdesigns.store

📚 References:

McCree, M., Cutting, R., & Sherwin, D. (2018). Forest School and its impact on young children: More than just muddy faces? Education 3-13, 46(5), 614–628.

Kochan, S., Flynn, S., & Slack, M. (2022). Rethinking Recess: A Look at Outdoor Play and Learning in Kindergarten. Early Childhood Education Journal, 50(1), 123–136.

If you’re ready to slow down and reconnect with what truly matters in early childhood—faith, nature, and developmentally appropriate play—I’m here to help.

🌤️ Browse more resources and encouragement at www.ctdesigns.store