Outdoor Learning in the Early Years: Why We Go Outside in All Weather

Some of the most important learning in the early years doesn't happen at a table. It happens in a muddy patch of garden, at the top of a climbing frame, or crouched over a puddle watching raindrops land.

Outdoor learning gives young children space to move, explore and test what they can do. It builds confidence, independence and strong bodies, and it sparks the kind of curiosity that stays with them for life.

That's why, at My Ohana, time outside isn't a treat for sunny afternoons. It's part of every single day.

In this guide, we'll look at what outdoor learning really means for babies, toddlers and preschoolers, the biggest benefits for your child's development, why we go out whatever the weather, and how outdoor learning works at My Ohana…

What Is Outdoor Learning in the Early Years?

Outdoor learning is simply learning that happens outside.

For young children, that means much more than running off steam. Digging, planting, splashing, climbing, collecting leaves and watching a worm wriggle across the path are all ways children make sense of the world.

Outdoor play and outdoor learning go hand in hand.

Children under five learn best through play, and the outdoors gives that play more room, more variety and more to discover. A stick becomes a magic wand, a pile of leaves becomes a castle, and a muddy puddle becomes a science experiment.

You can read more about why play matters so much in our guide to play-based learning in the early years.

The Benefits of Outdoor Learning for Young Children

1. Confidence and independence

Outdoors, children make their own choices: where to go, what to explore, how high to climb. Pulling on their own wellies, carrying a watering can or working out how to get across a log all help children feel capable.

Each small "I did it!" builds self-belief that carries into every part of their day.

2. Physical development

Running across grass, climbing, balancing, riding tricycles and scooping sand all help children develop:

• Balance and coordination
• Muscle strength and stamina
• Gross motor skills, like running and jumping
• Fine motor skills, like gripping a trowel or picking up a seed

Uneven ground, slopes and natural materials challenge growing bodies in ways a flat indoor floor can't, laying the foundations for a healthy, active life.

The NHS recommends that toddlers and pre-schoolers are active for at least three hours a day, spread throughout the day and including outdoor play. Time outside makes that easy, because children naturally move more when they have space to run, climb and explore.

3. Curiosity and discovery

Why do leaves change colour? Where did that snail go? What happens if I pour water down here? The outdoors is full of open-ended questions.

Mud, water, natural objects and loose parts have no "right" way to be used, which encourages children to experiment, problem-solve and wonder.

4. Learning to manage risk

Small, manageable challenges like climbing, balancing and building help children learn to judge what they can do safely. With a trusted adult alongside them, they practise assessing a situation, trying something new and having another go when it doesn't work the first time.

This builds resilience and good judgement, skills that matter long after nursery.

This balanced view of risk is backed by the Health and Safety Executive, which recognises that play is important for children's wellbeing and development, and that the aim isn't to remove every risk, but to weigh up the risks against the benefits.

5. A connection with nature

Children who spend time outside every day start to notice the seasons changing, the weather shifting and the wildlife around them.

Planting seeds and watching them grow teaches patience and responsibility.

Over time, this everyday contact with nature grows into a genuine care for the world around them.

6. Wellbeing and calm

Fresh air, natural light and active play all support children's mood and wellbeing. Time outside can help children release energy in a positive way, feel calmer and settle better at rest time.

7. Social skills and communication

Outdoor play is often shared play. Building a den together, taking turns on the slide or deciding who gets to water the plants all help children practise:

• Taking turns and sharing
• Talking, listening and new vocabulary
• Cooperation, empathy and solving problems together

Why We Go Outside in All Weather

At My Ohana, we like to say there's no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong wellies.

Outdoor learning isn't just for sunny days.

Rain, frost, wind and autumn leaves are some of the best teachers there are.

Splashing in puddles, watching their breath on a cold morning or feeling the wind push against them gives children real experiences of the world that no picture book can match.

Going out in all weathers also helps children:

• Understand the seasons and how the world changes through the year
• Build resilience and adaptability
• Learn to look after themselves, like zipping up a coat or choosing a hat
• Discover that every type of day has something to explore

Daily time outside isn't just our preference, either. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework requires nurseries in England to give all children access to an outdoor play area every day, unless circumstances such as unsafe weather make it inappropriate.

Of course, safety always comes first. If the weather is genuinely unsafe, such as during a storm, we stay indoors.

Outdoor Learning at My Ohana

Outdoor learning is a core part of the My Ohana Way. Here's what it looks like for your child.

Outdoors every day, rain or shine

Every day, whatever the weather, children head into the garden to dig, plant, water, play with sand, climb and ride tricycles. In a typical day, garden time follows morning snack, so children are refuelled and ready to explore.

Muddy knees and rosy cheeks are the signs of a good morning.

Our approach is nature-rich and child-led. Outdoor learning is woven through everyday play in our gardens and local green spaces, rather than offered as a one-off session.

Gardens designed for little explorers

Our outdoor spaces are designed to support every area of learning, built around three ideas:

• Nurture – Children plant seeds, water plants and watch them grow, building responsibility and an appreciation for nature.
• Movement – Manageable challenges like climbing and balancing build confidence and decision-making skills.
• Community – A mix of structured and free play gives children ways to explore, practise social skills and solve problems together.

Rooted in the EYFS

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is the backbone of our curriculum, and the garden supports every area of it. The EYFS even expects children, by the end of reception, to explore the natural world around them and understand changes like the seasons.

Here are just a few examples of how outdoor learning connects to your child's development:

Just like indoors, our educators observe what each child is interested in and use it to plan what comes next. Today's fascination with snails can become tomorrow's learning.

Mind, Body and World, outside

Our whole-child approach looks at every child through three lenses: Mind, Body and World, all wrapped in a culture of safeguarding.

The garden brings all three to life:

• Mind – Curiosity, questions and problem-solving, championed by Kumu, our Curiosity Champion
• Body – Active play, movement and healthy habits, with Lani, our Wellbeing Friend
• World – Caring for nature and each other, with Nalu, our Eco Explorer

Safe, sensible challenge

We use a sensible risk-benefit approach. Children can take on manageable challenges in secure, thoughtfully designed gardens, with qualified practitioners right alongside them. That balance lets children stretch themselves while staying safe.

What to pack

To help your little one make the most of every outdoor adventure, we recommend:

• Warm layers
• Waterproofs and wellies
• A sun hat and sun cream in warmer weather
• A spare set of clothes (mud is part of the fun!)

Find out more about outdoor learning at My Ohana

Bringing Outdoor Learning Home

You don't need a big garden or special equipment to carry outdoor learning on at home. A few simple ideas:

• Turn walks into adventures – Spot colours, birds, shapes or different types of leaves along the way.
• Embrace the weather – Pull on wellies and go puddle-jumping, or wrap up and look for frost on a cold morning.
• Grow something together – A pot of cress on a windowsill or a few seeds in a planter is a great start.
• Visit local parks and green spaces – New places mean new sights, textures and challenges.
• Pack healthy snacks – Children use lots of energy outside. Find inspiration in our toddler snack ideas.

12 Outdoor Activity Ideas for Toddlers

Discover seasonal outdoor activities:

• 9 Autumn Activities for Toddlers
• 7 Free Summer Activities for Pre-schoolers and Early Years
• Fun Spring Activities for Pre-schoolers and Nursery Children

FAQs About Outdoor Learning

1. What are the benefits of outdoor learning in the early years?

Outdoor learning helps young children build confidence, independence and strong, healthy bodies. It sparks curiosity, supports language and social skills, teaches children to manage risk and helps them develop a lasting connection with nature.

2. What's the difference between outdoor play and outdoor learning?

For young children, they're closely linked. Children under five learn through play, so outdoor play is outdoor learning. At nursery, educators observe children's interests outside and use them to support each area of the EYFS.

3. Do children really go outside in all weather?

Yes. At My Ohana, children go outside every day, year-round. With the right clothing, puddles, frost and wind all become part of the adventure. If the weather is genuinely unsafe, such as a storm, children stay indoors.

4. Is outdoor learning safe?

Yes. We use a sensible risk-benefit approach, so children can take on manageable challenges like climbing and balancing in secure gardens, with qualified practitioners alongside them. Small, supported risks are an important part of how children learn.

5. How much active play does my child need?

The NHS recommends that toddlers and pre-schoolers are physically active for at least 180 minutes (three hours) a day, spread throughout the day and including outdoor play. For pre-schoolers aged 3 to 4, at least an hour of this should be more energetic activity, like running, jumping or climbing. Babies should be active throughout the day too, including at least 30 minutes of tummy time.

6. Can outdoor play help with my child's behaviour and sleep?

Fresh air and physical activity can help children release energy in a positive way, lift their mood and settle better at rest time and bedtime.

7. What should my child wear for outdoor learning at nursery?

Comfortable layers they can move and get messy in, plus weather-appropriate kit: waterproofs and wellies for wet days, a sun hat and sun cream when it's warm. A spare set of clothes is always handy.

8. Does outdoor learning help with school readiness?

Yes. Independence, resilience, communication and teamwork are all skills children develop outdoors, and they all support a confident start at school. Find out more about how nursery benefits children's development.

9. Do children still need outdoor learning if we have a garden at home?

A garden is brilliant, but children also benefit from exploring different environments. Parks, woodland walks and nursery gardens all offer new sights, textures and challenges.

Outdoor learning gives children so much more than fresh air. It builds confident, curious, capable little people who love to move, explore and discover the world around them, whatever the weather.