Today’s Guest Contributer

We are lucky enough to live in the countryside. And in normal times, we love the great outdoors. Today’s post is accredited to a Laura Pearson, an advocate of learning skills outside of the classroom. Take it away Laura…

These days, it’s not rare to encounter learning problems in kids. While some attribute this to technology addiction, in many kids, it can be a mere case of incompatibility in the mode of instruction. The fact is that children learn differently, and though the classroom setting is, by and large, the norm, it’s also a fact that not all students will thrive in it. Some may even struggle. 

With that said, it’s important for parents and educators alike to broaden their horizons and explore other avenues of learning, especially for kids who struggle or who just want to expand their education. The natural world itself has plenty to offer in this regard, and it’s definitely a wonderful idea to take advantage of this. Best of all, most of its gifts are free to learn from and enjoy. Here are a few things you should bear in mind when it comes to outdoor education.

Nature Is the Best Classroom

Of late, experts have forecasted that the future of education will include learning beyond the confines of the traditional classroom. Again, there’s just no dearth of learning opportunities that can be found outdoors. In fact, nature helps children become more engaged and interested, as well as physically fit. Moreover, it relieves stress and restores attention.

Of course, there’s the question of what students are learningoutside of the classroom. As it turns out, there’s a lot! For one thing, kids can learn problem-solving skills, teamwork, and confidence through outdoor adventures. For another, academic benefits can be had, too, as there’s a wide range of activities that improve communication skills, literacy, and numeracy. Conservation is best learned outside, as well. 

It’s a good idea, therefore, to bring the classroom to nature (and vice versa) with some very inspired ideas. As a bonus, it costs little to nothing to take advantage of nature’s gifts, so you can be sure that it won’t put a dent on your budget.

Learning Should Be Fun

Now, what makes outdoor education a superior way to learn is the fact that it’s generally fun. As such, it’s important not to lose sight of this tenet in order to make it a worthwhile pursuit for your child. A great way to do this is through outdoor play.

More than just a fun past-time, outdoor play is actually crucial in the cognitive development of children. Scientists explain that outdoor play essentially helps build a better brain. Furthermore, it also does wonders for developing fine motor skills, coordination, and muscles. The holistic benefits are more than compelling, and there’s really no better reason to get your kids outside.

There are, in fact, several activities that let kids have fun outdoors while also learning in the process. Scavenger hunts and obstacle courses are always great hits. Better yet, exploration activities like hiking and biking (to name a few) are fantastic, as well, as these promote discovery and help them get to know the natural world in their own terms. As a tip, keep costs low by investing in season passes to national parks and other conservation areas, as opposed to buying tickets piecemeal for the entire family with every outing.

There’s Always Room for Tech

Lastly, just because you’re getting your child to embrace the great outdoors more, doesn’t mean that there’s no more room for tech. On the contrary, tech, when used mindfully and sparsely, can still support outdoor learning in many ways, which is why it’s still important to find ways to integrate technology into outdoor education.

For this reason, it definitely helps to have a reliable laptop for schoolwork. Such a device comes in handy during research or when your child has a creative writing project in the works, for instance. Of course, this can be quite an investment. It’s good practice to research different manufacturers, such as Lenovo, to see which one fits your needs. And to help you save money on such a substantial purchase, you can look for a Lenovo couponor promo codes.

The learning opportunities outdoors are right there; you just need to lead your kids toward them. It’s priceless education that you can get for next to nothing. What could be better than that?

Photo via Pexels