Providing children with uninterrupted outdoor play to explore and discover their surroundings increases children’s risk-based problem solving skills, as well as cognitive and imaginative development. With families having access to outdoor spaces, backyards, local parks and sporting fields the opportunities are endless for children to explore in nature. During this time children are able to engage in social development and play, skills that are required in everyday life.

Here at OOSH we foster children’s need for outdoor exploration and discovery. Having children create their own forms of play outside, unstructured and spontaneous, promotes the curiosity children hold. A stick becomes a sword with a tree the dragon needing to be tamed, or a swimming pool out of a puddle, with chalk drawings and leaves as boats.

In our weekly program, we allow time for unstructured spontaneous play with peers to encourage development of these skills. Our educators observe children, their interactions and conversations and use this to further our program. As educators we are able to understand a child’s interests and world from their perspective.

Learning Outcome 1: Children feel safe, secure and supported.

Learning Outcome 4: Children are confident and involved learners.