Outdoor play is not a break from learning, it is learning. Young children are built to move, explore, and discover, and the outdoors offers the perfect space for all three. Time spent outdoors strengthens muscles, improves coordination, and builds healthy habits from an early age. Just as important, outdoor play fuels brain development. In an engaging outdoor classroom, children practice problem-solving, creativity, and focus as they climb, dig, run, and imagine. Fresh air and natural light also help children regulate emotions and reduce stress, setting the stage for positive behavior and readiness to learn.
The outdoor classroom is where essential life skills take root. Children learn to take turns, test limits, work through challenges, and build confidence alongside their peers. These everyday moments nurture resilience, independence, and a strong sense of belonging. When preschool programs prioritize daily outdoor play, they aren't just giving children time to burn energy, they are investing in lifelong health, learning, and well-being through joyful, meaningful experiences.
Spring may feel far away, but warmer days are on the horizon. Now is the perfect time to plan how to refresh your outdoor space and make the most of every minute outside. Need support? Go NAPSACC (Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care) offers practical tools, strategies, and resources to help programs strengthen outdoor classrooms and keep children moving, engaged, and thriving all year long. Registration for the April 2026 Go NAPSACC project is now open. Click here to learn more about the Go NAPSACC project.
If you have questions, please contact Lauri Choate, Director of Training, at lauri@mochildcareaware.org or 314-754-1603.
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