Outdoor Play

The NASPE standards and the American Heart Association (2012) recommend at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous play for children over the age of two, in no shorter than 15-minute segments. One of the easiest ways to accommodate this is to make sure that children spend plenty of time outdoors, being active in a variety of games and activities.

Young children should have ready access to outdoor play space, if not onsite, then within walking distance. Outdoor areas should be planned as thoughtfully as indoor space, with a balance of open space, age appropriate play structures that are safe and in good repair, and materials that children can use in physical activities. Well-designed exterior space represents opportunities for “big body play”activities that involve all the major muscle groups, which may be limited by the confines of the indoor environment (Carlson, 2006)as well as extension of other indoor curriculum activities.

Considerations for planning outdoor environments include:

Managing risk with age-appropriate equipment and materials.
Supervision policies that protect children from physical harm but do not limit their freedom.
Scheduling playtimes to accommodate children from multiple groups or classes.
Adapting the environment to support children with special needs.
Providing for a balance of activities and practices compatible with developmental, cultural, and environmental concerns.
Accommodating climatic issues such as temperature, sun/shade, and access to water.
Maintenance of equipment and materials.

Table 8.2 displays suggested outdoor activity areas and ideas for equipment and materials for their support.

Outdoor activity areas should be identified with signs or labels, as with indoor classroom interest areas, and supervision guidelines should be posted. Storage for materials used exclusively outdoors is highly desirable. Spaces can be designed for multiple/flexible purposes. For example, a gathering space could also accommodate music activities, or an outdoor picnic. A paved area could be used with vehicles at one time of the day and games like four square or jump rope another. Most playground structures are also designed to accommodate a range of large muscle activities. Many of the same materials used indoors can be brought outside if storage is not available.

The important thing to remember is that outdoor space should not be an afterthought or thought of as only needed for “recess.” Rather, it should be intentionally planned with specific goals for physical development in mind.