Three developmental reasons to include the outdoors as the third teacher

Mind-Body Connection

Sometimes we forget that our brain and cognition abilities are part of our bodily functions. Many approaches to education indeed seem disembodied. However, it only takes a moment to recall how being hangry or exhausted can affect our ability to concentrate, for the mind-body connection is very important. The outdoors has a calming effect. Studies also show that being outside in nature is relaxing, reducing stress, cortisol levels, muscle tension, and heart rates. At the same time, the outdoors is a place of inspiration and vitality. One study claims that a 25-minute walk can elevate your creativity and imagination. Consider the great poets, writers, and artists that used nature to inspire their timeless masterpieces!

Coordination and Confidence

The outdoor natural terrain is a space that challenges our bodies in a variety of small and big ways. Our walks are a workout with hills and inclines and uneven plateaus with roots and rocks that challenge footing. Children feel excited to run freely in an open space, and the outdoors also provide natural barriers that slow children down in helpful ways that also become learning experiences. As the third teacher, nature has a ton of built-in lessons that communicate to children different ways to navigate the world with their bodies. Those lessons build up a child’s confidence. They get to know an area while learning what their bodies are capable of. City kids tend to have limited physical freedom due to traffic and crowds of people. Nature spaces gift their organic needs back to them, allowing them to explore independently and feel confident about belonging to the world.

Problem-solving – the soft skills of intellectual identity development

Soft skills are the skills that are more qualitative and less quantitative. Therefore, while you may not be able to measure how strong a leader you are, like you can assess proficiency in a particular math skill, it doesn’t diminish the importance of leadership. Climbing rocks, navigating routes, and identifying small risks are problem-solving opportunities that allow children to learn critical soft skills that define their identity formation that can impact how they learn. Child-led adventurous play in outdoor settings will enable children to figure out things independently, ask essential questions, and make helpful judgments.