Outdoor Play
At First Steps creche we value the importance of outdoor play and we aim to provide the children with lots of opportunites to take part in a wide variety of outdoor play each day.
Outdoor Play Policy
First Steps Creche recognises the importance of outdoor play and experience for all children. The outdoors provides a range of developmentally appropriate, challenging, diverse, creative, and enriching experiences. We allow ample time for children to explore nature and natural living objects as well as giving children time each day (weather permitting) for physical exercise in a safe and secure environment.
This policy is underpinned by the Child care Act (Early Years Services) pre-school regulation 2006 and 2016. Health Services executive sun safety guidance for babies and young children.
In Síolta, the value of play for children and the importance of where children spend their time learning and developing are all formally recognised. In Síolta it is clear that ‘Play is central to the well-being, development and learning of the young child.’ Aistear, the National Early Childhood Curriculum Framework, also recognises that young children learn and develop by doing things, by playing and by having hands-on meaningful experiences. Aistear tells us that the place where young children play and learn should allow them to express themselves and interact with others.
Outdoor play and experiences for children is an active form of learning that unites the mind, body, and spirit. Children learn through play, movement, communication, and sensory experience which the outdoors provides for on a much greater scale than the indoors. Children learn when the whole self is stimulated.
The act of play by a child stimulates brain development and function and has key roles in building the foundation, organization, and capabilities of the brain.
Movement is the epicentre of children’s lives and is crucial to all aspects of a child’s development.
Physical activity on regular basis allows a child to experience the benefits of movement to the fullest extent.
Outdoor play/time provides breaks during which the brain can “regroup”. When outdoors, children have opportunities to exercise leadership, teach games to one another, take turns, and learn to resolve conflicts. Lastly, in a free choice situation, children learn negotiation and conflict resolution skills in order to keep the play going.
At First steps Creche we are committed following good practice in relation to ensuring that ratios are maintained when outside. We work to ensure that outdoor play is an integral part of the curriculum for children of all age groups.
We aim to:
Our Outdoor Environment:
The outdoor play area consists of 3 separate play areas
1 junior area (used by the Baby Wobble & Toddler rooms)
2 natural area (used by all ages)
3 senior area (used by the Junior & Senior Preschool rooms)
General safety in the outdoor area:
Children spend on average 45 minutes per day outdoors. This can change depending on the weather. This is broken into morning and afternoon sessions.
Children will always be supervised in line with current regulations and best practice while outside.
Safety on the climbing frame, swing and slide:
Staff encourage the children to go down the slide with their feet first.
Staff encourage the children to wait until the slide is clear before they go down.
Children from the junior rooms are not permitted to use the big climbing frame, swings and slide.
All other rooms are permitted to use the frame under supervision.
All children are encouraged to sit on the swings.
Safety when bringing the indoor equipment outdoors:
No sharp items are permitted to be brought outdoors.
If the children are having snack outside they are not permitted to run around while eating. Antibacterial hand wipes will be used to clean children’s hands outdoors if the children have consumed food in the garden.
Staff ensure that children are dressed appropriately for different weather conditions.
Clothing:
For hot weather:
Babies and children have very sensitive skin. The following advice has been drawn up in line with HSE guidance “Sun safety guidance for babies and young children. As About 90% of harmful UV rays can pass through light cloud, it is important to take care not only on sunny days but also when it is dull or overcast.
Sun protective clothing:
UVA star rating
We appreciate that in order for sunscreen to do its job, it must be applied correctly. The staff will always ensure this by:
For cold Weather:
All children must have an outdoor coat, hat or hood and preferably gloves and a scarf.
For wet weather, children are requested to have rainproof clothing and boots and have a spare set of indoor clothes.
All clothes should be labelled and left in the Creche for use.
In addition we believe that outdoor play encourages children to :
To make choices and test ideas and materials.
To practice create and develop skills.
To stimulate curiosity and develop consideration for others.
To Explore and make discoveries
To Solve problems and Persevere in the face of difficulties and uncertainties.
Researchers agree that play is imperative to a child’s development, improving the cognitive, physical, social and emotional well-being of the infant and child
Outdoor Play Allows an Infant to:
Outdoor Play Allows a 10- 14-month-old to:
(Ages 10-14 months olds are in the mist of leaving the infant stage and moving into the toddler stage. They are very inquisitive, and exploration becomes an even greater part of their world.)
Outdoor Play Allows the Older Infant to:
Outdoor Play Allows the 2-3/4-year-old child to:
This policy is underpinned by the Child care Act (Early Years Services) pre-school regulation 2006 and 2016. Health Services executive sun safety guidance for babies and young children.
In Síolta, the value of play for children and the importance of where children spend their time learning and developing are all formally recognised. In Síolta it is clear that ‘Play is central to the well-being, development and learning of the young child.’ Aistear, the National Early Childhood Curriculum Framework, also recognises that young children learn and develop by doing things, by playing and by having hands-on meaningful experiences. Aistear tells us that the place where young children play and learn should allow them to express themselves and interact with others.
Outdoor play and experiences for children is an active form of learning that unites the mind, body, and spirit. Children learn through play, movement, communication, and sensory experience which the outdoors provides for on a much greater scale than the indoors. Children learn when the whole self is stimulated.
The act of play by a child stimulates brain development and function and has key roles in building the foundation, organization, and capabilities of the brain.
Movement is the epicentre of children’s lives and is crucial to all aspects of a child’s development.
Physical activity on regular basis allows a child to experience the benefits of movement to the fullest extent.
Outdoor play/time provides breaks during which the brain can “regroup”. When outdoors, children have opportunities to exercise leadership, teach games to one another, take turns, and learn to resolve conflicts. Lastly, in a free choice situation, children learn negotiation and conflict resolution skills in order to keep the play going.
At First steps Creche we are committed following good practice in relation to ensuring that ratios are maintained when outside. We work to ensure that outdoor play is an integral part of the curriculum for children of all age groups.
We aim to:
- Provide a stimulating, enjoyable and safe and secure environment for children to play, investigate, explore, problem solve and use their imagination and creativity in an outdoor environment.
- Provide a diverse, challenging, and enriching experience where children can explore nature.
- Ensure that the children have plenty of opportunities to develop their large motor skills.
- Provide active learning experiences for children so that they have plenty of opportunities to practice their developing skills, making them feel good about themselves and enriching their understanding of the world around them.
- Encourage the children to have respect for the outdoor environment and to care for living things.
- Provide the children with opportunities to relax and to release built up energy throughout the day.
- Stimulate their senses by offering different sights, sounds, smells and touching/ feeling opportunities.
- Provide the children with opportunities to co-operate with others and build up their social skills.
- Provide the children with space to take part in energetic, noisy, large scale activities as well as opportunity for quieter play.
- Plan a balance between child- initiated activities and adult directed activities.
- Observe, assess, and record how the children learn through play in the outdoor environment and to support their learning by adapting the outdoor curriculum to meet their needs.
- Ensure that all staff understand the value of outdoor play and are enthusiastic and active in their approach to learning outside.
Our Outdoor Environment:
The outdoor play area consists of 3 separate play areas
1 junior area (used by the Baby Wobble & Toddler rooms)
2 natural area (used by all ages)
3 senior area (used by the Junior & Senior Preschool rooms)
General safety in the outdoor area:
Children spend on average 45 minutes per day outdoors. This can change depending on the weather. This is broken into morning and afternoon sessions.
Children will always be supervised in line with current regulations and best practice while outside.
- The outdoor area is secure. There is one gate in the outdoor area which is always locked. There is secure fencing around the perimeter of the entire outdoor area.
- The area is monitored by security cameras.
- General safety checks are carried out by staff on a daily basis to identify hazards or broken equipment that may need attention or removal.
- Management and staff ensure that regular checks are carried out in all play areas to ensure all areas are safe and free from broken/ waste materials.
- The climbing frames, slides, swings etc. are all secured and placed on an impact absorption safety surface.
- The children are encouraged to help to put away toys. The children are involved in taking care of the outdoor environment, as they are of their indoor environment.
- A routine of handwashing is implemented when children come in from the outdoors in order to develop an understanding of the importance of health and hygiene routines.
- Access to the premises is monitored and a record of visitors is maintained. Unauthorised persons cannot access the premises or the outdoor play area.
Safety on the climbing frame, swing and slide:
Staff encourage the children to go down the slide with their feet first.
Staff encourage the children to wait until the slide is clear before they go down.
Children from the junior rooms are not permitted to use the big climbing frame, swings and slide.
All other rooms are permitted to use the frame under supervision.
All children are encouraged to sit on the swings.
Safety when bringing the indoor equipment outdoors:
No sharp items are permitted to be brought outdoors.
If the children are having snack outside they are not permitted to run around while eating. Antibacterial hand wipes will be used to clean children’s hands outdoors if the children have consumed food in the garden.
Staff ensure that children are dressed appropriately for different weather conditions.
Clothing:
For hot weather:
Babies and children have very sensitive skin. The following advice has been drawn up in line with HSE guidance “Sun safety guidance for babies and young children. As About 90% of harmful UV rays can pass through light cloud, it is important to take care not only on sunny days but also when it is dull or overcast.
Sun protective clothing:
- Babies should be dressed in loose-fitting outfits that fully cover their arms and legs.
- Other young children should be dressed in loose-fitting clothes that cover their shoulders and other sensitive parts of their body.
- Babies and young children should also wear a hat with a wide brim to protect their faces and necks from the sun. Hats with neck flaps at the back can also help protect your child's neck.
- All children need to have a supply of sunscreen on site, available to them for everyday use. You should use sunscreen or sun cream that:
- has a sun protection factor (SPF) of 50 or higher
- protects against both types of rays that can damage skin (UVA and UVB)
- is suitable for your child's age and skin
- The SPF is how much protection there is against UVB. You should look for one of these symbols on the bottle to check it also protects against UVA.
UVA star rating
We appreciate that in order for sunscreen to do its job, it must be applied correctly. The staff will always ensure this by:
- Applying sunscreen whenever children will be in the sun.
- Applying sunscreen about 15 to 30 minutes before children go outside so that a good layer of protection can form.
- Ensuring all areas are covered including; face, lips, ears, hands, legs, and behind the neck.
- Reapply sunscreen often, approximately every 2 hours, or as recommended and especially after a child has been sweating or in water.
- Staff will apply sufficient sunscreen to the younger children while the older age groups will be encouraged and helped to apply sunscreen to themselves under the careful supervision of staff.
- Staff will ensure that it is applied properly and will apply it to the more difficult areas of the child for example the neck, face and ears.
- A log will be kept at all times the sun cream is applied during the day by staff in the rooms.
- Staff will only apply a child’s own suncream – suncream will not be shared between children and siblings in different rooms need individual rooms must have their own bottle of suncream.
- Where suncream has not supplied by parents/ guardians, parents will be phoned and asked to bring suncream to the creche immediately. While our adults:child ratios are also adhered to, we are not in a position to have additional staff stay inside with children. If suncream is not brought to the creche you may be asked to collect your child.
For cold Weather:
All children must have an outdoor coat, hat or hood and preferably gloves and a scarf.
For wet weather, children are requested to have rainproof clothing and boots and have a spare set of indoor clothes.
All clothes should be labelled and left in the Creche for use.
In addition we believe that outdoor play encourages children to :
To make choices and test ideas and materials.
To practice create and develop skills.
To stimulate curiosity and develop consideration for others.
To Explore and make discoveries
To Solve problems and Persevere in the face of difficulties and uncertainties.
Researchers agree that play is imperative to a child’s development, improving the cognitive, physical, social and emotional well-being of the infant and child
Outdoor Play Allows an Infant to:
- Listen to outdoor noises around them such as cars, airplanes, and other children at play
- Experience different weather patterns such as hot, cold, wind, sun, rain.
- Stimulate their eyes by observing different colours and objects that are shiny, bright or dull .
- Stimulate smells of all varieties.
- Adjust their eyes to the various intensities of sunlight.
- Crawl on and touch both rough and smooth textures such as grass, sand, concrete, leaves.
- Grasp items such as sand and leaves using fine motor skills.
- Inhale fresh air to decrease risk for germs.
Outdoor Play Allows a 10- 14-month-old to:
(Ages 10-14 months olds are in the mist of leaving the infant stage and moving into the toddler stage. They are very inquisitive, and exploration becomes an even greater part of their world.)
- They begin playing, using their sense of touch, taste, and smell to experience their environment.
- They work on building relationships with others by learning how to give gentle hugs and learning how to take turns. An infant’s first exposure to play is through parents, siblings, and caregivers, with games like peek-a-boo and patty cake.
- Usually by ten months of age, the infant is crawling, pulling to stand, taking a few steps with assistance and by twelve months of age, taking those first few steps by themselves.
- They are reaching out within their surroundings to interact with others, playing with other children in games such as building blocks, throwing objects, and gaining others attention by making sounds and gestures.
Outdoor Play Allows the Older Infant to:
- Reduce stress, fear, anxiety, and irritability.
- Increase joy, intimacy, self-esteem.
- Make choices and options.
- Teach relationships built on inclusion rather than exclusions.
- Improve non-verbal skills and increase attention and attachment.
- Improve gross motor exploration.
- Increase balance and flexibility.
- Increase the efficiency of immune, heart and endocrine systems. Strengthen immune system and overall physical health.
- 15-24 months old is a milestone for toddlers as they learn to do so much not only with their feet, but also with their hands and minds.
- At this age, there are several different types of play that are important for the development of social and physical skills, which will in turn help develop your toddler’s brain.
- Outdoor Play Allows a Young Toddler to make friends and interact socially.
- Learn independently, as toddlers do not share at this age because they believe they are the centre of the world and they think that everything belongs to them.
- See how things work by using open-ended toys such as blocks, pegs and cardboard boxes.
- Use their imaginations and being creative through pretend play.
- Engage with siblings and other children even if they are not directly playing with them.
Outdoor Play Allows the 2-3/4-year-old child to:
- Outside there are many different and wonderful things for them to see (animals, birds, and green leafy plants), to hear (wind rustling through leaves, a robin’s song), to smell (fragrant flowers, and the rain-soaked ground), to touch (a fuzzy caterpillar or bark on a tree), and even to taste (newly fallen snow or raindrops on their tongue).
- Contact with the outdoors help children learn concepts such as cause and effect and making connections. They learn that the sun dries puddles and melts snow, and that wind makes things move.
- Pre-schoolers learn important science concepts as they explore the properties of natural objects and materials and notice how things are the same and different, experiment with using tools (for example, shovels and sticks) for different purposes, and predict if and where they will see worms after it rains.
- They gain spatial awareness (a foundational geometry concept) as they move their bodies though space in different ways and at different speeds, and observe the world from different perspectives, such as lying on their backs on a blanket, standing on top of a hill, or swinging back and forth in a swing or hammock.
- They notice different sounds and learn to tell them apart, which is a foundational skill for later literacy development.
- The two and half to three and half year old is very active, they are learning how to climb stairs, ride a tricycle, walk on their tiptoes, throwing or catching balls, and kicking a ball, among many other activities.
- Enhance opportunities to make decisions, solve problems, and collaborate with peers.
- Promote language and communication skills by having an increase in social interactions between children.
- Improve awareness, reasoning, and observational skills.
- Gain mathematical concepts.
- Grasp science concepts.
- Explore ordinary objects.
- Enjoy their newfound abilities.
- Begin to grasp spatial awareness (distance, speed, location, and direction) Know right from wrong.
- Improve academics and literacy.
- Nurture emotional and cognitive development.
- Promote children to work together towards a common goal.
- Decreased rates of obesity.
- Foster interactions with peers and adults.
- Improve Communication skills and vocabulary (as they invent, modify, and enforce rules).
- Number relationships (as they keep score and count).
- Gain social customs (as they learn to play together and cooperate).