Kids set to spend more time learning outdoors
CHILDREN in Scotland are set to spend more of their time learning outdoors following a national commitment to make the activity a fundamental part of growing up.
Groups such as Glasgow Science Centre have joined the Scottish Government and Inspiring Scotland in producing a public statement supporting outdoor play and learning as a daily activity.
The Position Statement was officially launched by Children’s Minister Maree Todd at the Muddy Buddies outdoor nursery in Drumchapel, run as a partnership between several local nurseries, Glasgow City Council and Inspiring Scotland.
The statement asserts the health, wellbeing and educational benefits of playing and learning outdoors, committing signatories to help widen access to natural and communal spaces.
Ms Todd said: “Scotland has a wealth of great outdoor space, including in the heart of our cities, and the expansion of early learning and childcare provides us with an opportunity to increase the amount of time children spend playing in these wonderful spaces.
“Muddy Buddies is a perfect example of the collaborative working and commitment between partners that the position statement promotes, all delivering a high-quality outdoor experience for the children involved.”
Inspiring Scotland has been working to promote and deliver outdoor play for children since 2010.
Earlier this year, Scottish Government announced funding for Inspiring Scotland to develop outdoor nurseries in eight local authorities as part of its expansion of free childcare hours.
Celia Tennant, chief executive of Inspiring Scotland, said: “There are wider benefits for society – a generation of children that, are not just familiar with the outdoors but that love and understand the world around them will protect and care for it.
“If we want a future at all, we need that to be the case.”