Book2017–2026 update
Outdoor Learning Environments: Spaces for Exploration, Discovery and Risk-Taking in the Early Years
An Australian edited guide to designing and using early years outdoor spaces for exploration, discovery and risk-taking.
What's new
This edited collection has five parts. They cover pedagogy and outdoor environments, including the value of risk-taking and developing young children's appreciation of the natural world; design and planning principles, including equipment standards and regulations; children's own perspectives, agency and private playspaces; cultural perspectives, including Indigenous approaches; and experiences beyond purpose-built spaces, from nature reserves to urban settings. The book notes that active outdoor play involving risk-taking has been linked to positive effects on social health and behaviour, and that it encourages physical activity and motor skill development.
Why it matters in Aotearoa
Early childhood services in Aotearoa also have to balance the benefits of risky outdoor play against standards and regulations. This Australian text, written by authors with research and professional experience, can give kaiako and teacher educators a basis for decisions about outdoor environments.
Putting it into practice
Use the design and planning section to audit your centre's or junior school's outdoor space for chances to take managed risks, and record the benefits next to the hazards.
How strong is the evidence
This is an edited professional and scholarly guide by authors from a range of disciplines. It does not report a single new study. It was published in Australia and appears to be written for an Australian context, so check any standards or regulations against New Zealand requirements.
What to read
Part 1 (pedagogy, risk-taking and the natural world) and Part 2 (design and planning)