The children, from a very young age, are real sensory explorers. And what’s better than being outdoors to live rich and stimulating experiences for all senses? Here is a list of games of games to do even for the older ones
The summer is now upon us: the days stretch and the temperatures become more mild. The arrival of the beautiful days is particularly awaited by children, who love play outdoors. In the courtyard, in the garden, in the park … it does not necessarily serve an uncontaminated and perfect natural environment: staying out, running, building, climbing, inventing something new starting from “poor” resources Collected here and there, it is always possible for children and a source of great fun and precious learning.
Among the many advantages that i games to do outdoors they carry with them, there is undoubtedly the development of the “divergent thought“(The ability to produce responses that are at the same time original, unusual and effective in relation to a certain task or problem). In fact, even if the tools or games available are not many, nature offers the More disparate materials to know, explore and combine in creative ways. Here, therefore, that pebbles, sticks, shells, flowers, leaves, water and earth become a treasure of infinite possibilities.
Let’s see, then, some simple proposals of games to do outdoors which do not require particular tools or preparation but which allow children to different ages to carry out experiences as fun as it is enriching.
Games to do outdoors with children: ideas for the little ones
In addition to cognitive faculties and creativity, the outdoor game it is an extraordinary means for the development of the math: Walking on a wall, jumping the bell or climbing on a tree, children develop body awareness, balance and coordination. Since children, children are real sensory explorers (for this reason there are sensory games). And what’s better than being outdoors to live rich and stimulating experiences for all senses?
So let’s see some examples of games to do outdoors with small children.
Already in First year of life We can involve children in simple exploratory games:
- Let’s ditch together on the lawn And we observe together the flight of birds or the fronds of the trees move with the wind;
- We collect and Let’s sniff together flowers and leaves or let the child perceive the earth and grass with his hands and feet;
- We play in the puddles And let’s explore the textures of different natural elements together (bark, moss …).
May seem trivial activities, but in reality they positively urge all the senses of the baby and bring him closer with curiosity and interest immediately to nature.
If your child loves to “mess” particularly, why not offer him then the game of “natural cuisine” Or “mud cuisine”, perhaps using some objects brought from home (a saucepan, a cup, spoons or ladles, a passine …). Children will thus be able to collect, classify, mix, trouble, pour and beat by using water, earth, leaves, sand and everything that the natural space in which they find it has to offer.
Among the games to do outdoors with the children we also find those of Construction with natural elements: stack stones, build nests for birds starting from foliage, sticks and mud, make crowns or Necklaces with wires grass and flowers.
Another very compelling proposal is that of balance games: They can be carried out by resorting to a low wall, a trunk on the ground or a tree strain, but also through paths made of lines and shapes to be created with the help of sticks or pebbles. Walk keeping balance – perhaps by transporting objects simultaneously – helps children to perfect the control of themselves and their movements, favors the development of the Large motor skills and coordination and increases the sense of self -efficacy.
With the arrival of the summer, the park as in the courtyard cannot finally be missing i Water games. Water the plants, paint with water on the rocks, playing the beams, washing and spreading handkerchiefs … games with water allow children to perform very rich experiences on the sensory level, to perfect the coordination of movements and to develop problem solving skills.
These are just some ideas of games to do outdoors with the little ones. As always, the advice is to observe and follow your child’s interests, making the most of the resources that nature offers us.
Group games to do outdoors: here are some ideas
The most beautiful Outdoor group games They are perhaps those related to tradition, still alive in the memories of many adults today. The bell, steals flag, hide and hide centuries, prisoner ball or catching up are i Outdoor games for more classic groupsbut always current and effective, which allow children to develop agility and reflections, coordination, concentration and strategic thought.
But let’s see some further Outdoor games ideas for several children.
To meet one of the strongest needs of childhood, the movement, for example we can offer children to Create an obstacle coursetaking advantage of what the natural environment offers so that they can have fun running, jumping, bowing, crawling …
Another interesting and stimulating activity to be carried out in a group – or perhaps in teams – is the Treasure hunt of the natural elementsthe. This game invites to sharpen the view, to pay attention to details and details that we normally do not see, allows you to explore, find and appreciate even small objects, stimulating curiosity and preparing the ground for new questions and discoveries. We can actively involve children already in the game creation phaseasking them to prepare the list of elements to be found – both in writing and graphic form – and then let it launch in the search.
A variant is the animal search game: we can ask children to organize themselves in small groups and go together in search of animal traces (footprints left on the sand or soil, scie of snails, cobwebs, leaves eaten by insects …).
A very beautiful activity to be carried out in many is also the creation of great mandalas with natural elements. Children will just look for and collect materials of different colors (flowers, berries, twigs, leaves, bark fragments …) and then build the mandala arranging the objects in an orderly way starting from the center. In addition to stimulating attention and fine motor skills, this activity helps them to develop important social skillslike shared planning and sharing.
And for the boys? Ideas for outdoor games for the largest
Today’s guys and teenagers could be little used to living nature As a space for meeting and fun, so some more motivation may be needed to get them out!
Exist Many outdoor games for the boys also who represent a cure -all for the body and mind. Let’s see them together.
Timeless, already from 12 years upwards, they are outdoor games like the tug of war, Guards and thieves or the obstacle relaywhich can be carried out without great resources but which involve them and strongly excited.
Boys and girls love challenges, plan, solve problems and team. Because then don’t propose to try to try build a refuge? Having to devise, design and try to build the construction by using the elements available to them, they will develop creativity, problem solving, divergent thought and the ability to collaborate with others.
We can also leverage the natural curiosity of girls and boys to involve them in activities such as the birdwatching or the research and classification of insects. A few objects such as binoculars, a magnifying glass and a notebook with a pen (if the boys love to take pictures, we can offer them, if we have one, even one camera To immortalize what has been sighted!).
These ideas of games to do outdoors stimulate the Scientific thought of the boystheir curiosity, the ability to observe and research. Inevitably, in fact, in the course of the activities, questions about the characteristics of the animals observedon their habits and their habitats. The research may also continue once at home, creating a “bridge” between the outside and the inside, perhaps bringing with it some finds (a feather, an exoskeleton of cicala …) and making Further searches regarding them using books and other resources.
In conclusion …
As Maria Montessori already wrote over a century, denouncing the general removal of thehuman being from naturechildren have a great need to live and carry out experiences in it. The good development and physical well -being of children and young people are in fact closely linked to their lifestyleand this end the physical movement and outdoor experiences are fundamental components!
As we have seen, for Playing outdoors are not for toys and not even expensive objects. A few simple tools and a pinch of creativity will allow your children and boys not only to have fun, but also to do precious experiences for their development and psychophysical balance.
