There is no doubt what an important role being outside plays on our physical and emotional wellbeing. Just a small amount of time spent in the fresh air each day can make us feel happier and healthier.

Nature provides us with a plethora of learning opportunities and a chance to let our imaginations run wild!

"But, how can we make the most of our time outside? What activities can we do at home? What if you have little or no outside space?"

Here are few cost effective and creative ideas for you to try at home - whatever the weather!

• Be artists and use chalk to draw beautiful pictures on the floor.
• Use the chalk to draw and play hopscotch.
• As it's Spring, why not plant some flower seeds and watch them grow! 
  • You can use almost anything to grow flowers in, as long as there are a few holes for drainage- the sky is the limit. Here are a couple of examples:

• There's nothing more satisfying than eating your own, home grown fruit and veg. If you don't have room in the garden for a vegetable patch, try using containers. Seeds can be bought from many supermarkets and Amazon.

*Hessian shopping bags are great to use!*

• Do you have a fairy family living in your garden? Why not make them a cosy house and garden to enjoy? All you need is a small space, some foraged materials and plants. Perfect for tiny friends...

Complete a STEM challenge by making a swing for your fairies. Or practise your handwriting by making them some sign posts.

• Attract more than fairies into your garden or outside space by making it a haven for wildlife. A small pond made out of an old sink or bucket will attract all kinds of amphibians and insects.

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• Be a scientist and observe the nature in your garden.
  • Make binoculars out of toilet rolls and then record what you find on a checklist or even a tally chart. You could take it one step further by creating a block graph or pictogram. 
• Sometimes nature is best observed up close.
  • Dig a whole (ask an adult where first!) and spread the contents on some paper or a bin liner. What have you found?
  • Artist often use nature as their inspiration. This can be on a small or large scale. Try drawing or painting a picture of a flower up close, making sure to take not of all the details. Isn't it beautiful!
  • Make stencil rubbings of leaves, flowers or trunks of trees. See how they're all different?
• Materials found outside such as, leaves, twigs, flowers, stones and bark can be used to make pictures themselves. You don't need to stick them to anything, just create a picture on the grass or a flat surface. Then use the same materials again to make another one!
• Make a den, grab a book and off you go on a new adventure!
• Like writing your own stories? Who doesn't?! Try making story stones. Each stone is a different part of the story. When put together you can tell the story to your grown up or sibling.

*You can create alterative endings to your story. That way, you can tell a different story each time! *

• Create a Spring wreath using foraged materials from your garden.
• Make a homemade windchime from recycled materials.
• A favourite of many children and adults is having a teddy bear's picnic! Whatever the weather - teddy bear's don't mind the cold!
• Get active and do The Bodycoach's PE video outside in the morning.
• Set up a classroom outside and complete tasks from your Home Learning packs.

These are just a few ideas to get you started.

We would love to see what you get up to, so please send in a photo and we'll add it to the page.

Enjoy!

How have you been spending your time outdoors?