5 nature play ideas from the Outdoor Classroom Day community

Connecting to nature can restore our sense of wellbeing. For children, this connection is best made through play – whether outdoors in nature or indoors with natural elements. 

If you’ve got a bit of outdoor space at home or school, help the children in your care connect to nature through play with these lovely ideas from the Outdoor Classroom Day community!

1. Take a nature bag or basket on walks and collect natural items like pebbles, fallen leaves and feathers. 
2. Play a game of outdoor bingo – who will be the first to spot a black bug, a brown bird or a white flower? 
3. Make a nature wind chime out of twigs, pine cones, shells and anything else you can find. Hang it where it will catch the wind.
4. Use old pots and pans to concoct mud pies and garden soups! If you have the space, create a little mud kitchen in the corner of your garden or yard.
5. Make a nature crown out of twigs, fallen leaves and other natural materials. Check out the Outdoor Classroom Day Pinterest board for more nature dress-up ideas. 

Find more ideas for connecting to nature and share your own on social media using #PlayfulNature!