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At Kids Planet, we have developed our very own outdoor learning approach called ‘Udeskole’, which many of our nurseries are actively training towards or have already completed!
Udeskole is a Scandinavian concept that translates to ‘outdoor school’. It is an educational approach that makes nature-based learning an integral part of a child’s education, encouraging children to spend less time in the traditional classroom and more time outdoors.
This approach differs from standard outdoor playtime. Through Udeskole, children actively participate in guided observations, such as studying local wildlife and plants. This unique method gets them directly engaged with the environment around them, helping them find their place in the world and develop their sense of self.
The concept originates in Denmark—consistently ranked as one of the top three happiest countries globally. The Danes embrace a philosophy called “friluftsliv”, which translates to ‘living in the open air’.
In today’s modern world, we are becoming increasingly dislocated from nature, which has far-reaching consequences on physical and mental wellbeing. Danish schools counter this by making outdoor time a regular part of the learning day. Research demonstrates that this results in elevated levels of joy and improved social interactions compared to being confined to a classroom.
As children spend more time looking at screens than climbing trees, Udeskole helps reinstate a love for the outdoors. Here is how learning with nature benefits your child:
Natural light produces serotonin, boosting mood and energy. Udeskole also promotes physical activity, helping tackle the risks of sedentary lifestyles by encouraging children to move in different ways.
By incorporating cognitive and experiential learning, children engage with the natural world using all their senses, fostering a deeper understanding of educational concepts.
Nature offers an endless array of textures, sights, and sounds. These diverse physical experiences are crucial for developing the sensory systems within the brain and nervous system.
Time in green spaces exposes children to safe micro-organisms that help develop their immune systems, while breathing cleaner outdoor air positively impacts respiratory health.
Udeskole naturally promotes teamwork. As children collaborate on outdoor challenges, they learn how to communicate effectively and build relationships outside of the classroom.
By allowing children to directly observe and interact with their environment, this practical approach grounds their theoretical learning into real-world, tangible experiences.
Understanding the profound impacts that outdoor learning has on children heightened our passion to embrace this within our settings. In fact, we launched our very own Udeskole Accreditation to help our nurseries—and other education facilities—follow suit.
A 5-Module Framework: Designed by our Head of Outdoor Learning, Rhiannon Mountain, our easy-to-follow, five-module approach covers all aspects of helping children flourish outdoors with measurable learning outcomes.
Imagination Over Resources: By having minimal resources and using what nature provides, we are seeing so much more imagination and collaboration among the children.
Physical Confidence: By providing children with more opportunities to be physically active in varied terrain, they are learning what their bodies are capable of and challenging themselves in ways that simply cannot be replicated indoors.
Through implementing the Udeskole approach, we have seen an inspiring transformation amongst the children who have embraced it. For them, it becomes a culture—it’s what they do day in and day out.
We are passionate about making Udeskole commonplace in all of our nurseries across the UK. Book a tour to see our outdoor learning environments firsthand.
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