Outdoor play is such an important part of children’s development in the Early Years, and activities like blowing bubbles, riding bicycles, and exploring the mud kitchen all provide rich opportunities for learning across the curriculum.
One of the Sealion children asked, "Bubbles at the picnic (Family Fun Event) was so fun, can we do more in outside time?".
When children blow bubbles, they are not only experiencing joy and wonder, but also strengthening their oral motor control and breath regulation, which supports speech development and communication (Communication & Language Early Learning Goal). Tracking and popping the bubbles encourages hand–eye coordination and builds focus and attention skills, while waiting for their turn promotes social interaction and self-regulation.
Our bicycles have been popular ‘trucks’ this week, transporting large legos across the playground. This helps children develop gross motor skills, balance, and coordination (Physical Development). As they push themselves to ride further or faster, they are building resilience, confidence, and independence. This also supports their understanding of safety and risk-taking in a managed environment, which links to the Understanding the World curriculum.
The mud kitchen is a wonderful example of imaginative and sensory play. Children mix, scoop, pour, and create “recipes,” which develops fine motor strength and control as well as early mathematical concepts such as capacity, weight, and comparison (Mathematics). It also sparks language development as children role-play, negotiate, and share ideas with friends, linking to both Expressive Arts & Design and Communication & Language. Pictured are some children making mud soup and giving their teachers their “morning coffee”.
Together, these experiences show that outdoor play is much more than fresh air - it provides meaningful opportunities for children to meet their Early Learning Goals in fun, hands-on ways.
By Ashley Waler
Reception Sealions Class Teacher
