Outdoor education: Benefits of the use of spaces outside the school for the development of the child
Manuela Valentini, Marta Arceci
At the basis of this bibliographic research, there is a reflection on outdoor activities, on their pedagogical foundations: in fact, studies on the international scene demonstrate advantages and validity. The outdoor education considered here concerns the use of outdoor spaces belonging to the school. However, the results of some experiments in a natural environment were considered which, with the appropriate adaptations, can be replicated in the school garden. This space is generally less taken into consideration than the natural one in scientific publications, although it is more used in schools. However, the Italian school environment is still underestimated, and the objective of this reflection is to demonstrate its effectiveness, its value, overcoming fears and prejudices. Useful places to let children who are increasingly forced indoors have other experiences, having the opportunity to experiment with their body and motor skills, exercising the basic motor patterns such as walking, running, in unusual situations, manipulating objects/materials, unusual confronting/colliding with others. A complete experience of relationships, and emotions, in a transformation of teaching into direct, felt learning: an all-round sensory education. Systematic review using the main search engines with a careful and rigorous selection of the articles/protocols, over a wide time range, analyzing the results in summary.
Keywords
Outdoor education, outdoor learning, preschool, kindergarten, primary school.