Will my child be ready for kindergarten when they just play outside all day?
yes! It’s hard to fathom but if TEACHERS are skilled they will be ……
Here’s why:
In outdoor schools the teacher must be committed to the notion that children learn through play. The type of learning that occurs in a borderless environment, without materials falls heavily on teacher methodology. The outdoor teacher must be skilled at extending learning through the use of language-it looks like play but the approach is professional and intentional. A skilled teacher or parent can help equip children with a habit of mind that doesn’t make them dependent on the teacher resulting in a resilient attitude towards challenge in life and in a more traditional academic setting. Embracing challenging situations leads to embracing challenging puzzles in formal education.
Early experiences in outdoor school does prepare the mind for more intellectual traditional learning that takes place later as the brain develops and is more ready for direct instruction.
Check out the research project I did on the cognitive benefits of risk in play using adobe sparks for more detailed information.