How to Make an Outdoor Environment Adaptable to Toddlers

Outside play supports the physical and emotional health of toddlers.

Toddlers should have the opportunity to experience outdoor activities for at least an hour every day. Providing children with time outside is perfect for learning about nature, using senses to explore their environment and encouraging physical activity. Being outdoors can encourage toddlers to develop creativity through play, improve social skills, take part in physical fitness and use their imaginations. Outside play contributes to the overall physical health and well-being of toddlers.

Things You'll Need

• Outdoor play area
• Age-appropriate play equipment and toys

Instructions

1. Furnish an outdoor play area that is easily accessible for children and is protected from major outdoor elements, such as sun and wind.

2. Provide a couple of different surfaces, in addition to grass, for toddlers to play on. A sandbox can offer a lot of fun for children to use their imagination and develop their sensory system by digging, filling up buckets and making sand creations. A small concrete area or sidewalk is great for riding bikes or drawing chalk pictures.

3. Maintain the safety of the play area. The area should be fully fenced in, and sharp objects should be contained elsewhere. Streets, parking lots and stairs should not be easily accessible for toddlers. Play equipment should not have the potential to trap the child's head, fingers or limbs. Make sure the play equipment is an appropriate height for toddlers, and there is adequate cushioning underneath to avoid serious injury from a fall.

4. Provide a variety of play equipment, such as slides, swings and play houses. However, make sure that the play area is not cluttered with too many play options. A water activity table can give a lot of enjoyment to young children, as they experiment with floating toys.

5. Offer an assortment of toys that support creativity and are appropriate for toddlers. Examples of age-appropriate toys include: sidewalk chalk, large dump trucks, bikes with or without pedals, sand toys, balls, push/pull toys and tunnels. Use common household items, such as kitchen utensils and plastic containers, to provide quick and easy amusement for toddlers.

6. Rotate and switch out the play materials frequently, so that the children do not get bored or complacent with the same toys. This is also a good time to examine toys for damage that could cause harm to the kids.

References

• Early Learning Coalition of the Big Bend Area: Infant/Toddler Environment Checklist
• Dorset County Council: Outdoor Environment
• Bromley Childminding Association: The Outdoor Environment
• The Importance of Taking Infants and Toddlers Outdoors; Brenda Cobb