Children’s Education Improves From Cuts Bruises and Climbing Trees
The learning curve is still extraordinary steep at age seven to eleven years, yet we may have restricted children from a great slab of experience that could prove invaluable in school. We may think outdoor play is recreational but exploration encompasses an amazing range of subject disciplines. From the mechanics of a simple swing to avoiding brambles and nettles or picking a football team, maths, physics, biology and social skills all subliminally roll into their environment.
I recently visited my daughter and her family now living in a small town in Australia. At the bottom of their garden lies the Australian bush. The town is abundantly served with outdoor sports and playground equipment for children. But the most enjoyable site for children lay hidden in the undergrowth. Sitting in the garden I could hear the laughter of children active in their secret den hidden from sight. Safety in numbers assured, the den comprised of a small clearing 20 metres from the gardens of a row of houses. You could detect the presence of the kids by the laughter and shaking bush and tree branches as the clambered about.
Parents in the neighbourhood arrived to summon their children home for lunch or tea by standing outside the den and shouting. The children felt secure, perhaps more importantly they were in control able to explore, experiment and enjoy the learning experience without parents. The educational benefits from such games are immense that can influence their whole schooling experience. Perhaps we need children to take another time-out period later in their educational careers.
The gap year, post university degree is a chance for young adults to broaden their experience which could materially assist their next stage of learning. Developing travel plans, travelling and the exploration of overseas cultures reveal the value of personal freedom and is the making of many young adults. But this ultimately occurs after the completion of the degree. Had the experience been obtained before university it could well have changed perception and the direction chosen for degree. How often have we heard graduates say they wished they had chosen a different course? Some time out to think, explore and develop may change perceptions to their advantage and allow them to select a more relevant direction. All proving that the element of play is an essential part of learning that should lasts a lifetime.
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Tags: Education