Celebrate Nature Play Week : Let’s Get Wild!
Nature Play Week is here, and it’s time to get your hands dirty, your feet wet, and your imagination soaring! This isn’t just your ordinary week of “go outside and play”—this is about embracing the natural world in all its muddy, leafy, bug-filled glory.
It’s about letting our little explorers roam free, go on mini adventures, and reconnect with the earth in ways that are as fun as they are educational. So, how can you bring the wild side of nature to your early learning setting? Buckle up! Here are some quirky, fun, and creative ideas to make Nature Play Week the most memorable one yet.
The Great Outdoor Treasure Hunt
Who doesn’t love a good treasure hunt? Turn your outdoor space into an exciting scavenger hunt! Let the children go on a quest to find hidden “treasures” from nature:
- A pinecone (because why not?)
- A leaf with a funky shape (perfect for making art later!)
- Something smooth and shiny (a rock, a leaf, or your imagination!)
- A feather from a mystical woodland creature (okay, maybe just a bird, but still magical!)
Add in some super fun, nature-inspired riddles or clues to turn this into a full-fledged adventure. Watch as little explorers search high and low, fostering their observational skills and learning all about the critters, plants, and secrets of the outdoors.
Our Natureplay Wooden Leaf Garden Discs are perfect for challenging the little ones to see if they can find leaves to match. You can find them here.
Outdoor Sensory Stations: Squish, Squeeze, and Splash!
Let’s get all the senses involved! Nature is the ultimate sensory playground. Imagine setting up nature stations where children can feel, squish, splash, and discover:
- Mud pies & mud kitchens: Let the children “cook” with dirt, twigs, and water—chef hats optional, but mud-covered faces a must! Take their mud-cooking abilities to a whole new level with the Natureplay Mud Pie Recipe Cards! You can find them here.
- Nature art station: Paint rocks, create leaf prints, or roll sticks in the dirt to make awesome textures.
- Sound exploration: Take a sound walk and let the children listen to all the wild noises around them—chirping birds, rustling leaves, the occasional “mysterious” owl hoot (or maybe just a crow, but it’s still fun!).
You’ll be amazed at how engaged they get with the textures, smells, and sounds that are all around them. Plus, they won’t even realize they’re learning!
Build a Fort Like a Nature Ninja
Time to get those creative juices flowing! Encourage the little ones to get their hands on fallen branches, twigs, and leaves and create their very own woodland hideouts. This is a great opportunity for teamwork and imaginative thinking:
- Stick forts: Team up to gather the best sticks and leaves to build the ultimate nature fortress.
- Rock towers: Can you stack rocks without making them tumble down like a giant game of Jenga? Challenge accepted!
- Leaf sculptures: The bigger the leaf, the better the masterpiece. Children can make leaf crowns, leaf necklaces, or even leaf superheroes (it’s a thing!).
Building with nature not only promotes fine motor skills, it also encourages children to work together, think critically, and develop problem-solving skills in the most fun way possible.
Storytime in the Wild: Tales of Treehouses and Tiny Creatures
Let’s take story time outdoors! Gather the children under the biggest tree in the yard (or even make a little fort out of sticks) and read them stories about nature and adventure. Think The Very Hungry Caterpillar, The Gruffalo, or Leaf Man. The great outdoors becomes the perfect backdrop for these tales—suddenly, the forest floor becomes the perfect place to search for bugs, and every tree might just hide a secret creature!
After the story, you can encourage the children to act out the story in nature, whether it’s pretending to be a hungry caterpillar crawling along the ground or acting out their favourite animal characters. The more interactive, the better!
Need some more book inspiration? Explore here.
Planting and Gardening: Dig In and Get Dirty
What better way to celebrate Nature Play Week than by putting some roots in the ground? And no, we’re not talking about reading about gardening—we’re talking about getting your hands deep into the dirt. Here’s how you can make it fun:
- Seed-planting party: Grab some pots, soil, and seeds, and let the children plant flowers, herbs, or even some funky veggies (hello, giant sunflowers!). They’ll love watching their plants grow, and it teaches them patience and responsibility.
- Create a sensory garden: Set up a mini garden with different textures, smells, and colours. Touch the rough bark, smell the fragrant lavender, and see what happens when you water it (spoiler alert: it grows!).
You can explore our gardening range here.
Water Play: Splash Zone Alert!
Water play is an all-time favourite when it comes to outdoor activities. Whether it’s hot outside or just a warm day, water play is the ultimate way to cool down and get messy. Here are a few ideas to make it extra fun:
- Water tables: Set up a water table with cups, bowls, and measuring spoons for the little scientists to explore how water flows. Don’t have a water table? We have you covered, browse here.
- Waterfall fun: Create a mini waterfall or stream using small containers or natural materials like rocks and sticks. Watch as the water splashes over and carries things downstream. Our Natureplay Bamboo Chutes are the perfect way to create a water cascade.
Water play teaches children about the properties of water and is great for motor skills, all while keeping everyone cool and entertained.
Nature Walks: Wander Like a Woodland Creature
Get those legs moving and take the little ones on an exploration adventure! Nature walks aren’t just about walking—they’re about discovering, exploring, and seeing the world with fresh eyes. Grab your magnifying glasses, and let’s get curious:
- Mini wildlife hunt: See if you can spot animals (real or imagined) during your walk. Who can spot the most critters? Maybe there’s a possum, or a fairy hiding in the trees (shh, don’t tell them we said that).
- Nature detective walk: Look for clues in nature—footprints in the dirt, webs in the trees, or mysterious leaf patterns. Each discovery adds to the story of the walk.
A nature walk is a perfect opportunity for children to learn about different ecosystems, flora, and fauna while getting their bodies moving!
Wild Fun and Lifelong Learning
Nature Play Week is all about letting children get messy, creative, and inspired by the great outdoors. By celebrating this week in your own centre, you’re not just providing opportunities for outdoor fun—you’re helping children develop important skills like problem-solving, teamwork, and environmental awareness, all while encouraging them to build a lifelong love of nature.
So, grab your mud boots, put on your explorer hats, and let the wild adventures begin! Nature Play Week is your time to go all-in on play, exploration, and maybe even a little dirt. Let’s make this the best Nature Play Week ever! 🌿🦋🐾
Tags: learning activities, play-based learning, transition to school
