Once upon a time about a year ago some people called The Geography Collective
created this amazingly new millenia old idea called Love Play Outside
to try and reinvigorate the stuff that kids either choose not to do, do not have the opportunities to do, or do not have the parents or carers able or willing to allow them to do
that "stuff" is opening the door, closing it behind them, finding a park, field, wood, village green, school field, open space ..... anything really that hasn't got a roof and walls, and is called outdoors. then messing about, playing Pooh sticks, chasing balls, throwing sticks, laughing, splashing, doing tree rubbing or a treasure hunt or shouting in to the wind or trying to swallow the most rain drops. all this stuff is sometimes called "play"
together it is called Playing Outside
or as The Geography Collective would say ..
Play is deeply linked to geography. From being immersed in deep play and imagining alternative worlds to evading capture in foreign territories while playing hide and seek, play is one of the most enjoyable engagements we ever have with our world(s). It’s also an immensely powerful way to learn about people, social interactions, communication, risk-taking, management, fear, love, worms, trees, strangeness, experimenting, science, being creative and so much more. Despite all of the known advantages of outdoor play many children do not have the opportunity experience it as much as they should do.. and would want to
As of today Love Outdoor Play is now here, is ran by Play England and the Free Time Consortium, has millions of pounds worth of funding and is just simply trying to get as many grown ups to help as many kids as possible to err ... just play outside.
There is some "take action" stuff here, like posting a "like", getting a sticker or adding your support to the group
The Geography Collective haven't put their feet up, they've created Mission Explore a great play resource for kids.
However, by the time you have been through all of those links to find out how to play outside you may well have wasted all the available day light left to play outside.
Make an effort this weekend to take a human being aged between 1 day and 110 years outside. Chase shadows, watch clouds, throw frisbees, see tiny eyes focus on flowers, rivers and sheep, or listen to what Grandparents did outside when they were kids.
Just do something outside.
I understand that some social circumstances need support and facilities to play outside, and all of the websites above are grand initiatives, but just go and play.
Do anything, but do it outside.
As previously blogged, The Woodland Trust has easily the greatest free activities resource on the net in the UK for outdoor learning and play.
The less we do something as a society(play outside), the less common it becomes (fades from memory), the more caution surrounds doing it again (activity memory loss), the more rules and regulations evolve to allow us to do it again (restrictions).
Who would have thought that there are now classes in how to light a fire outside, or go camping for the night.
PS The Path Less Travelled is now a member of the Institute of Outdoor Learning.
I think that means i am now qualified to play outside.
Go. Do. Be.
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