By Vikki Silverwood, Owner of Børn of the Forest CIC


Growing in Nature: How Babies Learn Outdoors


When we think about learning through play, it’s easy to picture toddlers building towers and making mud pies or children constructing dens.


But what does playful learning look like for a baby?


At Børn of the Forest, we believe learning begins long before children can walk, talk or independently explore. And what better place to start learning than in the great outdoors! For babies and very young children, nature isn’t something they need to be taught about. It’s a place to experience through their senses, building a relationship with the natural world from the very beginning.


There doesn’t need to be an activity


For babies and children under 15 months, outdoor play can look wonderfully simple. A baby lying on a blanket watching leaves move overhead. Tiny fingers exploring the texture of bark. A toddler crawling towards a patch of moss, investigating a stone or listening to birdsong.


There doesn’t need to be a planned activity around these experiences.


The learning is in the experience itself.


The natural world offers a constantly changing environment. A breeze moves the leaves, sunlight shifts across the ground, and birds appear and disappear. For a young child, everything is new, creating endless opportunities to notice, explore and make sense of the world around them.


Connection before independence


For our youngest children, connection is at the heart of outdoor play.


Babies experience the world alongside trusted adults. A parent or practitioner might notice where a child is looking and follow their interest. They may offer a pinecone to touch, pause to listen to a bird, or simply sit quietly together and watch the world. These shared moments build trust and attachment. They tell children, “I see what interests you. Your discoveries matter.” Over time, this secure base helps children develop the confidence to move away, explore and return.


Independence grows from connection.


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For more ideas and inspiration visit ypo.co.uk/littlelearners


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