In today’s screen-heavy world, encouraging outdoor play is more important than ever. Time spent outdoors not only gives children the chance to be physically active but also fosters creativity, problem-solving, and an appreciation for nature. Whether you have access to a big backyard or a small park, there are endless ways to keep your child engaged outdoors. At Palms Day School we enjoy utilizing our outdoor classrooms as an extension of our learning environments. This allows children to add another layer or dimension to their learning throughout the school campus.
One way to ensure quality outdoor play is to incorporate the 7 Cs from The Outdoor Playbook site. These principles guide parents and educators in creating enriching outdoor environments for children that nurture their curiosity, confidence, and connection to nature. In this blog post, we will share some outdoor activities for children and how they align with these 7 Cs, plus valuable resources and Pinterest ideas to help you along the way.
What Are the 7 Cs?
The 7 Cs are seven key elements that support children’s outdoor play, which is based on the Outside Criteria study. This study was led by Susan Herrington with Chandra Lesmesiter, Jamie Nicholls, Kate Stefiuk, and Alison Maddaugh. These elements help foster safe, engaging, and developmentally rich play environments:
1. Character
2. Context
3. Connectivity
4. Change
5. Chance
6. Clarity
7. Challenge
To learn more in depth about the 7 Cs, be sure to check out the link above and this great information guide found here.
Some fun things that you can do at home or a park include the following:
Nature Scavenger Hunts
Supports: Character, Challenge, Clarity
Nature scavenger hunts offer a sense of adventure and encourage children to explore the environment while being mindful of the different textures, colors, and shapes around them. This activity helps define the Character of the play space, adding uniqueness and fun while presenting a Challenge as children search for specific items. The hunt fosters Clarity by helping them identify the natural elements.
Resources:
DIY Outdoor Crafts
Supports: Context, Change, Connectivity
Outdoor crafts, like making nature collages or painting rocks, allow children to creatively engage with their environment. These activities deepen Connectivity between children and nature by encouraging them to collect and utilize natural materials. They also promote Context as children learn about how their creations relate to the environment around them. Crafting outdoors embraces Change, with new seasonal materials always at hand.
Resources:
Obstacle Course Adventures
Supports: Challenge, Character, Change
Building an obstacle course in the backyard or park adds Character to your space by making it dynamic and interactive. It offers Challenge, as children test their motor skills by jumping, crawling, or balancing. As children adapt and change the course or as the seasons shift, this activity reflects Change in the environment and their abilities.
Resources:
Gardening with Children
Supports: Connectivity, Challenge, Chance
Gardening is a fantastic outdoor activity that strengthens Connectivity to nature. Children develop a deeper relationship with plants and the soil, understanding where food and flowers come from. It also offers Challenge as they learn how to care for plants and face the unpredictability of gardening, introducing Chance into their play when things grow (or don’t grow) in unexpected ways.
Resources:
Outdoor Storytime and Imaginative Play
Supports: Context, Connectivity, Character
Outdoor storytime or imaginative play sessions are great for providing children with Context—whether the "setting" is a pirate ship or an enchanted forest. This type of play creates a deeper Connectivity with nature by turning it into a world of possibilities. The Character of the environment changes as children build new narratives based on their surroundings.
Resources:
Bird Watching and Bug Hunting
Supports: Clarity, Challenge, Chance
Birdwatching and bug hunting cultivate Clarity, as children practice focusing on identifying different species and understanding their roles in the ecosystem. The Challenge lies in spotting elusive creatures, while the element of Chance adds excitement since you never know what you might discover.
Resources:
Water Play Activities
Supports: Change, Challenge, Chance
Water play is a wonderful way to engage with the Change of seasons (especially in summer), while adding a fun Challenge for children to build dams, make rivers, or simply stay dry during splash play. Chance plays a big role in water activities, as children experiment with different ways water moves and reacts.
Resources:
Outdoor activities allow children to engage in creative, challenging, and meaningful play while developing important life skills. The 7 Cs—Character, Context, Connectivity, Clarity, Challenge, Change, and Chance—are key elements to consider when planning outdoor play. Whether you're setting up a scavenger hunt, a craft station, or a backyard obstacle course, these principles can help you provide a rich and fulfilling outdoor experience for your children. We love to spend as much time as we can outside at Palms Day School. There are endless opportunities to learn and discover with structured activities as well as play based activities and we utilize both and then some.
For more ideas and inspiration, check out the Pinterest links and resources provided above, and start creating magical outdoor moments with your children today!
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