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The Fashionable Housewife

The Fashionable Housewife

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The Great Outdoors Is An Amazing Teacher

Modified on April 5, 2022 at 12:53 AM

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We know that there are so many different ways to learn, and much of that learning can take place from the environment around us. The nature vs. nurturing learning process can be one of the most beneficial ways children learn. 

And you can use the great outdoors to help. When nurturing learning is taking place, it is something like – you telling the child that their food is freshly out of the oven and too hot to eat. The child most often trusts the adult and won’t try to eat the food. 

Younger children have more trouble with this, and nature learning comes from them trying to eat the food anyway. The food is hot and causes the child to wince or get upset. 

Both nurture and nature played an important role here. 

Next time you might not need to remind them the food is hot; they will assume it is hot because they previously had an experience. 

When children are allowed to explore, they learn quickly what is hot, what is cold, what is spicy, and that if you chase a wasp, it might chase you back. 

While some things can be better learned in the home, when the weather allows for it, it has been shown that there are a lot of benefits for children to use outside, like one giant learning tool. 

Most of the time, adults could also do with a little bit of outdoor learning too. 

But what are the benefits of studying outside and buying an outdoor couch to facilitate? Or kicking off your shoes and touching the grass for a while? 

Child Development

Even children who seem unwilling to take part or appear not to want to learn – there is a part of them that is curious and ready to absorb lots of information. When children aren’t confined to single seats in a classroom and are free to move and explore as they want to – they have a fuller sense of freedom and autonomy. 

When children are allowed to explore outside, looking under rocks, snapping twigs, planting seeds, and something falling down – they are learning problem-solving, balance, confidence, and how to trust and improve their own abilities. 

Many of these qualities are also the ones that most job roles expect of their applicants. 

Playing in the great outdoors doesn’t just allow children to explore the outside, but they can also start to build a picture of where they fit and belong in the world. 

Health

Although it has always been the case, there are more studies to show that both adults and children benefit from being outside. It’s not just the physical benefit of expending energy and fresh air. There are mental health benefits to being outside for a while each day. 

It has been shown that when children are free to play outside, and it is part of their learning environment, they have less stress and higher well-being. 

One of the things about traditional education is that young children can feel the effects of stress due to examinations and the requirement to score specific grades. Being compared with classmates can have a detrimental impact on how a child feels about learning. 

When given an outdoor learning environment, stress levels are considerably lower. A study in 2003 but Wells and Evans stated that in children who played and studied outside, in green areas with green plants, there was a reduction in stress levels in what was classed as ‘highly-stressed children. 

Although it is as little as 10 minutes outdoors that can help to lower your blood pressure and improve both mood and focus – the more time spent outside, the better. 

Behavior 

Getting outside and burning off some excess energy is excellent and can help children relax and sleep in the evenings. But it’s more than that! 

The more a child is outside, the more they will encounter new things like birds, bugs, and sometimes other wildlife too. It can teach children that sometimes you need to explore and enjoy a little bit more gently and a little more quietly. 

When out surrounded by trees and green plants, the chances are even the wildest child will become a little bit calmer. In color psychology, green is said to be refreshing and calming. 

We associate green with luck, nature, health, and freshness – and since green has a short wavelength, it is considered relaxing and cool. 

Gree is also one of the most effortless colors for us to see; colors with a higher wavelength mean our eyes need to adjust to them. Green and blue are processed quickly and don’t take any serious adjustments from the body. 

Not only is green relaxing and calming, but it is also said to help concentration. There are some studies that are showing adults who work in offices that have green within the interior have higher job satisfaction. 

All of this can culminate in children being calmer and happier when they are free to learn or explore the great outdoors. 

Academic performance

 As you can see from the thing about behavior, green is shown to give an improved concentration full stop that improved concentration and can be a huge factor in having a higher academic performance. 

There have been many studies about the effect of outdoor education on children, and during those studies, they found the group of children who were allowed to have an outdoor education routine consistently had higher scores than those children who had stayed in classrooms. 

Well, having high schools might not be the highest on your list; it was shown that the children who attended outdoor school or had Outdoor Learning opportunities had Tesco’s that were 27% higher than those that didn’t.

Nature connection

We, humans, seek the great outdoors; it’s called the natural biophilic tendency. And like most things in life, they can actually be a deficit of this. This is known as a nature deficit disorder, and that simply means that we are not connecting with the nature around us.

As adults, we often find that we go from home to commute and to the office and spend very little time outdoors. This type of behavior often rubs off on our children going from the home to the learning environment and then home again; using too much technology and not getting out enough can have detrimental effects.

Usually, if that happens when traditional education is in place, children who are homeschooled often have a much higher Outdoors to indoors ratio. 

In some countries, it is estimated that children spend less time outdoors than some prison inmates, and that should be argument enough to make sure that you can get out whenever you can.

The more often you allow the great outdoors to be used as an educational tool, the less likely it is that you and your child will get a nature deficit disorder.

Life experience

There are some things that you can do outside and some things that you should do inside. The outdoors presents a huge range of things. 

If you are lucky enough to live by a nature reserve that’s filled with animals, going and seeing larger four-legged beasts can be incredible. It will help your child learn to be quiet when they get near any horses or carers, so there’s no shouting or speaking too loudly, causing the animals to run away.

It also means that they start to learn a little bit more about creepy crawlies and other bugs. Watching butterflies land on flowers nearby is always a magical experience, so the more your child learns to live in harmony with those things around it, the better.

This is a real-world experience and something we should all have; however, if you don’t spend time outdoors, you’ll be missing out on all of these amazing experiences. And these are life experiences that can be enjoyed by everyone, no matter how old.

Fun Outdoors

What could be a more important reason than having fun while learning? When your child is exploring nature and asking a million different questions about why the leaves are a specific shape or why they are soft and furry, or how butterflies arrive in the world, this can be an amazing opportunity for you and your child to connect and learn together.

The truth is that we don’t always do all the answers to these questions, but it can present the opportunity to research them together. 

And the more you get outside and reduce your own blood pressure, the more fun you’re going to have too. Creating this wonderful atmosphere where going outside and exploring no matter the weather can always be fun and something that everyone can learn from.

The great outdoors is one of life’s biggest teachers, from splashing in puddles to watching leaves fall, learning about animals being born, and simply enjoying the wind blowing through the trees. 

Not only that but it is a great place to study from books.

If you need some tips and resources about making the great outdoors work for you, then check out: Outdoor School is Officially In Session!. 

Related posts:

How To Create The Perfect Backyard for Summer EntertainmentHow To Create The Perfect Backyard for Summer Entertainment

Posted By The Fashionable Housewife
on April 5, 2022 at 12:53 AM
Filed Under: Homeschooling, Outdoors
Tagged With: outdoor adventures, outdoor living, outdoor playground, Outdoor School, outdoors

About The Fashionable Housewife

Sarah-Jean Ballard is the Editor in Chief of The Fashionable Housewife blog and Founder of Fashionable Media. Married to a sexy Molecular Biologist, housewife, mom to 5, homeschooler, Certified Personal Nutritionist and entrepreneur who's mission is to help moms just like you look and feel GREAT! Other interests include dancing, yoga, positive intactivism, natural birth and breastfeeding support, babywearing, paleo & gluten-free cooking, and promoting an overall healthy lifestyle to all.

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Sarah-Jean Ballard

Hi! I’m Sarah-Jean. I’m a Christian, the wife of a handsome Molecular Biologist, and the homeschooling mother of 5 beautiful kids!

I enjoy homesteading, reading, writing, cooking, baking, crafting, home decorating, Xtend Barre, and of course, fashion!

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That’s the biggest lesson that grief has taught me. If I just wait around to be happy again, I’ll die sad. 

You don’t get through grief and come out the other side. That’s not how it works. You learn how to grow around it like a tree grows around a rock that’s in the way. You don’t wait for the rock to move. Cause it’s not gonna. 

Choose happy. And then make it happen. 

#choosehappy #joyinthejourney #griefjourney #healingfromtrauma
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The last 20 years with you have been my favorite years on this earth. ❤️ 

If I did anything right in my life, it was when I decided to give my heart to you.  You are my best friend, my soul mate, my better half, my rock, my everything. 

I love you.

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He was over the moon when we gave him the @lovevery floor mop that actually works! He uses it daily now. The mopping pad is machine washable and you can refill the fluid container on it. I usually just do water and a drop of essential oils because he loves it when everything smells clean! 😜 

Definitely recommend! If you want to grab this mop for your little helper, it’s in the Storyteller Play Kit from Lovevery for 3 year olds. 

LlNK is in my bio to get FREE shipping! 💃🏼

#lovevery #loveverytoddler #loveverypartner #montessoriathome #montessoriplayroom #montessoritoddler
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Stop trying to sit at a table you are no longer welcome at. Just be yourself, focus on God, love your family and friends, and the right people will gravitate to you. ✌🏻 

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These are the boots you’ll want to wear again and again. And again. 

Use my coupon code BALLARD20 to get 20% off your order! Find them on www.enjoiya.com

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You do not find a happy life. You make it. 

That’s the biggest lesson that grief has taught me. If I just wait around to be happy again, I’ll die sad. 

You don’t get through grief and come out the other side. That’s not how it works. You learn how to grow around it like a tree grows around a rock that’s in the way. You don’t wait for the rock to move. Cause it’s not gonna. 

Choose happy. And then make it happen. 

#choosehappy #joyinthejourney #griefjourney #healingfromtrauma
8 billion smiles in the world, but his is my favor 8 billion smiles in the world, but his is my favorite. 

Happy Valentine’s Day, @daeinexplains 🥰

The last 20 years with you have been my favorite years on this earth. ❤️ 

If I did anything right in my life, it was when I decided to give my heart to you.  You are my best friend, my soul mate, my better half, my rock, my everything. 

I love you.

#couplegoals #marriedlife #motherhoodthroughinstagram #weddingday #marriagegoals #yourestilltheone
Kids love helping if you just let them!💁🏼‍ Kids love helping if you just let them!💁🏼‍♀️

This little guy always asks to help when he sees me cleaning the house, washing the floors, doing laundry, or emptying the dishwasher. That’s what I love about Montessori parenting - it allows kids to do  big jobs and in turn makes them eager to help! 

He was over the moon when we gave him the @lovevery floor mop that actually works! He uses it daily now. The mopping pad is machine washable and you can refill the fluid container on it. I usually just do water and a drop of essential oils because he loves it when everything smells clean! 😜 

Definitely recommend! If you want to grab this mop for your little helper, it’s in the Storyteller Play Kit from Lovevery for 3 year olds. 

LlNK is in my bio to get FREE shipping! 💃🏼

#lovevery #loveverytoddler #loveverypartner #montessoriathome #montessoriplayroom #montessoritoddler
Stop trying to fit your square self in a round hol Stop trying to fit your square self in a round hole. 

Sometimes we outgrown relationships. Sometimes we realize someone else isn’t a good influence on our lives. Sometimes we realize we aren’t a good influence for someone else. Sometimes we need to let things go that aren’t good for us in order to grow. And that’s ok. 

Stop trying to sit at a table you are no longer welcome at. Just be yourself, focus on God, love your family and friends, and the right people will gravitate to you. ✌🏻 

#raisingsaints #momlife #motherhoodunplugged #selflovejourney #growingpains #selfcaresunday
When your toaster breaks from a power surge you ta When your toaster breaks from a power surge you take that as a sign that it’s time to upgrade! 🤪

It wasn’t hard to pick a new 4 slice toaster. As soon as I saw this one from @haden_usa I added it to my cart. I bought it from @lordandtaylor because it had the fastest shipping and I didn’t want to wait! 

No fancy electronics, screens, or extra features we don’t need. Just simple, straight forward functions and perfect results everytime. Plus it matches all my @cafeappliances too! 😂👍🏻

What do you think of this 4 slice toaster?! 

#toasters #kitchenappliances #kitchendesign #kitchendecor #whitekitchen #farmhousekitchen #farmhousestyle #whiteappliances
I’m obsessed with these leather booties from @en I’m obsessed with these leather booties from @enjoiya! 💃🏼 

The “Steffi” in green are the perfect boots for ushering in spring weather with their delicious vintage leather and worn-in look right out of the box. I love the chunky lug soles and inside zippers to get them on and off easily. 

These are the boots you’ll want to wear again and again. And again. 

Use my coupon code BALLARD20 to get 20% off your order! Find them on www.enjoiya.com

#leatherbooties #enjoiya #italianshoes #realmomstyle #momstyle #momstyletips
All the poop shoveling doesn’t seem so bad with All the poop shoveling doesn’t seem so bad with the prices of eggs right now! 🤪 🐔 🥚 

Guess it’s ok to be a crazy chicken lady and have a homestead now! 🤣

#momlife #crazychickenlady #homesteadlife
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