SOL Forest School
Did You Know?
When children have a say in what and how they explore, they stay more focused and motivated to learn. Research shows that supporting children’s choice and voice—especially outdoors—leads to deeper engagement and longer-lasting learning.
Embrace the "No Plan, Plan"
When getting ready for an outing into nature, you probably have an idea of where you’re heading and what you may encounter. At the beach, you know you’ll see sand and water, while at the playground you likely have access to swings, slides, and maybe some mulch or dirt. These materials present endless opportunities for play.
Rather than planning for any one activity, consider what tools and materials you can bring along to support a range of activities. For example, for a beach outing you might take a bucket and small shovel which could be used for digging holes, collecting rocks, building a sand castle, making sand art, or something else. Equipped with these few tools, children can take the lead, allowing adults to go with the flow and let the day (and play) unfold.
Loose Parts
Loose parts are open-ended, interactive, natural and manufactured materials that can be manipulated with limitless possibilities. They include things like sticks, leaves, pinecones, buckets, shovels, ropes, and much more.
Practice Patience
A child may want to spend 10 minutes watching ants crawl in a line across a stick or focus for an hour on building sandcastles and knocking them down. It may take patience, and you may be ready to move on before they are, but allowing children space and time to explore their interests allows them to make deep connections with nature. They may talk about those ants for weeks to come!
Jenny Hanlon
SOL Forest School
Listen & Learn Together
In addition to flexibility and patience, adults can support children’s play by observing—what are they doing, saying, or asking about? These are starting points for extending and deepening their exploration. We can foster curiosity by asking questions like, “What do you notice?” or “What does it remind you of?” or “Why do you think it’s moving like that?”
Remember it’s okay, in fact, important, to show your own curiosity and wonder too! By wondering and learning together, we’re not only building relationships with nature, we’re modeling that learning is a lifelong process and strengthening our relationships with each other.
Inspiration for the Next Adventure
Children’s curiosities give us clues about what they might be drawn to outdoors. Is your child obsessed with dinosaurs? Plan an adventure to look for fossils or animal tracks. Do they love taking things apart and putting them back together? Encourage them to use sticks and stones to create something outdoors. Indoor interests can spark outdoor adventures.
They may develop new interests as you spend more time outdoors, which can inform which loose parts you have around. If a child seems particularly interested in insects, you might take a magnifying glass, insect field guide, or insect figurines on your next adventure.
A Safe Place Child Enrichment Center
Tips for Caregivers:
- Make space for repetition. If they want to visit the same spot again and again, celebrate it! Returning to familiar places helps children notice small changes in nature over time.
- Let everyday objects become loose parts. Bring a few small containers, a spoon, or an old ice cube tray outside. Children might collect seeds, sand, or pebbles and create their own play.
- Say “yes” to manageable risks. If your child wants to climb, balance, or test their limits in a safe way, support it. Ask, “Do you feel steady?” or “Where will you put your foot next?” This builds both confidence and problem-solving skills.
Little Schoolhouse in the Woods
Tips for Educators:
- Observe before you direct. Spend the first few minutes outside just watching what children notice or gravitate toward. Their natural interests can guide your next activity or discussion.
- Document children’s discoveries. Take photos or jot quick notes about what children notice. For example, “lots of interest in worms today.” Review these notes later to inspire future activities or projects that build on their curiosity.
- Link interests to broader themes. If a group becomes fascinated by snails, can you connect it to literacy, math? Following interests doesn’t mean abandoning other areas of learning—it’s about using curiosity as the doorway in.
Loose Parts Play Toolkit
This free download was supported by Inspiring Scotland and created by and for people who work and play with children. Inside, you’ll find information about the research-backed benefits of loose parts play, practical advice on getting started, facilitation tips, and more.