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Most of us will have wonderful memories of childhood forays into nature. Whether it was in the local park or a country field, I can recall many hours of unstructured and imaginative play, led by the elements and the natural environment. Today, I watch my four year-old and his friends in the park, scampering around like puppies, escaping from the playground and , climbing, hiding and generally enjoying themselves whatever the weather. Ìý

This ‘letting off steam’ is facilitated by being in an open space, and outside time is an essential part of school life. Whether simply running free at break-time, or more formally introduced through schemes such as , children will learn great life skills through .Ìý

I taught in an inner city school in Birmingham, where lack of grounds meant that the only outside areas were concrete and completely devoid of vegetation. We started a small container garden with the Key Stage 1 children, which gradually crept around the playground. ÌýIt provided a way for them to not only learn about life cycles and how to maintain plants, but gave those with little or no contact with the natural world a chance to get their hands dirty and simply enjoy nature.

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Much of the national curriculum can be taught outside, with charities such as offering teachers (and parents) lots of ideas for how to use the outdoors in children’s learning. There are events through the year, such as this week's , organised by the Tree Council. Children will be given a chance to get involved in tree planting and to learn about the natural environment, with various events happening all over the UK.Ìý

So many children spend the majority of their time indoors, whether at school or at home, often looking at screens of one kind or another. This bombardment of the senses by various technological gizmos leaves little time for contemplation, something that being outside in nature offers in spades. American author, has coined the phrase ‘nature deficit disorder’ and has written widely, urging parents and educators to allow children time to explore the world on their own terms.

Too often, as parents, we are afraid to give children freedom to roam - it’s more convenient to keep them indoors so we can keep an eye on them. However, if schools as well as parents teach children how to be safe in nature, then maybe we can stop being so worried and allow our children the wonderful experiences we took for granted as kids, messing about outside.

Hannah Hunter is a member of the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Parent Panel.

Check out the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ ThrillSeeker site to find outdoor activites near you.Ìý

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