Why Outdoor Play Matters: What We See Every Day at Blooming Years

There is a moment we see regularly across our nurseries, in Clapham, in Wimbledon, in Croydon and across all our other settings, when a child who has been quiet indoors all morning suddenly comes alive the moment they step outside. They run, they dig, they negotiate with a friend over who gets the watering can. Something shifts. That moment is why outdoor play is built into every single day at Blooming Years, whatever the season and whatever the weather.

More than fresh air

It would be easy to think of outdoor time as a break from learning. We don't see it that way at all. When children are outside, they are doing some of the most complex thinking of their day. They are problem-solving (how do I get up that climbing frame?), managing risk (is this branch strong enough?), negotiating with others, and making sense of the natural world around them.

The EYFS statutory framework recognises outdoor play as an essential part of early years provision, not a nice extra. We take that seriously. At every one of our six settings, children spend time outside every day, and our planning treats the garden as a learning environment in its own right.

What we actually see children gaining

Across our sites in Lambeth, Merton, Hammersmith and Fulham, and Croydon, our staff observe the same things again and again when children have regular, unhurried time outdoors.

Physical development. Climbing, balancing, running, and carrying things builds strength, coordination and body awareness in ways that indoor play simply cannot replicate. We watch toddlers who arrived barely confident on their feet become children who move with genuine assurance.

Emotional regulation. There is something about the open space, the sensory input from wind and ground and grass, that helps children who are overwhelmed find their footing again. We often notice that children who are having a difficult morning settle more easily once they are outside.

Language and communication. Outdoor play is naturally social. Children talk more, negotiate more, and explain themselves more when they are engaged in shared physical play. We hear some of the richest conversations happening at the mud kitchen or during a digging project.

Curiosity and creativity. Loose materials, natural objects, open-ended spaces. These invite children to invent, experiment and test ideas in ways that are genuinely child-led. A stick becomes a wand, a measuring stick, a cooking implement. That imaginative flexibility is something we value enormously.

Resilience. Outdoor play involves getting things wrong, falling over, having to try again. In a safe and supported environment, that is enormously valuable. Children learn that setbacks are part of life, not something to be avoided.

All weather, all year

Families sometimes ask whether children go outside in cold or wet weather. The honest answer is yes, as long as conditions are safe and comfortable. Across London, we don't get many days where it genuinely isn't possible to be outside at all. What we do ask is that children come dressed for it. Waterproofs, wellies and warm layers make a huge difference, and a child who is warm and well-equipped will happily splash in puddles without a second thought.

We recommend keeping a spare set of clothes and a pair of wellies at nursery, particularly through autumn and winter. Our staff are used to sending children home slightly muddy. We consider that a sign of a good day.

What our outdoor spaces look like

Most of our settings have a secure garden, outdoor learning space, and a mud kitchen. These are not afterthoughts. They are planned environments where our team introduces activities with the same care as anything indoors. Children might be exploring natural materials one morning, working on a planting project the next, or simply having time to run and be physical.

We also take small group outings into the local area, including visits to nearby parks and playgrounds, which is something families in Croydon, Merton, and across our South and West London settings particularly enjoy. Getting out into the wider community, even for a short trip, is part of how we help children develop confidence and a sense of the world beyond the nursery gate.

A note on school readiness

Parents sometimes ask us whether focusing on outdoor play comes at the expense of more structured preparation for school. In our experience, the opposite is true. Children who have spent their early years being physically active, learning to manage themselves in a group, solving problems and building resilience are extraordinarily well-prepared for school. The skills they practise outside are the same ones they will draw on in a classroom.

Outdoor play is not the easy option. It takes planning, skilled observation and thoughtful adult involvement. It is also one of the most important things we do.

If you would like to see our outdoor spaces for yourself and meet the team, we would love to show you round. You can book a show-around at your nearest Blooming Years setting, and if you have questions about places or fees and funding, we are always happy to help.