Enhancing Outdoor Spaces

Nancy Rosenow (one of the organizers of the Working Forum on Design and Nature: Designing Inspiring and Effective Spaces for Children, taking place in New Zealand in March) noted in her article in the July/August 2011 issue of Exchange, "Planning Intentionally for Children's Outdoor Environments," that "we’ve learned what we can do to make the world a better place for children through their outdoor environments."  Here is what she suggests we can do:

• We can work to ensure that every outdoor environment used by children will become a nature-filled, joyful space.
• We can help children truly notice and appreciate the wonders of the natural world.
• We can create and use outdoor spaces in ways that are right for each unique setting.
• We can encourage children to experience managed risk and challenge.
• We can spread the word that children learn in valuable ways in nature-filled outdoor spaces just as much as they do indoors.

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