If you have visited California for the first time, brace yourself for the prevailing hot weather. While in California, you will realize that most schools are outdoors. The first question to close your mind will be, “Why are schools outdoors in California?” Well, aren’t you experiencing excessive heat while driving down the Californian highways? Figure yourself for a moment confined to an indoor classroom under that severe heat. Will you be focused?
What Are The Reasons Why Californian Schools Are Based Outdoors?
The major reason the schools in California are outdoors is because of the warm weather. You should also note that outdoor classrooms are less congested than indoor ones. Additionally, it should not be lost that the outdoor structures are much easier to maintain than the present indoor ones.
Schools have many other reasons that may compel them to opt for outdoor classes. Outdoor learning comes with its advantages and disadvantages.
Most people have seen a glimpse of outdoor learning by going for school picnics and outdoor trips. You might have gone as a class outside to learn more about agriculture. Outdoor learning is more memorable than being indoors and learning in enclosed classrooms. Apart from memory, there are so many benefits outlined on this page.
What Are The Benefits Of Outdoor Schools In California?
Some schools have chosen outdoor learning in California. The route they have chosen brings so many advantages to the students. Below are major advantages that are associated with outdoor learning:
1. More Focused And Attentive Students
Students who can learn in an outside setting are more attentive. They also have a better remembrance of the knowledge presented. If you introduce an outdoor learning setup in your school, you should know it is very advantageous.
The focus they get outdoors gives them an amazing grasp of the knowledge you instill in them. So what are your waiting for? Ensure that your school has an outdoor learning system. This way, it is beneficial to the students.
2. Learners Become Active
Ever heard of a saying, an active child is a healthy child? Children are naturally inspired to be more physically active in dynamic outside situations.
Once a child learns in an outside environment, they become more active in many ways. Children have the energy to run around and exhaust themselves as they have all the fun of their lives. This way, the health status of your learners improves tremendously.
3. Excellent Vision
Children are growing humans, and their body needs so much sunlight. Natural exposure to the sun is also beneficial to vision, and they require it for optimal eye development. And it also reduces the likelihood of nearsightedness.
The natural outdoor sunlight provides the strength needed. Even sunlight is vital for children as it provides vitamin D, a hormone vital for the growth of their bones.
4. Hands Experience
Outdoor learning allows children to interact with nature in a hands-on manner. The majority of children learn better when they use their senses. It is something that is done best in an outside setting. They can see, smell, hear and touch diverse flora and fauna in nature rather than on a computer or television screen.
Students can even create a garden and cultivate their fruits and veggies, which they may want to sample. These hands-on activities instill a love of nature in children and pique their interest in our natural resources.
With the current digital trends, most kids rarely bond with nature. When a school incorporates outdoor learning, they bring the children’s interest in bonding with nature. Being on computers and phones every day causes straining of the eyes and headaches to the children. Also, these digital gadgets may stray the children away from the learning task at hand.
5. Group Projects
Children have the motivation to work together in groups in outdoor settings. This outdoor learning can tremendously help them enhance their social skills. Cohesiveness and teamwork build good relationships among the children.
The children are in group projects in an outdoor setup; unlike when a phone, tablet, or laptop creates individuality, outdoor learning enhances students’ discussions and listening skills.
They primarily learn how to manage disagreements better—not forgetting that the children learn to communicate and collaborate with their colleagues. At the end of their outdoor learning, the school should know that they raise vocal adults who will be important people in society.
6. Exposure To Nature
Exposure to nature regularly reduces stress and anxiety. Your child will be advantaged as nature will also improve mood and help with emotion. Children grow and sometimes have tantrums, but outdoor learning enables them to share their emotions. They can explore their feelings through being outdoors with nature.
When we expose children to excessive digital screens through televisions, laptops, and cell phones, this might lead to nature deficit disorder. However, this can cause weight and psychological and intellectual problems. Outdoor learning allows children to refocus their attention on the natural world.
7. Empathy
With outdoor learning, kids develop empathy towards each other. Empathy is a beneficial trait, yet it isn’t always a top priority in people’s lives but inculcating that in young children is important.
Empathy is important as it brings about nurture, care, and understanding which are all necessary components of a healthy partnership. Without empathy and understanding, a friendship will soon fall apart.
When someone is primarily concerned with themselves, the other people in their relationships suffer. Which parent wouldn’t want perfect behavior to help their children into adulthood?
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are The Advantages Of Having Outdoor Classrooms In Schools?
Problem-solving and risk negotiation are key abilities for a child’s growth, and the outdoors encourages them. However, children’s access to nature is dwindling. Children are spending less time outside because of concerns about safety, traffic, crime, and parental concerns. But if the outdoor learning is within the school compound, you shouldn’t worry about that as you are safe.
Why Are There Outdoor Hallways In California Schools?
Most people in California have expressed similar sentiments. So for Californians, it’s all about the weather. Indoor hallways are used in chilly places in the United States to conserve heat and offer acceptable temperatures for persons traveling from one room to the next.
Outdoor paved walkways are common in warm locations, and they are often covered to keep out the sun and rain. This way, you can conduct your learning enjoy the outdoors as the negative outdoor challenges are kept away.
