In a first for Australia, kids and teachers nationwide signed up to take classes outside in a bid to increase the amount of time kids spend playing outdoors. 

Research has shown that an overwhelming number of Australian children (85 per cent) spend less than two hours of play outside - more than a third (36 per cent) less than previous generations.

But on Australia’s first nationwide Outdoor Classroom Day, a day powered by OMO and Nature Play, kids enjoyed the benefits of outdoor playtime as learning was prioritised through specially designed lessons that took place in our great outdoors. Lessons included a range of creative and fun activities that harnessed important skills, which can only be learned outside the classroom, such as independence, adaptability, resilience, creativity and problem solving.

It has been proven that outdoor learning equips children with the fundamental ‘success skills’ to overcome and adapt to challenges. Real, unstructured outdoor play not only teaches critical life skills such as resilience, teamwork and creativity, but is central to children’s enjoyment of a happy and healthy childhood.

OMO has partnered with NGO Nature Play to bring Australia’s first national Outdoor Classroom Day, as part of its “Dirt is Good” campaign, which has put the spotlight on the importance of outdoor play in children’s development. And Australia is not alone in its quest to reconnect children with the outdoors. Over 1.6 million children in 12,000 schools across the world have taken part in the campaign to date, as part of a global movement pioneered to support kids engaging in more real play.

Children across the nation will be partaking in an array of colourful and interactive outdoor activities ranging from kite decorating, seed bomb constructions, and cubby house building.

In Centennial Park Sydney today, over 500 kids aged 6-12 across an array of different schools in the city will get stuck into activities such as ‘mud mapping’, where kids will make a mud map of an area using symbol stones. Another activity ‘super species’ will teach children how to observe wildlife and even tally behaviours of the grey headed fox colony! 

There is huge advocacy and support from Australian parents for the Outdoor Classroom Day campaign, with the vast majority of them (98 per cent) believing that outdoor real play is important for their children’s development. 

Outdoor learning has been found to improve students’ mental and physical health, problem solving skills, emotional intelligence and performance in class tests amongst other vital skills. 

Research reveals that parents think the biggest risk that kids face today as a result of having less outdoor play time compared to past generations is a lack of social resilience (35 per cent) poor fine and gross motor skills (32 per cent) and lack of perseverance (12 per cent). 

To combat these risks, Griffin Longley, CEO, Nature Play says teachers and parents, and anyone who values the importance of outdoor play for kids can still get involved.

“Classes can be taken all year round, so encourage your child’s school to learn more about outdoor play everyone can do something to make sure children across Australia experience the significant benefits of playing and learning outdoors now and for their future,” Mr Longley said.

“Even if schools haven’t enrolled in the day itself they can still find a wealth of resources at https://outdoorclassroomday.com.au that aim to inspire and help teachers plan outdoor classes. The site includes books, lesson ideas and printable materials to spark imagination for today and all year round.”