Muddy Boots
Outdoor
Learning
At Muddy Boots we strongly believe in the ethos of outdoor learning.
Outdoor learning offers the children the chance to connect with the natural world, have first hand experiences of life and growth, have endless opportunities for creativity and imagination, outdoor learning improves fitness and physical development, these are just some of the many benefits of outdoor learning that really have a positive impact on children’s lives.
Our little Muddy Booters have access to daily outdoor learning walks, out and around the community, accessing nature reserves, woodland areas, the beach, the park, local library, and local fields. If your little one loves being outside, Muddy Boots is the nursery for them!
Why is the outdoors so important to us at Muddy boots?
At Muddy Boots we recognise the need of our natural world, we want to avoid children and families becoming disconnected from nature. We want children growing up with an idea about climate change and having the passion and knowledge to be involved in helping to protect their natural world. We want children growing up from a young age being fully connected to nature so they hold onto the importance of protecting their world.
Research suggests that our sympathetic nervous, which is our flight or fight response is in overdrive due to all the stresses of everyday life we face nowadays, this causes inflammation in the body which can lead on to stress related diseases such as, depression and anxiety. Being in nature activates our parasympathetic nervous system which reduces that inflammation, which helps reduces the risk of these diseases
The outdoors is a place to learn about, and experience the weather - wind, rain, snow or sun - and to explore the natural world of minibeasts and plants. Children also develop personal and social skills in the open air, by staff encouraging independence children feel they can take risks, meaning they negotiate, cooperate, assess possibilities and dangers and take control of their own learning.
Having a good, diverse range of gut bacterial is linked to a stronger wellbeing and overall happiness. However evidence shows that people that live in more built up urban areas have a less diverse gut microbiome, compared to those that have daily contact with the natural world. Studies have even found that there are microorganisms living in the bacteria that stimulates serotonin production and makes us feel happier!
SUSTAINABILITY
Muddy Boots Eco Heros
We spend time teaching where our food comes from and sustainability. We are also as a company looking into ways we can be more environmentally friendly, we have gone green with our energy company and currently 43% of our energy comes from renewable sources. We are also looking into ways we can reduce our carbon footprint and reduce our plastic and our waste.
We spend time outside every single day appreciating and helping the children learn about the benefits of the outdoors and also about climate change.
The science
Research into the outdoors that may interest you!
Have a little peak below at just some of the research that helped under our outdoor learning ethos.
Evidence suggests that Britons are becoming more and more distant from nature in recent years. In the UK at the moment 75% of 5 to 12 year olds are spending less time outside than prison inmates who are only required to spend one hour in the open air per day! In 2007 the words acorn, magpie and buttercup were taken out of the Oxford Children's Dictionary and words like broadband and cut and paste were added!
In the UK in last 80 years we have lost half of our ancient woodlands and 1 in 10 species in this country are facing extinction. Evidence shows that air pollution has an impact on our physical and mental health, for example the rates of conditions such as psychosis are higher in areas of polluted air. We are in a climate emergency partly because of our disconnection to nature. What motivation do we have to save our planet if we are becoming more and more disconnected from nature ourselves.
Studies have shown that when being out in a green, natural space and then entering a busy, more hectic place, our brains have a better ability to cope with that more hectic place if we have come from a green space, such as a park or woodland. Again further studies show that being in a green space allows our brains to recover from stress and anxiety a lot quicker than in a built environment.
Having a good, diverse range of gut bacterial is linked to a stronger wellbeing and overall happiness. However evidence shows that people that live in more built up urban areas have a less diverse gut microbiome, compared to those that have daily contact with the natural world. We usually think about improving our gut health by eating more plant based foods but this evidence suggests that just being out in the countryside or away from polluted areas for a period of time everyday can improve your gut microbiome, which in term will strengthen your wellbeing.
Studies have even found that there are microorganisms living in the bacteria in the soil that can even make us happy. Did you know that there's a natural antidepressant in soil? Mycobacterium vaccae is found in soil, it has been found to mirror the effect on neurons that drugs like Prozac provide. The bacterium stimulates serotonin production, which makes you relaxed and happier!
childhood spent in nature
“Evie loves the walks, she will always come home and tell me about the adventures they have been on that day” Lauren.