Sarah Watkins – författare

This essential resource is designed to help busy early years practitioners to support the mental health of young children through outdoor play.Promoting social and emotional wellbeing in childhood has never been more important, and outdoor play is a crucial tool to build resilience, develop healthy relationships, and boost self-esteem. Using relatable case studies that demonstrate achievable change, the book is full of practical advice and strategies for exploring nature in both natural and man-made landscapes, and includes guidance on how to co-create inviting play spheres with children. Each chapter provides: Adaptable and cost-effective activities designed to help children feel more confident and connected to the world around them. Case studies and reflective opportunities to prompt practitioners to consider and develop their own practice. An accessible and engaging format with links to theorists, risk assessment, and individual schemas.Outdoor play allows young children to explore who they are and what they can do. It supports them as they learn to think critically, take risks, and form a true sense of belonging with their peers and with the wider community. This is an indispensable resource for practising and trainee early years practitioners, Reception teachers, and childminders as they facilitate outdoor play in their early years setting.

This essential resource is designed to help busy early years practitioners to support the mental health of young children through outdoor play.Promoting social and emotional wellbeing in childhood has never been more important, and outdoor play is a crucial tool to build resilience, develop healthy relationships, and boost self-esteem. Using relatable case studies that demonstrate achievable change, the book is full of practical advice and strategies for exploring nature in both natural and man-made landscapes, and includes guidance on how to co-create inviting play spheres with children. Each chapter provides: Adaptable and cost-effective activities designed to help children feel more confident and connected to the world around them. Case studies and reflective opportunities to prompt practitioners to consider and develop their own practice. An accessible and engaging format with links to theorists, risk assessment, and individual schemas.Outdoor play allows young children to explore who they are and what they can do. It supports them as they learn to think critically, take risks, and form a true sense of belonging with their peers and with the wider community. This is an indispensable resource for practising and trainee early years practitioners, Reception teachers, and childminders as they facilitate outdoor play in their early years setting.

This book is packed with bright ideas and practical projects for children aged 4-11 to raise environmental awareness and prompt discussion about climate change. Encouraging children to take charge right from the start, the activities range from creating recycled kites, windsocks, and garden decorations, to upcycling old t-shirts, building minibeast hotels and designing campaigns to eliminate single-use plastics from school. Some can be completed outdoors and some indoors, with each page including photos of the activity in action, plus details of the resources required and steps needed. As well as the main activity, extension ideas are provided, so there is plenty to fill each session. The tried-and-tested activities are themed in three main areas: • Eco-friendly practice• Recycling and upcycling• Connecting with the natural worldWhether you run an eco-club, a craft club or you simply want to facilitate activities on a sustainability theme with children in your class, this fantastic book will raise awareness of environmental issues in an engaging way – and many of the activities will save your school or setting money too.

This book is packed with bright ideas and practical projects for children aged 4-11 to raise environmental awareness and prompt discussion about climate change. Encouraging children to take charge right from the start, the activities range from creating recycled kites, windsocks, and garden decorations, to upcycling old t-shirts, building minibeast hotels and designing campaigns to eliminate single-use plastics from school. Some can be completed outdoors and some indoors, with each page including photos of the activity in action, plus details of the resources required and steps needed. As well as the main activity, extension ideas are provided, so there is plenty to fill each session. The tried-and-tested activities are themed in three main areas: • Eco-friendly practice• Recycling and upcycling• Connecting with the natural worldWhether you run an eco-club, a craft club or you simply want to facilitate activities on a sustainability theme with children in your class, this fantastic book will raise awareness of environmental issues in an engaging way – and many of the activities will save your school or setting money too.

Harness the learning Power of Risky Play in the Early Years.Now, more than ever, children need to develop autonomy and decision-making skills.  Too often in Early Years settings, opportunities for learning through risky play are missed.  In this book, Zoe Sills and Sarah Watkins support you to overcome the barriers to embedding and allowing space for risky play in your setting.  *Know the value of Risky Play*Create a learning environment that encourages and supports Risky Play*Feel confident to allow the time and space for Risky Play*Develop a better understanding of risk and learning.Children know what they need for their bodies and minds.  Through self-directed play, children naturally challenge themselves.  They test their physical and emotional boundaries as part of cognitive and physical development. We should be supporting this child-led learning in the Early Years, not limiting it. This book helps you to do this - to harness the learning power of Risky Play.