8
W H Y
Natural Play?
EXPLORE, LEARN, APPRECIATE
Natural play is not scheduled, and allows
children and families to be as creative as they
choose. Natural play is open-ended, free-time
recreation for exploration without close adult
supervision. Whether you are building a fort,
catching frogs, splashing in creeks, or digging
in the dirt, there is something for everyone and
something for everyone's skill level. Children
who frequent unstructured natural play are
more likely to develop lifelong conservation
values and behaviors, as well as develop and
advance their physical and mental benefits
from spending time outside. Natural play
allows children to interact meaningfully with
their surroundings, as well as think more freely,
and thus approach the world in inventive ways.
Natural play inspires joy and a connection – to
each other, to nature, and an inner connection
to ourselves. This makes the perfect
environment for self-led learning. Creating
a natural play area should follow a process
that includes planning, design work, and
considerations on management. The following
pages walk you through these steps.
