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TOPIC 9 OUTDOOR LEARNING ENVIRONMENT 
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learning. This topic also discusses an important aspect of outdoor areas, which is safety and appropriateness for young childrenÊs development.
9.1 THE IMPORTANCE OF OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES TO YOUNG CHILDREN
Children need the opportunity to use their whole body to develop their large muscles or gross motor skills. When they have mastered their gross motor skills, they will be able to control their body movements and coordination as well as their fine motor skills. Playing outside is vital for a childÊs development. It results in a positive impact on children and empowers them to their best. Outdoor activities empower children to use their imagination to understand their own world. They try new things and experience their own accomplishments. Through outdoor activities, children make their own mistake and learn solving their own problems. There are many reasons why outdoor activity is important for young children in early childhood programmes. The following sections discuss the importance of outdoor activities to young children.
(a) Physical
Playing outdoors is great for childrenÊs physical development. It is a form of exercise that promotes good health and wholesome physical development. Children who play outside use body muscles in different ways to explore the world around them. Children need to develop large motor skills through movement skills acquisition which can be encouraged in outdoor activities. Being outside helps children develop and strength their body muscles. Children who are physically fit are better able to handle physical challenges.
(b) Cognitive
Research on brain development shows that the most crucial time in a childÊs development is in the earliest years of their life. Play helps children to stimulate brain function and development. It is very important for children to have many regular gross motor activities outdoors. Encouraging children to get plenty of outdoor activities can promote their cognitive development. Play speeds up the development of the brain because each stage of play promotes the growth of the brain. During the first three years of life, brain synapses form at a rapid rate. These synapses are formed based on the richness of the childÊs sensory environment. Playing outdoors also promotes learning. Children learn how to solve problems when they are playing outside and this will help them to perform better in class.
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