Reimagining outdoor learning: Understanding agency from risk to resilience

This podcast episode and article are a research-informed exploration of how outdoor environments, adult language and risk narratives shape children's agency. Drawing on the Reimagining Outdoor Learning Toolkit, we examine how educators can move beyond checklists, embrace managed risk, and create outdoor spaces where children's autonomy, confidence and curiosity can genuinely flourish.

Read the article here:

https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/reimagining-outdoor-learning-understanding-agency-from-risk-to-resilience/

This episode is in partnership with BookedIn

BookedIn is the CPD booking platform that connects organisations with verified speakers, trainers and consultants – so you can find the right fit faster, based on your brief, audience and outcomes.

To find out more visit: https://waitlist.bookedin.online/

Our 2027 conference info & tickets:

https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/early-years-conference-2027/

Listen to more:

If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like:

· Impacts of outdoors on children's behaviour and attention: The science behind outdoor play series, with Dr Gemma Goldenberg: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/impacts-of-outdoors-on-childrens-behaviour-and-attention/

· The therapeutic nature of outdoor play, with Jenny Smillie: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/the-therapeutic-nature-of-outdoor-play/

Get in touch and share your voice:

Do you have thoughts, questions or feedback? Get in touch here! – https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/contact/

Episode break down:

00:00 – Welcome and guest introduction
01:35 – How the outdoor agency research began
03:06 – Children's agency in policy and practice
05:17 – What makes outdoor learning unique?
08:41 – How weather and adult perceptions shape risk
10:21 – The dry robe dilemma: when protection restricts play
12:10 – How home experiences and family attitudes shape outdoor play
16:10 – The Outdoor Agency Model: environment, adults and community
20:47 – Outdoor learning beyond the early years and PE
23:53 – Exploring the Reimagining Outdoor Learning Toolkit
27:00 – Using action research to develop your own practice
28:38 – Photo tours: putting children's voices at the heart of research
30:02 – Supporting children to understand and manage risk
31:26 – What changed? Revisiting children's outdoor experiences
32:23 – Building stronger partnerships between home and settings
36:47 – Understanding and responding to parents' worries
39:26 – Final takeaways: trust, agency and ownership of childhood
40:59 – Closing reflections, further resources and thanks

For more episodes and articles visit The Voice of Early Childhood website: https://www.thevoiceofearlychildhood.com