Dr. Andrea Ceciliani - The Value of Outdoor Education

Dr. Andrea Ceciliani - The Value of Outdoor Education
"To live the body in the space-time"
We began the day at the University of Bologna campus in Rimini, a beautiful seaside city on the Adriatic. We learned about physical activity, play, and brain activity, and how to set up “bonded play spaces” to encourage children to develop specific physical abilities. 
The recommendation World Health Organization is for children to have at least one hour of physical activity per day, even on weekends. Italians embrace the notion of "Educare", which situates learning within a culture of support. Parents work with schools to assist child in gaining confidence through appropriate risk taking. "Don't overprotect; Don't underestimate" - these are the two parent behaviors that reduce opportunities for young children to grow and learn.

Adults have an agenda of directing children's learning; however, it is important for the child to move through what he finds interesting along the path to the final outcome. 



Free and bonded settings refer to aspects of the environment that are both natural (free) and carefully planned (bonded) to facilitate targeted skills.

Children are provided guidelines in consideration of their level of skill (zone of proximal development). The adult provides a range of experiences across a continuum; there are experiences that not allowed (such as jumping from the top of a shelf), experiences that are available with support (jumping from table-height surface) and experiences that are independent (jumping from chair-height surface). 


Children are allowed to explore the natural environment. Parents are encouraged to allow children to take risks to build their self-esteem and their skill level.

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