Outdoor Water and Nature Play - Invitation to Play

Outdoor Water & Nature Play is a hands-on, nature-rich invitation to play designed to help children explore water, movement, natural materials and cause and effect in an outdoor environment. Children can pour, scoop, splash, drip, flow, float and observe as they discover how water moves through leaves, mud, stones and sticks.

Inside this digital PDF download you will receive:

• A full invitation to play overview• Outdoor water and nature set-up guidance• Adult role and observation prompts• Ideas for pouring, transporting, splashing and exploring natural materials• Differentiation and progression guidance from 9 months to 5 years• Inclusion and adaptation support• EYFS links naturally embedded• Key vocabulary and adult language prompts• Printable vocabulary cards including drip, splash, pour, flow, wet, scoop, float and observe• Support for sensory exploration, physical development, problem solving, confidence and environmental awareness

This resource forms part of our wider Water, Movement & Sensory Exploration Curriculum Framework and has been created for real early years settings, childminders, nurseries and home educators who want meaningful outdoor sensory play without overcomplicated planning.

Digital download only.Individual licence for single setting use only.

Please tag The Early Years Edit on social media when sharing your outdoor water and nature play set ups — we absolutely love seeing our resources come to life in your settings. 🩵