Karen has authored early care and education books and is a frequent contributor to Exchange. "Helping children learn to satisfy curiosity through exploration is one of the best skills you'll ever nurture."

Some people view mathematics as a precise, right and wrong situation, and yet pure mathematicians talk about a new language, a creative, experimental way of thinking. This attitude of exuberance should be developed in our youngest children so that they are not scared to have a go, to try out a new method without fear of failure.

Bikes are an integral part of playing outside. The bag system in this case provides the detail to the larger resources such as bikes, taxis and wagons.

For many practitioners the involvement of children has been an integral part of their practice for many years. Many regions across Scotland are now focussing on this aspect of their practice and trying to create strategies that can be embedded in practice.

All around us the trees are changing. In many outside areas these changes cannot be easily observed. This article is designed to support people who have rather "underdeveloped" spaces for children to explore.

Gloomy fog bound days seem to prevent outdoor play rather then inspire staff to go outside. This article shares some exciting opportunities for that foggy day.

A windy day can teach us about how the mass of an object affects the way it flies, how bag kites fly, and the music of wind chimes.

The environment you experience with children may be a wood, seashore, park, or tarmac playground. All of the outdoor spaces have the potential for learning.

As adults we look at a pile of leaves and we think of clearing and preparing, when a young child sees them they see the opportunity to sing and dance in a shower of leaves.

They ran through deep piles of leaves, danced in the leaves falling silently around them like confetti, hugged trees and looked up the trunk to get a squirrels view. We played drums with a couple of old sticks on a fallen tree trunk and gave a great rendition of familiar nursery rhymes, a couple of reggae beats and a celtic tune or two.