Why Autumn Is the Best Season for Outdoor Learning in the Early Years
Autumn is widely considered the best season for outdoor learning in the early years, and the reason is simple. It combines comfortable weather, an abundance of natural materials, such as leaves, conkers and seeds, and dramatic, visible seasonal change that young children can see, touch and question. Together, these make autumn a uniquely rich backdrop for hands-on early years learning.
Why Is Autumn Such a Good Season for Outdoor Learning?
Autumn outdoor learning in the early years works particularly well because the weather is mild enough for longer sessions outside, while nature provides a steady supply of new materials to explore.
- Comfortable temperatures allow for longer, more relaxed outdoor sessions than the height of summer or depths of winter.
- Loose, natural materials such as leaves, conkers, acorns and pine cones are freely available and change daily.
- Seasonal change is easy to see, giving children real examples to observe, compare and talk about.
- Daylight is still plentiful in early autumn, before the shorter days of winter limit outdoor time.
What Are the Benefits of Outdoor Play in Autumn for Early Years Children?
Outdoor play in autumn can support physical, cognitive and emotional development in ways that are not always easy to recreate indoors.
Physical Development and Motor Skills
Walking over uneven ground, moving through fallen leaves and dealing with gusty weather all give children natural opportunities to practise balance, coordination and core strength. These experiences support important areas of physical development in the early years.
Curiosity, Language and Understanding the World
Autumn gives children plenty to talk about and investigate. Words such as crunch, crisp, decay and migrate can become part of everyday conversations, while changes in the trees and weather can lead to questions about why leaves fall and where animals go.
How Autumn Activities Map to the EYFS
Simple autumn activities can support different areas of the EYFS while giving children plenty of opportunities to learn through play and exploration.
| Autumn activity | EYFS area it supports |
| Leaf and conker sorting | Mathematics |
| Welly walks and den building | Physical Development |
| Talking about changing trees | Understanding the World |
| Describing textures and smells | Communication and Language |
How Does Outdoor Learning in Autumn Support the EYFS?
Every early years provider in England must give children daily access to the outdoors under the statutory EYFS framework, and autumn is one of the easiest seasons in which to meet this well.
Beyond the requirement itself, autumn’s natural materials map neatly onto several EYFS areas of learning at once, from physical development to understanding the world, without any need for artificial resources.
Forest School and Autumn: A Natural Pairing
Autumn is often considered one of the richest seasons for forest school, largely because there are so many natural loose parts to investigate and seasonal changes to observe.
Research into forest school and nature-based early years provision has linked regular outdoor sessions to improved motor coordination, concentration and connectedness to nature, alongside positive effects on confidence and wellbeing.
Simple Autumn Activities to Try in Early Years
You do not need complicated resources to make the most of autumn outdoors. A few simple activities can give children plenty to investigate, whether at nursery or at home.
- Leaf rubbing and collecting for collages.
- Conker and acorn counting or sorting games.
- Welly walks to spot seasonal changes.
- Simple den building using fallen branches.
- Listening walks to notice autumn sounds.
Discover Autumn Outdoor Learning at Wimbledon Day Nursery
At Wimbledon Day Nursery, children make the most of autumn through regular outdoor sessions and nature walks, including visits to nearby Wimbledon Common. Speak to our admissions team or book a visit to see our outdoor learning in action this autumn.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is autumn good for outdoor learning in the early years?
Autumn combines mild weather, abundant natural materials and highly visible seasonal change, making it one of the richest seasons for hands-on early years learning outdoors.
What are the benefits of outdoor play in autumn?
Outdoor play in autumn supports physical development through uneven terrain and fresh air, builds vocabulary and curiosity through seasonal change, and has been linked to improved wellbeing and concentration.
Is outdoor play part of the EYFS?
Yes. Every early years provider in England must give children daily access to outdoor learning under the statutory EYFS framework, whatever the season.
What is forest school, and how does autumn fit in?
Forest school is a nature-based approach to learning outdoors, and autumn is often seen as one of its richest seasons thanks to the abundance of natural materials like leaves, conkers and seeds to explore.
What autumn activities are good for toddlers?
Simple, low-cost activities work best for nature learning with toddlers, such as leaf collecting, conker sorting, welly walks and listening walks to notice seasonal sounds.
Does Wimbledon Day Nursery offer autumn outdoor learning?
Yes. Children at Wimbledon Day Nursery take part in regular outdoor sessions and nature walks throughout autumn.