Outdoor play is so beneficial for kids, big and small! Through playing outside, younger children learn and become more aware of their surroundings. It helps them develop useful motor skills and stay active while also having fun. It’s therefore important that the preschool you choose for your child takes this into consideration. Here, we look at Singapore preschools with outdoor activities or outdoor playgrounds. We also hear what the parents think of them!
Daily outdoor playground activities at Adventure Tree Preschool
Outdoor learning lies at the heart of Adventure Tree Preschool’s pedagogy and philosophy – the entire curriculum revolves around nature and the outdoors. The school believes that a child is offered unique opportunities to learn through their own investigation of the outdoor environment.
Part of the daily curriculum includes guided outdoor play activities where children are out of the classroom for a minimum of one hour and up to five hours. They have weekly water play, outdoor sports, nature and outdoor sensory exploration, gardening, and art and crafts.
All four campuses of Adventure Tree Preschool are located in landed houses, surrounded by greenery. There are ample facilities including outdoor playgrounds, water and sensory play areas, and edible gardens.
Teachers make use of these natural spaces to create learning experiences such as explorations, nature walks, visual and creative arts, storytelling, games, nature scavenger hunts and more. They also use various themes such as Outdoor Exploration, Water Play and Sustainable Gardening when teaching with real life materials, thus making learning come alive within and outside the classroom.
A family’s thoughts…
“The proximity of the park to the school is such a bonus – it provides the kids with a wonderful space to run, play and connect with nature. Outdoor playtime is so important for our children’s growth, and I love how Adventure Tree embraces this, giving them the opportunity to explore, learn and develop in a natural setting, especially growing up in a city. It’s truly a special place where they can thrive, surrounded by nature and a community that feels like home.” – Carrie and Gregory
- Bukit Timah campus: 59 Yuk Tong Avenue
- Holland Village campus: 9 Grove Drive
- Katong campus: 4 Crescent Road
- Braddell campus: 45A Carmichael Road
9012 6315 | contact@adventuretree.com.sg
Forest exploration & play at Nurtured Nest Reggio Forest Preschool
Nurtured Nest says that outdoor play helps children appreciate and care for their environment. This Singapore preschool also believes that being outdoors starts a child’s day on a positive note, which helps with their emotional development. Children are outdoors daily, rain or shine, for one hour and 15 minutes.
The garden at Nurtured Nest is filled with fruit, vegetable and fragrant plants, and the outdoor playground is made with sustainable materials such as recycled tyres, natural rock boulders for climbing, a sandpit and a pond for water play.
Each morning, teachers set up provocations throughout the garden, inviting children to engage in free and imaginative play. They can “cook” with flowers and coloured water in the mud kitchen, use recycled boxes in a pretend pizzeria, and “build” at a construction site with diggers. Additionally, an Atelierista sets up invitations for creative exploration with art and woodworking in the Outdoor Atelier.
As a forest school, Nurtured Nest’s preschool children (4 to 6 years) spend an entire morning each week in the forest. Led by experienced forest school educators, activities are tailored to suit different interests – the artistic child creates with art supplies while the budding investigator explores with binoculars and magnifying glasses. Each session is designed to inspire curiosity and deepen the child’s connection with nature.
A parent’s thoughts…
“We appreciate the diverse experiences offered to our children to discover and experiment in their own ways, and to see just how interconnected they are with their natural environment. Our gratitude goes out to the team for their dedication in valuing the uniqueness of our child and bringing out the best in her!” – Cheryl Tang
644 Dunearn Road
8779 7533 | nurtured-nest.com
Daily outdoor play at Mosaic Preschool
Bringing learning outdoors is a regular component of the daily routine of students at Mosaic Preschool. The school believes that the outdoor environment presents huge potential in children’s play exploration. It also boosts their overall health, learning and development.
The minimum daily duration dedicated to outdoor play exploration for students is an hour. During that time, children can be seen painting in the outdoor yard, playing group games with their classmates, exploring the plants and flowers in the garden or having splashing fun in the water play zone. Besides the fun and learning taking place, Mosaic Preschool believes that when students soak in the morning sun and breathe in fresh air, they’re building up their immunity and physical health.
There are multiple big spaces in the campuses for children to play and explore. These include a garden, sensory zone, sand pit and water play area. Different equipment such as tricycles, climbing structures and sports equipment are also stored in the outdoor space to challenge children’s gross motor development. In addition, the afternoon co-curricular programme gives them a chance to engage in sports activities with the school’s Sport Specialist on a weekly basis.
A family’s thoughts…
“The teachers of Mosaic Preschool are very engaged with the kids. We saw this during our school tour and so quickly secured a place for our child. All the teachers are very friendly, and the school is big and clean, with plenty of outdoor play spaces. We also like the regular updates on our child and what the school is doing.” – Federico & Kara
Outdoor play interaction at Kinderland Academy & Preschools
Kinderland Preschools believes that outdoor playgrounds and other spaces away from the classroom serve as platforms for interdisciplinary learning. The Singapore preschool offers experiences that classroom learning may not provide while fostering social interactions and enhancing motor skill development.
Being outdoors provides infinite opportunities for curious children to seek answers beyond books. This helps them develop their large motor skills, muscles and strength for more challenges as they grow.
Within the campus of Kinderland @ Pandan Valley and Kinderland Academy @ Yio Chu Kang are unique outdoor landscapes where children can witness the wonder of nature. At the Academy, there’s also ample space for Singapore’s only Preschool Marching Band to practise.
For locations without dedicated outdoor areas, neighbourhood walks are regularly organised for outdoor exploration. There’s also at least 30 minutes of daily outdoor activities at most of the school’s locations. A unique feature of Kinderland @ Marine Parade is its proximity to East Coast Park – children head there once a month to enjoy the sea breeze and observe beachside life.
The children also supplement their indoor learning experiences through excursions and programmes such as educational holiday programmes during the term breaks. Through these efforts, Kinderland says it aims to promote well-rounded development in children.
A parent’s thoughts…
“Outdoor activities expose my children to many textures – bark, leaves, flowers. This helps them appreciate the natural environment around them. My children enjoy having breakfast in the outdoor playground, water play and playing at the sandpit most at Kinderland Academy.” – Joy Lim
15 locations for their Singapore preschools
kinderland.com.sg
This article on outdoor playgrounds in Singapore preschools first appeared in the October 2024 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe so you never miss a copy!
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