By BEST Childcare Consulting
This November, two national initiatives unite around a single powerful idea — children learn best when they move, play, and connect with the world around them. Physical Literacy Week and Outdoor Classroom Day invite early childhood services to step outside and celebrate movement as learning — nurturing confidence, wellbeing, curiosity, and belonging through outdoor play and exploration. By embracing these events together, services can demonstrate Exceeding practice across all seven Quality Areas, embedding physical literacy, outdoor learning, and community connection into daily routines.
What Is Physical Literacy & Why It Matters
Physical literacy is more than being active — it’s developing the skills, confidence, and motivation to move and enjoy movement throughout life.
According to the Australian Sports Commission, it encompasses four domains:
- Physical: balance, coordination, agility, and strength
- Psychological: confidence, motivation, and resilience
- Cognitive: decision-making, problem-solving, and understanding movement concepts
- Social: teamwork, empathy, and communication
In early learning, this means giving children the freedom to run, climb, jump, spin, and explore — building body awareness and joyful confidence through play.
What Is KIDDO?
KIDDO, developed by the University of Western Australia (UWA) and supported by Healthway, is Australia’s leading early-years physical literacy program.
Aligned with the Australian Physical Literacy Framework, KIDDO helps educators and families nurture fundamental movement skills through fun, inclusive activities and professional learning. Its motto — Move • Play • Learn for Life — perfectly complements Outdoor Classroom Day’s mission to make outdoor learning a normal, everyday part of education.
https://kiddo.edu.au
What Is Outdoor Classroom Day and Why It Matters
Outdoor Classroom Day is a global movement that celebrates and encourages learning beyond the walls of the classroom. Each year, early learning services and schools across Australia dedicate a special day in November to take lessons, play, and exploration outdoors. The aim is to remind educators and families that the outdoors is not just a place for recess — it’s a powerful, living classroom where children can move, discover, and connect with the natural world. Research consistently shows that outdoor learning supports children’s physical health, attention, creativity, social skills, and overall wellbeing. Time spent outdoors also builds respect for nature and strengthens children’s understanding of sustainability and Country. For early childhood settings, Outdoor Classroom Day reinforces the values of play-based, inquiry-driven learning — helping services embed physical literacy, wellbeing, and environmental stewardship across the program while meeting the intent of the National Quality Standard and EYLF v2.0.
Linking Physical Literacy Week with Outdoor Classroom Day
Physical Literacy Week and Outdoor Classroom Day complement each other beautifully, each promoting the idea that movement, play, and connection to nature are fundamental to children’s learning and wellbeing. Physical Literacy Week focuses on developing children’s skills, confidence, and motivation to move, while Outdoor Classroom Day celebrates learning beyond the walls — encouraging educators to take lessons, stories, and play into natural environments. Together, these initiatives inspire services to embrace a holistic approach to wellbeing where physical activity, sensory engagement, and curiosity about the natural world come together.
Taking learning outdoors amplifies physical literacy in action. Climbing a tree becomes a lesson in balance and risk assessment; running across grass strengthens coordination and endurance; and exploring textures, sounds, and spaces builds cognitive and sensory understanding. Outdoor play supports every domain of physical literacy — physical, cognitive, social, and psychological — while nurturing a deep sense of belonging to Country and respect for the environment.
Combining both celebrations also allows services to demonstrate Exceeding-level practice across the National Quality Standard. Children are empowered to take the lead in their play, educators critically reflect on how environments support movement and agency, and families become partners in fostering active, outdoor lifestyles. By linking Physical Literacy Week and Outdoor Classroom Day, services create meaningful, community-connected experiences that show movement as not just an activity, but a powerful way of learning and growing — body, mind, and spirit.
Outdoor Activity Ideas for Under-5s
1. Move — Balance and Coordination
- Nature Obstacle Path: logs, stepping stones, ropes, cones.
- Animal Moves Trail: hop like kangaroos, crawl like wombats, fly like magpies.
- Beanbag Balance Challenge: carry on head, elbow, or knee.
2. Play — Confidence and Joy
- Parachute or Sheet Games: lift, shake, and hide beneath for teamwork fun.
- Action Songs on the Lawn: “Taba Naba,” “Bear Hunt,” or “Shake Your Sillies Out.”
- Loose Parts Olympics: tyres, sticks, fabric & buckets for open-ended play.
3. Explore — Nature and Community
- Listening Walks: identify natural sounds and practise mindfulness.
- Mini Gardeners: dig, plant, water — link to EYLF Outcome 2 (Connected with World).
- Family Move Morning: invite families for yoga, stretching, or races.
4. Educator & Team Actions
- Reflect on how environments promote movement opportunities.
- Conduct a Physical Literacy audit using the KIDDO checklist.
- Embed “active transitions” (hop to wash hands, crawl to mat time).
- Include physical literacy in philosophy reviews & QIP goals.
QIP Write-Up — Linking Physical Literacy Week & Outdoor Classroom Day
Quality Area 1 – Educational Program and Practice
Embedded Practice:
Physical literacy and outdoor learning are intentionally embedded into our curriculum to strengthen children’s skills, confidence, and curiosity. Educators design movement-rich, play-based experiences that link with EYLF v2.0 Outcomes 1, 3, and 5, supporting children to be strong, capable learners. Daily outdoor exploration forms part of the program cycle, ensuring active, sensory learning opportunities are not an occasional event but an everyday practice.
Critical Reflection:
The team regularly reflects on how outdoor environments and movement experiences extend children’s agency, decision-making, and wellbeing. Reflection meetings explore how educators can better scaffold risk-taking, problem-solving, and self-regulation through outdoor play and inquiry. Educators also evaluate how their intentional teaching strategies promote inclusion for all children, including those with additional needs.
Meaningful Engagement:
Families and communities are invited to contribute ideas, stories, and movement traditions to enrich the program. Educators share photos, documentation, and reflections that highlight how outdoor and physical learning connect to each child’s developmental goals, promoting a shared understanding of learning through movement.
Quality Area 2 – Children’s Health and Safety
Embedded Practice:
Active outdoor play, safe risk-taking, and movement are embedded in daily routines to promote both physical and emotional wellbeing. Educators encourage children to take responsibility for their safety, understanding how to balance challenge and caution. Outdoor spaces are used intentionally for gross-motor development, balance, and regulation.
Critical Reflection:
Teams regularly review risk-benefit assessments and supervision plans, ensuring safe yet challenging experiences are available to all children. Reflections centre on how outdoor learning contributes to self-regulation, persistence, and resilience. Educators discuss sun safety, hydration, and environmental conditions to ensure children’s health remains a priority.
Meaningful Engagement:
Families are informed and involved in promoting healthy, active lifestyles. Services share KIDDO resources, safety tips, and movement challenges for families to try at home. Partnerships with local health professionals and safety organisations strengthen a shared approach to wellbeing.
Quality Area 3 – Physical Environment
Embedded Practice:
The physical environment is intentionally arranged to invite exploration, movement, and connection with nature. Natural elements, loose parts, and open-ended spaces provide opportunities for balancing, climbing, and creative movement. The environment reflects the service’s philosophy of learning through play and movement.
Critical Reflection:
Educators critically analyse how the layout, resources, and access points influence children’s movement confidence and inclusion. Environmental audits using the KIDDO checklist guide improvements in accessibility and variety. Educators discuss how environments promote sustainability and respect for Country through movement-based learning.
Meaningful Engagement:
Families and community members are encouraged to contribute materials, plants, or ideas for outdoor spaces. Partnerships with local parks, bush kindy programs, and Nature Play WA enhance opportunities for learning beyond the gate. Shared decision-making ensures the environment reflects the interests and cultures of the children who use it.
Quality Area 4 – Staffing Arrangements
Embedded Practice:
Educators work collaboratively to ensure consistent engagement and supervision during outdoor play. Rosters and routines are structured so staff can be active participants — co-playing, modelling movement confidence, and scaffolding children’s skills. Physical literacy principles guide intentional teaching across all age groups.
Critical Reflection:
Staff meetings include reflective conversations about team dynamics, supervision, and shared responsibility for wellbeing. Educators consider how their interactions and enthusiasm influence children’s participation in movement. Leaders encourage staff to reflect on how their own comfort with outdoor play shapes practice.
Meaningful Engagement:
Professional learning opportunities, including KIDDO training and Nature Play WA workshops, are promoted and shared with families. Staff achievements are celebrated in newsletters and displays, reinforcing a community culture of active, collaborative teaching.
Quality Area 5 – Relationships with Children
Embedded Practice:
Strong relationships are built through playful, active engagement. Educators use movement and outdoor play to strengthen trust, communication, and empathy. Group games, dancing, and shared challenges foster cooperation, confidence, and belonging.
Critical Reflection:
Teams reflect on how movement experiences support children’s emotional expression, resilience, and social connections. Educators discuss strategies to ensure all children, including quieter or less confident ones, feel safe and supported to join in. They review their role in co-playing, guiding turn-taking, and modelling teamwork.
Meaningful Engagement:
Families are encouraged to share how their children move and play at home, bringing those experiences into the program. Celebrations such as Outdoor Classroom Day include family participation, building shared joy and trust. Documentation reflects each child’s unique movement journey, reinforcing a strong sense of identity and connection.
Quality Area 6 – Collaborative Partnerships with Families and Communities
Embedded Practice:
Partnerships with families and the broader community are central to our approach to wellbeing and movement. Families are regularly invited to join outdoor learning days, contribute resources, or share cultural games and sports. The service partners with local health, recreation, and Indigenous organisations to extend learning.
Critical Reflection:
Educators evaluate how inclusive and culturally responsive their community partnerships are. Reflection questions such as “Whose voices are represented?” and “Who could we invite next?” guide ongoing improvement. The team reviews how collaborative projects promote a shared vision for active, healthy living.
Meaningful Engagement:
Families are engaged in co-planning events like Move & Munch mornings or nature walks. Local experts — such as sports coaches, park rangers, or Elders — are invited to share movement stories and traditions, strengthening community bonds and children’s sense of belonging.
Quality Area 7 – Governance and Leadership
Embedded Practice:
Leadership embeds physical literacy and outdoor learning into the service’s philosophy, policies, and QIP goals. Decision-making supports environments and routines that prioritise active play, educator wellbeing, and community connection. Leaders model a commitment to movement-rich learning through participation and advocacy.
Critical Reflection:
Leadership teams review how service-wide systems — including scheduling, budgeting, and PD planning — align with wellbeing goals. Critical reflection occurs at management level to ensure policies and environments truly reflect the value placed on outdoor learning. Data and feedback inform continuous improvement.
Meaningful Engagement:
Leaders communicate the service’s achievements and progress with families, governing bodies, and community partners, sharing success stories and research-aligned practices. Families and educators contribute to ongoing policy and philosophy reviews, ensuring decisions are transparent, inclusive, and future-focused.
Extending the Learning Year-Round
- Introduce daily “Move Moments” between transitions.
- Rotate outdoor learning zones for variety and challenge.
- Highlight physical milestones on a “We Can Move!” wall.
- Partner with local sports clubs or dance studios.
- Include physical literacy and outdoor play in staff induction training.
Useful Links
KIDDO Physical Literacy Week 2025 – Registration & Resources
Outdoor Classroom Day Australia https://outdoorclassroomday.com.au/
Australian Sports Commission – Physical Literacy Framework
Nature Play WA – Outdoor Ideas https://www.natureplaywa.org.au/
EYLF v2.0 Framework https://www.acecqa.gov.au/nqf/national-quality-framework/early-years-learning-framework
BEST Childcare Consulting
By intentionally combining Physical Literacy Week and Outdoor Classroom Day, services create a unified approach that demonstrates Exceeding-level quality across every QA area. When movement, reflection, and collaboration become embedded in daily practice, children develop the confidence and wellbeing they need for lifelong learning — and educators showcase the heart of Exceeding practice: Embedded Practice, Critical Reflection, and Meaningful Engagement.
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