Muddy Hands Australia Research Report

The Muddy Hands Australia Report, written to support Australia’s Outdoor Classroom Day movement, provides an overview of the importance of outdoor learning and play in schools and reports upon the amount of playtime Australian students are receiving compared to other countries across the world.

This report seeks to give schools, parents and the wider community evidence for why outdoor learning and play should be part of every day. This isn’t a side-topic. It’s not a ‘nice to have’ or a prize after a long week.

Getting outdoors to learn and to play is simply an essential part of every day for every child everywhere.

Why outdoor learning?

The Muddy Hands Australia report shares the benefits of taking student learning outdoors, including;

• Better learning outcomes for students,
• Getting kids active,
• Boosting mental health,
• Connecting students to the places they live and the environments we want them to learn to protect, and importantly
• These benefits last beyond the early education years.

Almost all (97% or more) Australian teachers think playing outdoors develops key skills for life, and that it makes children happier.

Also importantly, the report explores the importance of schools championing outdoor learning and play – as when they do, parents and the wider community are more likely to be encouraged to make getting outdoors part of every child’s every day.