Most parents are probably familiar with the struggle of getting the kids out of bed in the morning, getting them ready for school and getting out of the house with the minimum of fuss and complaining. Many children see going to school and learning as a chore and the vast majority of parents would agree that getting kids excited about their education is a challenge to say the least.

 

Children can find classroom lessons boring and as their attention wanders, it can be hard to keep them on task. This is especially true towards the end of the summer term when the weather is nicer and all they want to do is get outdoors and run around. However, getting children involved in activities outside the classroom can actually be a great way to improve motivation and to better engage them in the learning process. In addition, these extra curricular events can help to manage class behaviour and can improve the group’s social, interpersonal and personal development. The introduction of the Learning Outside the Classroom Manifesto in 2006 recognised the importance of extra curricular learning in a child’s school career.

 

Learning in the great outdoors

Finding activities that play upon children’s interests and likes can be the key to successful learning outside the classroom. Most children have a love and fascination for animals and wildlife, so a visit to a safari or wildlife park is ideal for an outdoor learning experience.

 

Children will have the opportunity to get up close to animals they may not have seen face to face before. The advantage to a wildlife park visit is the park’s involvement in the protection and conservation of rare and endangered species, which gives children the chance to learn about breeds that they may not otherwise have had knowledge of. Interactive experiences like these are an exciting and stimulating way to learn and can really bring the wider world and environment to life for children.

 

An organised school visit to a wildlife park, where activities are designed to tie in with the curriculum at all key stages, will boost the group’s motivation to learn and participate. Children can connect to the animals and their habitats and get to grips with the importance of conservation and bio diversity for the future of wildlife and the environment.

 

Excitement and entertainment

Making learning exciting and interactive means that kids will readily absorb information without even realising that they are actually learning. They will have better concentration when they find the subject interesting too. In addition to learning about the animals and their environments, children can learn more about the countries and regions that the wildlife originates from, with activities based around traditional cultures, such as African drumming and mask making.

 

What could be more memorable for a child than coming face to face with a family of elephants or a Siberian tiger, or feeling a bird of prey swoop inches above their head. For a little bit of light entertainment, the sea lions will show off their balancing and catching skills or will come to say hello from the underwater viewing window. Either way, these mischievous little creatures are always a big hit with children. Beyond making learning a pleasurable experience, a safari park visit can also create childhood memories that will last a lifetime.

 

This article was written on behalf of knowsley safari park adventure for all the family.