How local adventures build children’s confidence and emotional resilience

Adventure doesn’t have to describe going to a faraway place that you visit once in a lifetime. For young children, a trip to the local park or even a visit to the library can become an opportunity to explore the world around them and immerse themselves in new experiences.

These everyday local adventures give children the chance to experience the world beyond their usual routines. They can meet new people, make choices, ask questions and navigate unfamiliar experiences with a trusted adult alongside them to support them in any way they need. Over time, these small experiences can help children build confidence and emotional resilience.

At Fennies, we believe children are part of the communities around them. Through our early years approach, we create opportunities for children to explore their local area and learn through real-world experiences, helping them build skills that will support them at nursery whilst also preparing them for school and life beyond the world of education.

What are local adventures?

For young children, the world around them can be full of opportunities to explore and discover.

Local adventures could include:

• Exploring a local park or green space ‍
• Visiting the library, a bookshop or local café
• Helping with a trip to the shops or market
• Going on a nature walk

These experiences give children opportunities to ask questions, make choices and be a part of their local community.  

What makes these experiences valuable is that children are actively involved. They can ask questions, make decisions, talk to people in their community and discover things they may not encounter in their usual routine.

And sometimes, the best adventures are right around the corner. The discovery can lie in the moment where you simply stop and notice what’s around you.

How do local adventures build confidence?

Confidence grows when children have opportunities to try something for themselves and discover that they can do it. Local adventures are great for creating lots of these small moments.

Giving children chances to be independent

A trip to the local shop might involve choosing some fruit. A visit to the park could mean deciding which path to explore. These small choices give children a sense of independence and help them feel capable, some really core skills that help set them up for life ahead.

Helping children feel more comfortable with new experiences

Visiting somewhere unfamiliar can feel exciting, but it can also feel a little daunting. With a trusted adult nearby, children can gradually become more comfortable with new places, people and experiences.

Research into Forest School has found that giving children the freedom and space to explore can support confidence and independence. (1)

Each little adventure gives children another opportunity to think, “I can do this.”

How do local adventures build emotional resilience?

Local adventures can bring small challenges that children have to work through and figure out for themselves.

Learning to manage little challenges

In the company of their friends and key person, children can begin to recognise those feelings and work out what might help, and being supported by familiar people during those moments helps them understand they are normal and easy to get through.  

“Children cannot always regulate their emotions independently at this age. Co-regulation means being there with them and supporting them through the feeling." explains Paula Alvarez Rodriguez, Regional SENDCO and Inclusion Manager at Fennies

Sometimes they might need a little extra reassurance or ask for some help and that’s absolutely fine! Encouraging them to try again is a great way for them to overcome this challenge.

This kind of learning through trial and error is an important part of early development. The EYFS guidance encourages children to keep trying when they encounter difficulties.

Why does community matter in the early years?

A child’s local community is part of their everyday world. The people they meet, the places they visit and the experiences they have all help them understand where they belong.

A trip to the local shop might mean getting to know a familiar face. A visit to the library introduces children to a place where people come together. Exploring a local park helps them become more familiar with the area around them.

The EYFS guidance highlights the importance of children developing a sense of responsibility and membership of a community, as well as becoming more confident in new social situations. It also encourages settings to take children on short walks around their neighbourhood and visit interesting local places.

For young children, being part of their local community starts with experiencing it. Each outing helps them build a greater understanding of the people and places around them, while giving them a chance to feel that they have a place within it.

Local adventures at Fennies

At Fennies, local adventures are a big part of giving children real experiences beyond the nursery. Here are some of the ways our nurseries have been getting out and about:

• Shopping for a fresh fruit salad: Children at Fennies Cheam visited their local shop to choose ingredients before using them to make their own fruit salad back at nursery. ‍
• Bug hunting in the park: Children took cameras with them on a trip to their local park, photographing the bugs they discovered along the way. ‍
• Storytelling at Waterstones: Children visited their local Waterstones for storytelling sessions, bringing books and stories into a different environment. ‍
• Discovering how things are made: At Fennies Teddington, children visited their local Gail’s to collect baked goods and learn more about the process behind them. ‍
• Exploring Windsor: Children at Fennies Windsor visited their local park before heading to Build-A-Bear to create a Fennies bear for their nursery.

What local adventures can you try with your child?

Looking for things to do with your toddler or young child locally? You don't need to plan a big day out. Your local area can offer plenty of simple ways to explore, learn and spend time together.

Visit your local park

Go on a bug hunt, look for signs of the changing seasons or take a different route through the park. You could even take a camera and let your child photograph what they discover.

Explore your local library

Many libraries offer free activities for babies, toddlers and young children, including story times, rhymes and play sessions. You could also let your child choose a book to take home.

Turn the weekly shop into an adventure

Give your child a simple job, such as choosing some fruit or finding an item on the shelf. Everyday errands can become opportunities to make choices and get involved.

Go on a local nature walk  

You don't need a woodland on your doorstep. Look for creatures in the park, spot birds on your street or see what you can find growing along the way. Bug hunts are also a simple way to encourage young children to explore their local environment.

Discover somewhere new

Try a local café, museum, bookshop or community space you've never visited together. Give your child time to look around, ask questions and become familiar with somewhere new.