Outdoor Play - Being a Four Seasons school

One of the most often questions I get from parents considering Acton is around outdoor play. At Acton Academy Columbus, we encourage our students to go outside and play every day, even in inclement weather. The answer is simple: outdoor unstructured play is an essential part of a child's development and learning, and we are inspired by the Waldorf model of education which places a strong emphasis on the importance of outdoor play.

There are countless benefits to letting our young heroes play outside. It helps them develop important physical skills such as coordination, balance, and strength, and it also promotes mental and emotional well-being. Research also indicates that learners who play outside are more likely to be happy, confident, and resilient, and they also have higher levels of self-esteem and self-control.

But perhaps most importantly, outdoor play gives them the opportunity to explore, experiment, and create in a way that is simply not possible inside a classroom. It allows them to use their imaginations, make their own decisions, and solve problems on their own.

At Acton Academy Columbus, we are proud to be a four seasons school, inspired by the Waldorf model of education which places a strong emphasis on the importance of outdoor play and hands-on, experiential learning. This means that we believe that children should have the opportunity to play and learn outside no matter what the weather is like. We understand that it can be tempting to stay inside when it's cold or wet, but we also know that these conditions present unique challenges and opportunities for learning and growth.

Around our school, there are numerous different parks / areas we could go to play including Coffman Park (two separate parks), a skateboard park, several ponds, woods, areas around the Dublin rec center. The decision on where to go each day rests on the shoulders of our Eagles and they vote on it every day. On snowy days, our learners may choose to go sledding at a nearby hill. On really hot days, our learners may choose to play outdoors in the woods.

We choose to go outdoors every day regardless of the weather because unstructured play is an essential part of a child's education and development, and we believe that it is important to provide opportunities for it year-round.