Why Physical Development Outdoors Matters in the Early Years
Physical development outdoors gives children the freedom, space and challenge to move and explore what their bodies can do. From the moment they begin to roll and crawl, physical development is laying the groundwork for cognitive skills like memory, attention, and problem-solving. It’s also deeply connected to emotional wellbeing—each physical challenge a child overcomes helps to build confidence, resilience, and self-esteem.
To support this vital area of development, children need daily opportunities to climb, balance, stretch, crawl and explore in both structured and spontaneous ways. We can do this by creating environments where they can test their abilities, take supported risks, and move freely—inside and out.
To find out more about how these skills support our children’s physical development, read our blog, ‘The Benefits of Climbing for Children‘.
A Fresh Approach to Physical Development Outdoors
Sometimes in settings, we invest in fixed outdoor equipment. This can serve a purpose—but can come with limitations. It’s static, often expensive to install, and hard to adapt as children’s interests and needs evolve. For children who might spend several years in the same setting, the play can become repetitive and the equipment seen as part of the furniture, rather than something to explore.
Outdorable offers a refreshing alternative: robust, open-ended play equipment that’s made to move and made to change. Every piece is designed to be relocated, reconfigured, and reimagined—allowing educators to adapt the environment, and enabling children to take the lead in how they use it.
Nature-Inspired Design for Real-World Movement
What makes Outdorable so special is how closely it echoes the way children naturally explore the outdoors. The monkey bars emulate the experience of swinging from tree branches. The Wobbly Log Plank recreates the balance challenge of a fallen log. The Riverbank Climbing Wall mirrors the feel of scrambling up boulders, while the River Rocks Stepping Stones Plank brings to mind hopping across a stream. These are more than clever designs—they connect children to the rhythms and challenges of nature, while offering all the safety and structure educators need.
Why Educators Are Turning to Outdorable
Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of the outdorable range and why early educators are drawn to it:
- Adaptable and child-led: Easily rearranged to suit different ages, needs and interests.
- Ready to go: Delivered fully assembled, with no costly installation required.
- Long term investment for your setting: Add to your collection over time and get more play value with pieces that serve multiple purposes.
- Sustainably made: Crafted from Accoya—an eco-certified timber treated for durability without chemical preservatives.
- Built to last: Weatherproof, warp-resistant, and guaranteed for 25 years.
- Aesthetic and natural: Beautifully crafted to blend with outdoor environments and reflect natural forms of play.
- Safe and flexible: Fully safety certified, easily moved between areas and suitable for all early years age groups.
For more on how early years educators can support children’s physical development using Outdorable, our Practitioner Notes offer guidance on promoting skills like balance, spatial awareness, coordination, problem-solving and confidence.
The Outdorable Range: Open-Ended Equipment with Endless Possibilities
Climber Boxes
Available in three heights, these Climber Boxes are the building blocks of the Outdorable system. Children can climb, jump, hide, balance, or combine them with attachments to invent new challenges. Their sturdy design means they can become anything—from a castle to a mountain.
Slide Attachment
Attaches securely to the Climber Blocks to create an instant slide. A popular choice that builds confidence while supporting spatial awareness and body control.
River Rocks Stepping Stones Plank
Each ‘rock’ tilts and shifts underfoot, just like crossing a stream. It’s brilliant for improving balance, encouraging focus and bringing a sense of the outdoors into any play area.
Wobbly Log Plank
This gently moving plank feels like balancing on a tree branch. Perfect for developing coordination, core strength, and concentration.
Smooth and Ladder Planks
These versatile planks can become bridges, ramps or tracks. Children explore gradients, roll objects, climb or slide—developing motor skills through trial, error and imagination.
Riverbank Climbing Wall
A granite-like surface with realistic grips gives children the feel of real bouldering. Great for strength, grip, decision-making and spatial planning.
Overhead Branch Monkey Bars & Climber Set
A nature-inspired take on traditional monkey bars. Children love swinging, hanging and testing their upper body strength—just like they would in a woodland canopy.
Age-Appropriate Packages for Every Stage
Outdorable Baby Package (0–2 Years)
For the youngest learners, this set supports gentle physical exploration. With a low Log Crawler, incline ramp, riser and Burrow tunnel, it invites crawling, cruising and coordination—laying the foundation for confident movement in a calm, sensory-rich way.
Outdorable Toddler Package (2–3 Years)
Th Oudorable Toddler Package introduces new challenges for toddlers ready to explore. Combining climbers, slides, and a climbing wall, it promotes early balance, risk-taking and spatial awareness in a safe, open-ended setup. Children are free to climb, crawl, hide and build their own routes—developing both body and brain.
Outdorable Pre-School Package (3–5 Years)
For more confident movers, the preschool set adds complexity and scale. Monkey bars, higher climbers, and dynamic plank configurations offer physical challenge, imaginative opportunities and collaborative play. Children develop strength, coordination, and problem-solving skills as they lead their own movement journeys.
Looking to understand more about why climbing matters? Read our blog on the Thrive to Climb – The Benefits of Climbing to discover how it supports brain development, risk assessment and resilience. You can also read a review by Sunshine Corner Nursery which explains the impact Outdorable had on the children in their setting.
A Natural Fit for Early Years
Outdorable doesn’t just tick boxes—it transforms spaces. It offers the flexibility to meet the needs of every child, the beauty of natural materials, and the robustness to stand the test of time. With no installation, no limitations, and so much room for imagination, it helps settings deliver high-quality physical development experiences every single day.
Whether you’re supporting first steps or big leaps, Outdorable is ready when your children are.
Click on the link to find out more about the Outdorable range or watch the video below to see the different reconfigurations for the Pre School Outdorable Package.
Written by Michelle Reid. Michelle is a mum of one and has over 20 years of experience working as a nursery nurse and qualified primary teacher.
