How to Make the Most of Your Outdoor Furniture

Summer is more or less here, and even though the weather may not show it, this is a fantastic time to get outside with your children and enjoy the great outdoors. Most schools will have completed exams, which allows for a bit more flexibility in the timetable- what better way to celebrate the end of term than taking your learning outside and enjoying the fresh air! Paper Plus have a great range of outdoor furniture that will support children learning outside, whilst making sure they are safe and secure at the same time. Here are some furniture ideas, along with some activities to go alongside them. Now all we need is the sunshine! 

1. Multicoloured Seat

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Multicoloured seats are a great talking point in the playground and are often used as ‘friendship benches’ during playtime. The idea is that if a child is feeling sad, or would like someone to play with, they can sit on the bench, and someone will come and join them. Adults are around to supervise, but the brightness of the bench and the warm colours often attracts children and helps them to start a conversation with each other. Playground benches are also good for allowing children a break from the hustle and bustle of playtime and letting them catch their breath – it works well for teachers too!

2. Outdoor Table Tennis Table

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Table tennis is a fantastic activity that is incredibly popular at every school that I’ve been in! It is easy to play and doesn’t require any knowledge of rules- you just have to hit the ball over the net and hope for the best. It is great for hand-eye co-ordination and working on building strength in the hand and wrist. Even better than that, it is fantastic for teamwork and building bonds with classmates. You can organise tournaments where children have to team up in pairs and play doubles, or play a game where children have one shot and then run around to the other side of the table – exhausting, but great fun!

3. Pencil Bins

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Recycling is a hot topic in schools- children are really passionate advocates for the environment and want to play their part. Having bins around the school is really important- it is something that pupil councils always bring up as wanting to have more of. Recycling and throwing away your waste is way more fun when the bin is colourful and looks like a pencil! You could organise class competitions to see who can throw away the most items, design a poster above the bin encouraging everyone to throw away their rubbish or appoint eco-monitors who are responsible for making sure everyone recycles. Having colourful bins around a school is a clear sign to the community that this is a caring place where everyone plays their part.  

4. Softwood Picnic Bench

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Picnic benches are an excellent addition to an outdoor area or playground- not only do they allow for lunch to be eaten outside, but they are also great places to learn! You can conduct whole lessons outside with exercise books, as the children will have something to lean on and be comfortable. Picnic benches are also good for looking at the world around you- close up drawing of leaves or inspecting an area for bugs. Science lessons are great outside, as there are real-life examples all around you of science in action. Having the opportunity to work in a different environment makes everyone feel refreshed- it is even better when the sun comes out!

5. Transform Your Outdoor Space

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If you have got the time and opportunity, why not transform the whole of your outdoor space? Paper Plus focus on all aspects of design and installation, to really make your outdoor space somewhere that children feel proud of and want to spend time in. It might be adding different surfaces to your playground or updating your play equipment- it is always worth thinking about what will keep your children engaged and entertained, whilst giving them learning opportunities at the same time. Children of all ages enjoy playing outside- why not provide them with the equipment to do it? 

Contact Us

If you’d like to know more about how Paper Plus can provide your school with the supplies and stationery it requires, please get in touch. Call us on 01444 238 050 or pop us an email at sales@paperplusuk.com