2 Surfaces and stimuli

Two of the key criteria that Gould (2012) identifies for effective outdoor provision as part of his S Factor are surfaces and stimuli. For babies and young children, appropriate surfaces are those that are multi-textured, multi-layered and multi-level. Effective stimuli take into account that babies and young children are developing their knowledge about the world by using their senses, and thus effective provisions are those that offer rich sensory experiences. The following sections will explore what outdoor surfaces and stimuli may look like specifically for children aged under two.