OUTPLAY-OutdoorPlayLabs

OUTPLAY – Outdoor Play Labs is a European cooperation project that strengthens STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) in early childhood and primary education (ages 3–10) through outdoor, play-based learning. 

While STEM skills and transversal competences are increasingly valued across education systems, many young children still have limited access to hands-on, engaging, and inclusive learning experiences — particularly outdoors. OUTPLAY addresses this gap by combining STEM learning, social and emotional learning (SEL), and outdoor play to promote holistic child development. Through exploration and collaboration, children strengthen problem-solving, teamwork, and communication, while developing emotional regulation, resilience, and adaptability from an early age — building meaningful connections with others and with their environment.

Importantly, this initiative prioritizes inclusive access, ensuring that children from underserved communities — including Roma children, migrant and refugee children, children with disabilities, and children in rural or low-resource settings — can benefit from high-quality outdoor learning opportunities and experience a strong sense of belonging.

OUTPLAY is implemented by a transnational consortium of early childhood education, research, and community-based organizations across Europe, led by Škola dokorán – Wide OpenSchool (Slovakia), in partnership with InternationalChild Development Initiatives (the Netherlands), Fundacja Pro Fil (Poland), Pučko otvoreno učilište “Korakpo korak” (Croatia), Pedagoški Institut (Slovenia), and the International Step by Step Association (the Netherlands). 

Learn more about this exciting new initiative: https://issa.nl/outplay/home