Outdoor reading space ideas for children
Outdoor reading space resources, with bean bags, tents, pop-ups, teepees, wigwams, hammocks, pouffes, giant outdoor cushions, outdoor classrooms, reading sheds, garden playhouses and reading treehouses. There’s lots of inspiration here for your dream outdoor reading space at school or home. We tried to source practical, hard-wearing and long-lasting resources that offer long-term value for a variety of settings. Also included are teaching ideas, current academic thinking regarding the benefits of reading outside and how using alternative settings can benefit mindfulness and creativity.
Children’s outdoor reading space resources – our recommendations
Bean bags
Gardenista Bean Bag Pouffe
Hard-wearing with weatherproof covers, non-fade colours and wipable surfaces, these Gardenista pouffes double as cushions that will seat two small children, or an adult, or could be used as a footstool for lazing in the garden with a good book. With a rectangular shape, these 45 x 65 x 30 cm bean bags are easy to store.
Gardenista Extra Large Water Resistant Bean Bag
This durable outdoor bean bag chair is super comfortable and includes lots of innovative features such as air vents, a removable washable cover, replaceable Premium Grade EPS Polystyrene Beads, and UV protection to prevent fading. It will sit one adult or larger child, and two smaller children and it’s perfect for reading outside.
Gardenista Outdoor Bean Bag Chair
At 65 x 90 x 90 cm, this is a large and comfortable high-backed bean bag chair that’s ideal for people looking for back support and an outdoor chair to sit on and lose hours reading a book. It’s perfect for gardens, patios, decking or the beach. It comes in four colours: vibrant gold, vivid green, summer grey or ocean teal.
Gardenista water-resistant giant outdoor bean bag cushion
This enormous bean bag is a practical and effective way to provide instant outdoor seating for your reading area. Measuring up at 160 x 125 x 30 cm, one adult can lie on it like a sofa or a group of smaller people can all fit on it for cosy group reading. There’s a convenient carry handle and a waterproof cover.
Tents and pop-up shelters
WolfWise 4-5 Person Easy Up Beach Tent with UPF 50
This clever pop-up tent uses an umbrella-style system to go from rolled up and packed away to ready to go in under a minute. Equally at home on grass, patios and paving, as well as on the beach, this large tent will fit 4-5 adults or quite a few more small children. The extendable mat creates a big surface footprint that’s perfect for outdoor group reading.
WolfWise 3-4 Person Easy Up Beach Tent with UPF 50+
The smaller version of the WolfWise tent features all the benefits of the larger tent including UPF 50+ sun factor protection, water-repellent fabric, and cleverly designed mesh window privacy, ventilation and wind protection. There are also anchor points to keep the tent secure in a breeze.
Outdoor reading corners
Large Wooden Outdoor Reading Corner
At 150cm x 190cm x 245cm, this large reading corner not only provides shelter, but exciting display space for your outdoor library. Open the doors, let the sunshine in and get ready for exhilarating reading sessions outside! Well-built with solid materials, this reading corner is highly recommended.
Outdoor classroom reading room with benches
This airy but sturdy reading shelter offers shade and a peaceful setting for your outside reading groups. With moveable bench seating and shelves to stack or display reading books, this is a practical solution for both smaller and larger groups of children.
EYFS reading play den
This wonderful chalet-style play den for early years children offers a sheltered reading veranda, solid redwood construction, artisan Georgian-style windows and 36 square feet of reading accommodation. It would make a wonderful addition to your school grounds or a stunning garden showstopper.
Outdoor wooden reading classroom with bookshelves
Step into this spacious triple-aspect outdoor shed-style library that offers lots of space for creative librarians to display books, promote reading for pleasure and encourage reading on the school grounds.
Outdoor wooden reading shed with bookcase
Give your outdoor literacy provision an instant boost with this ready-assembled reading shed complete with a blackboard, triple shelf integral bookcase and lots of space for resources.
Outdoor reading nook for children
This charming wooden reading nook is great for shady groves, cosy garden corners or secluded spots on the school grounds. With cushions included and three storage tubs, it could be a hub of outdoor reading for your children.
Hammocks
Outsunny Outdoor Hammock with Stand
Keep your children in suspense by reading engrossing mysteries on this super-stripy outdoor hammock! With a TikTok trendy arc design and washable fabric, it’s well built and easy to assemble, disassemble and store away.
Wooden Rocking Chair for Kids
Rock up for outdoor reading with this sturdy and practical wooden chair that’s perfect for early years children. With an adjustable pillow, wipeable fabric, and funky design this super stable design is highly recommended.
Wigwams and Teepees
Neo Large Canvas Children Indian Tent
Who can resist a stripy seaside-themed teepee to read, roleplay, play in or hide in? Perfect to use indoors or outdoors at home, this easy-to-clean cotton canvas 150 x 120 x 120cm tent is easy to assemble and store and will provide hours of fun for younger children.
Dream outdoor classroom treehouses
Spectacular outdoor reading classroom
This incredible castle-style outdoor space is big enough to hold a class of children, according to manufacturers Red Monkey Play. With two storeys to read your stories, children will love the sense of space and adventure and outdoor reading time will never again be mundane.
Ultimate grand designs style hideaway garden/school grounds reading playhouses
Hideaway garden playhouse
With a Nordic alfresco feel, this bijou playhouse will spark your children’s imaginations and provide an enchanting space to read in comfort, listen to stories or hide overdue library loans. It’s also guaranteed for 15 years against rot.
Nature discovery eco playhouse for gardens
This eco-literacy hub includes a clear painting screen to write and draw in, a curtain for hideaway storytime, a wooden letter box to post mystery messages, wind chimes, a planter, integrated guttering and an eye-catching curved roof.
Bunny Max tower playhouse for gardens
This imposing structure offers good long-term value for money and blends an outdoor potential reading alcove with pure fun. A big bonus is the amount of storage space inside. For accelerated reading on summer afternoons, try the optional slide!
Outdoor reading books
Mrs Owl’s Forest School: The Moonlit Campout by Ruth Symons
Join Mouse, Squirrel, Fox, and Rabbit on a nighttime camping adventure! This charming picture book for 0-5 year olds will encourage outdoor play and exploration, and inspire storytelling around the fire. It’s also a good fit for Forest School teaching and features immersive illustrations by Seb Braun, inspired by his experiences as a Scouts leader. The Moonlit Campout is perfect to read on camping holidays or in your outside classroom at school.
Shyla’s Wood Wide Web by Ewa Jozefkowicz
Take a magical journey through Willow Wish Woods, exploring the fascinating world of fungi! With her grandmother’s binoculars in hand, Shyla and the Woodland Explorers uncover the hidden connections between trees and fungi, known as the Wood Wide Web. Guided by magical creatures, Shyla learns how to protect the forest. Perfect for 5-7 year-olds, this series blends adventure, friendship, and environmental awareness, with charming illustrations by Gillian Flint bringing the story to life.
Bunny’s Most Fabulous Holiday Ever! by Brian Fitzgerald
Bunny just wants to be alone in her camper van to enjoy a peaceful holiday, but her relaxation is shattered by a purple monster who pitches up next to her. When Bob’s tent blows away in a storm, Bunny shows kindness, tolerance, and friendship by helping him out. Brian Fitzgerald’s thought-provoking, funny, and sensitive story challenges 3+ year-olds to stop and think, and it will remind both children and adults that sometimes the best experiences come from unplanned events. Highly recommended.
I Hear You, Mountains by Kallie George
Kallie George’s I Hear You, Mountains is the third instalment in the Sounds of Nature series. Following a group of friends on a mountain hike, readers will discover the sounds of nature, including waterfalls and chipmunks. It’s perfect for reading in forest school, in outdoor classrooms, and also to read in the classroom when discussing mindfulness, empathy, and listening skills. Beautifully illustrative with evocative text, I Hear You, Mountains is highly recommended for inquisitive and thoughtful children who are interested in the natural world.
The 13-Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths
Where better to read about the most incredible imaginary treehouse than outside in a treehouse? This bestselling series by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton is a surefire winner for KS2 children – especially those who are less confident readers.
Teaching the Primary Curriculum Outdoors by Learning Through Learning Through Landscapes
This resource for primary school teachers is a goldmine of ideas for teaching and learning outdoors. With practical ideas covering all curriculum subjects, this book covers planning your outdoor education, challenges to expect and how to overcome them, and how to make outdoor learning inclusive.
Learning Outside the Primary Classroom by Shonette Bason, Barbara Maines, George Robinson
With a focus on personalised and bespoke learning, this fascinating book is full of useful ideas for moving the curriculum outside and beyond the classroom. Very strong on practical activities, this book is highly recommended for helping to provide evidence to underpin your school’s outdoor learning planning and provision.
Click the buttons below to purchase all of the books in this outside reading spaces resource, as well as class sets of any of these books and many more, from Bookshop.org UK. Or buy the 20 most popular items from this list from Amazon – ideal for the home or your classroom library.
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Educational benefits of outdoor reading
Reading outdoors offers a different, peaceful, and often more exciting setting for reading. The benefits of outdoor reading are underpinned by research and we hope the practical insights below will positively impact student engagement and well-being. From improved concentration to vitamin D, outdoor reading offers advantages teachers can use to help promote reading for pleasure at home and in school.
A creative environment encourages creative reading
- Outdoor reading environments provide a break from the classroom.
- An outdoor space can aid reading imagination and creative thinking. It’s also a great setting for storytelling.
Reading outdoors encourages a connection with the environment
- Reading outside is a different sensory experience.
- The sights, sounds, and textures of the outdoors create a backdrop for storytelling, reading to a class or shared reading.
- Research indicates that exposure to natural environments can stimulate cognitive functions and improve memory recall.
A great setting for smaller reading groups
- Outdoor reading spaces are great for smaller, more intimate reading groups.
- A smaller setting, away from the classroom can help to cultivate a sense of reading ownership and independence.
Mindfulness meets reading
- Outdoor reading spaces promote relaxation and mental well-being.
- Research suggests that exposure to natural light and fresh air can alleviate stress and enhance cognitive function.
- Spending time reading outdoors offers an opportunity to absorb vitamin D. Exposure to sunlight triggers the body’s natural production of vitamin D, which plays a crucial role in bone health, immune function, and overall well-being.
How outdoor spaces can help children’s reading for pleasure at school
- Outdoor reading spaces offer something different.
- Reluctant readers are often more positive about reading outdoors.
- Reading outside can be replicated at home, on holiday and outside of school time.
- Children who see adults enjoying reading outside may be prompted to do the same.
- The time pressures, close proximity to other people and distractions associated with a classroom setting might vanish into thin air when reading in the open air.
References:
- Gatersleben, B., & Andrews, M. (2013). When walking in nature is not restorative- The role of prospect and refuge. Health & Place, 20, 91-101.
- Berto, R. (2005). Exposure to restorative environments helps restore attentional capacity. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 25(3), 249-259.
- Kaplan, R., & Kaplan, S. (1989). The experience of nature: A psychological perspective. Cambridge University Press.
- Milfont, T. L., & Schultz, P. W. (2016). Culture and the natural environment. Current Opinion in Psychology, 8, 194-199.
- Rudd, M., Vohs, K. D., & Aaker, J. (2012). Awe expands people’s perception of time, alters decision-making, and enhances well-being. Psychological Science, 23(10), 1130-1136.
- Ottosson, J., & Grahn, P. (2005). A comparison of leisure time spent in a garden with leisure time spent indoors: On measures of restoration in residents in geriatric care. Landscape Research, 30(1), 23-55.
- Van den Berg, A. E., Maas, J., Verheij, R. A., & Groenewegen, P. P. (2010). Green space as a buffer between stressful life events and health. Social Science & Medicine, 70(8), 1203-1210.
- Li, D., Sullivan, W. C., & Wu, J. (2016). Gender differences in restorative effects of nature-based experiences: A meta-analysis. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part B, 19(7), 383-399.
- Hartig, T., Mitchell, R., de Vries, S., & Frumkin, H. (2014). Nature and health. Annual Review of Public Health, 35, 207-228.
- Houlden, V., Weich, S., & de Albuquerque, J. P. (2018). The relationship between greenspace and the mental well-being of adults: A systematic review. PLoS ONE, 13(9), e0203000.
Additional reading and resources
- The Woodland Trust offers a thorough free activity pack that explores all aspects of outdoor learning for primary teachers in UK schools
- The Scottish Book Trust has ten exciting activity ideas for what you can do with any book outside. We particularly liked the breadcrumb trail and book garden ideas!
- Heinemann Podcast features a must-listen conversation with Valerie Bang-Jensen and Amy Ludwig VanDerwater about teaching literacy outdoors – with lots of achievable and practical activities. We loved the word gardens.
