Mud mess and magic: building student teachers’ confidence for art the outdoors in early years

摘要

This article explores making art outdoors as a resistance to a reduction in messy, outdoor play in our early years settings, schools and increasingly risk averse societies. As part of a small-­‐scale Community of Practice research investigation into improving the confidence of student teachers to make a mess and brave the weather, the article argues for a relation with ‘outerness’, where both being outside and exploring natural materials in art can function as play partners in the creative process.