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by Jacki Leader / January 15, 2019
It is a special thrill when a child finds animal tracks outside. When you happen upon one, you realize you have discovered a visible clue: who came before us? where did they go? will they return? If you are lucky enough to discover an animal track on a walk with the children, tap into the […]
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by Lydia M. Bowers / August 22, 2018
In the previous blog post, educators explained some developmental benefits to outdoor play. Playing outdoors becomes critical in the face of increasingly more academic pressure in early years. We tend to see the alphabet, reading, writing, and how to cut with scissors as what’s important for school. Children ought to be learning to sit quietly […]
by Lydia M. Bowers / August 16, 2018
With back-to-school schedules, getting outside to play suddenly drops in our priority lists. By the time we’re done with school snacks and homework, we feel like we don’t have time for outdoor play anymore! Two early childhood professionals explain the importance of getting outside, what parents should know, and why it’s worth it. Megan Brown, […]
by Lydia M. Bowers / May 16, 2018
How often are young children drawn to the sticks lying around the yard or playground? And how often do we tell them to put it down, watch out, be careful? The book Not a Stick by Antoinette Portis reminds us of the power of imagination. The little bunny, while being given the typical cautions from an adult, […]
by Tracey Hill / April 25, 2018
The outdoors is a big open canvas for children. There are so many things to see, do, and hear when outside. Adding something as simple as DIY binoculars can help children focus on one aspect at a time. Materials Needed: Tissue paper roll or a paper towel roll cut in half Glue and tape Crayons […]
by Lydia M. Bowers / April 4, 2018
A neighbor’s tree fell in our yard. Back-to-back storms quickly worked against the old, dead wood, and it came crashing down, toppling their fence, sprawling the tree across the entire width of our backyard. Nobody was hurt and there was no damage to our property, and my children were enthralled. Immediately they ran outdoors to […]
by Lydia M. Bowers / March 1, 2018
How can we engage children in using their senses outdoors? Use a Sensory Scavenger Hunt! This can be something you try to search for all in one longer outdoor trip or keep it on hand for whenever you notice these things throughout the rest of the season. Older children love having their own page to […]
by Jacki Leader / January 31, 2018
Snow provokes responses that reach right back to childhood. – Andy Goldsworthy A blanket of fresh fallen snow can be so peaceful. The pristine snow evokes a feeling of endless possibilities. When I was young, I loved marking this blank slate with a snow angel. When I was done, I would carefully get up, trying […]
by Tracey Hill / December 13, 2017
Come one, come all to the winter wonderland playground carnival fun! Yes, it is getting cold outside, but with these quick carnival games, outdoor play can still be an option. Despite having a snow or rain covered playground, you can still let the children have playtime outside with these fun games below. Ring Toss: A […]
by Tracey Hill / October 25, 2017
With Fall now being in full swing, there are plenty of leaves to go around. To take advantage of the numerous leaves that are now starting to fall to the ground, there are many leaf activities that the children can do to play and learn. Leaf Count Put Numbers on Index cards. Ask the children […]
by Jacki Leader / August 30, 2017
In part one of The Sandbox I reflected on how open-ended sand is. Because of this, the type of materials offered, and the way the materials are presented will set the stage for sand exploration. Traditional sand toys typically include buckets and shovels, which are fine, but what other materials might spark the children’s creativity? […]
by Tracey Hill / August 9, 2017
As educators, a rainy day is not always a good thing. We feel like we can’t take the children outside and let them play or explore. The things that come to mind are wet children, puddles, mud, wet playgrounds. Why not make the best of it? There are plenty of fun and educational things that […]
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