Ways to Welcome Spring with Your Senses

Spring is upon us, and our senses will be barraged with the sights and sounds of the changing season. What a great time to explore the emergence of spring through our 5 senses!  Consider ways to welcome spring with these … READ MORE

Let It Go (Outside): 4 Frozen Playground Activities

   It’s too cold to be outside for long, but your preschool scientists can still explore properties of the cold with these frozen playground activities. Although most of the investigation can happen inside, each of these take a few minutes … READ MORE

What Can Children Learn from Animal Tracks?

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 … READ MORE

How to Create Music Using the Gifts of Nature

“All the leaves are brown, and the sky is grey…” There’s no need to be California Dreamin’ because we can create our own music on the playground! You can explore percussion materials by finding natural playground objects with which to … READ MORE

What Your Child’s Teacher Wants You to Know About Outdoor Play: Part 2

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 … READ MORE

What Your Child’s Teacher Wants You to Know About Outdoor Play: Part 1

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 … READ MORE

Learning to Love Bugs

What do you do when you see bugs outside? My three-year-old used to shriek and try to step on every ant and run away from worms. Although many of us, as adults, often feel the same, taking the opportunity to … READ MORE

International Mud Day – Part 2

International Mud Day will soon be upon us (June 29th).  Preparing for Mud Day will help make the event fun for all ages.  Consider where the best outdoor place is to have your mud day event.  Make sure to have … READ MORE

International Mud Day

We are on the cusp of International Mud Day, June 29, 2018. “The world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful” -e.e. Cummings The quote above is a segment of e.e. Cumming’s poem [in Just-] and is a wonderful reminder of the provocative … READ MORE

Large Motor Skills on the Playground

The playground is one of the best places to practice large motor skills with children. When you are indoors, space is limited and the children may not be able to exercise their large motor skills to their full capability. Large … READ MORE