Let's Go Outside!

Kids love to play outside! And teachers love outdoor time, too. It's a relaxing, stress-reducing, tension-relieving part of the day, and a time when much development and learning take place.

Physical development is evident outdoors as children learn about their bodies in space, practice important physical skills, and exercise and strengthen muscles. Children also learn social skills—cooperation, turn taking, being on a team. And kids learn about the world around them: they observe changes in plants and the differences in the seasons; they watch living things such as worms and crickets; they learn about the earth by collecting rocks and leaves.

The outdoor environment is an extension of the classroom. We plan for this part of the day just as we do for the other parts of the daily routine.

The environment includes equipment that helps encourage learning. For example, climbing equipment helps children develop their motor skills and judgment about what they can safely do; trikes and other riding toys develop balance and coordination; the sand area is used for creating cities and harbors and for exploring the properties of dry and wet sand.

We often bring classroom equipment outside to enrich the outdoor environment. One day you might see children painting at the easels and another day you might notice children bathing their babies and taking them for a ride in a wagon. The time spent outside is a valuable part of our daily schedule.

Let's Pretend
The Artful Classroom
Let's Go Outside!
Large Motor Development
Sensational Sand
The Listening Center
Learning with Blocks
The Write Stuff
The Reading Area
Science by Discovery
Wonderful, Wet Water
Fine Motor Development