While June 5, International Environment Day, was celebrated with much fanfare,
International Mud Day, June 29, an important day for early learners slipped and slithered by without even making a splatter on our calendars. Climbing frames, slides and swings are a fun addition to a playground, but I am an ardent advocate for letting children out to play with natural play elements, available easily and most often inexpensive.
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| G(r)oing up! |
Playing outside fills children with wonder and can be an excellent teaching tool.
Childhood play can veer from quiet and contemplative to boisterous and active. Being outdoors, exploring an ever-changing natural environment encourages creative thinking and lets each child find their own style for discovering, understanding and creating. Whether they are figuring out how best to climb the tree? or why bugs live under the stones? or what makes some pebbles so round? or which kind of mud makes the best pies?, adults should not stand in the way of their incessant questioning or try to limit their exploring. Rather we should support this kind of learning - one that challenges their abilities through "risky" play. Many researchers believe that in our desire to limit injuries and health risks, we create safe and sterile playing environments that neither allows children to expend their energy nor encourages imagination.
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| Splish-splash! We're having a blast! |
Children who play outdoors-
- become fitter and stronger
- develop stronger immune systems
- have more active imaginations.
- respect the world , others and themselves.
- play more creatively.
- develop fine motor dexterity and coordination
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| Ta da...the masterpiece. |
A child's ability to understand and manage risk is essential to development and the importance of outdoor play in the early childhood years cannot be overstated.
If I haven't given you enough reasons to let your child go wild outdoors,
- take a walk together one of these afternoons.
Try not to use the word "No!"too often, just listen to them, allow them to test their skills, investigate nature with respect, and be ready to answer all the questions that will come your way. And if you are feeling really adventurous you may even get down to some delicious squishy mud sculpting yourself!
What say? Mud anyone?
