Monday, April 28, 2014
It's SPRING! Time to Get Outdoors!
True Coloradans have all witnessed a wide range of weather conditions within the changes of seasons. Springtime, however, is officially here and it is time to get those kiddos playing outdoors. According to research studies today’s kids are indoors far more than their parents ever were and you probably didn’t need a report to tell you that. Most kids spend breakfast in front of the TV as well as a large portion of their downtime. Even preschoolers have record breaking times in front of the TV; with a whopping 32 hours a week and kindergartners have watched more hours of television than the hours it takes to earn a college degree.
There are educational and health benefits linked to children playing outside. Playing outside supports healthy brain development, cognitive skills (thinking), motor skills (running), and social development (decreasing anxiety).The health benefits are immeasurable, extending from a good source of Vitamin D from the sun to reducing ADHD symptoms.
So now that the weather is better let’s get up, let’s get out and let’s get moving.
Let’s go on a Bug Hunt
Materials: Clipboard, marker, and paper (add a magnifying glass and jar if you want to collect what you find)
1. Make a checklist of the type of bugs you want to find. Depending on your child’s development level he or she can simply draw a picture of the bug. If the child is too young to write, a grown-up can write the names of the bugs for print recognition. Older children can draw and write it themselves.
2. Start searching and make little check marks for the bugs you find. Together you both can count the discoveries you found. You can extend your child’s learning by incorporating books about bugs; try An Ant’s Day Off by Bonny Becker, The Very Quiet Cricket by Eric Carle or The Gentleman Bug
by Julian Hector.
by Julian Hector. As caregivers and parents we can give children structured and unstructured playtime for outdoor fun. You might ask which one is better for your child. It’s like selecting fruits or vegetables; your child needs both.
Structured play has a set of rules and directions. It is also more organized. Going on a “Bug Hunt” is an example of structured activity for outdoor play because it requires using materials, making a list, drawing, counting and a little bit of science. There are benefits to structured play which include introducing a child to new ideas and teach how to follow directions. There can be some disadvantages when it takes over opportunities for unstructured play. Over scheduling structured play in a child’s life can lead to anxiety, stress and in some cases depression according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Therefore it is important to allow a child equal opportunity for unstructured play.
Unstructured play, also known as “free” play, is open ended with unlimited possibilities. An example of free play is a trip to the front yard or Neighborhood Park allowing a kid to run free. Children are able to be creative, use their imagination, select what and how they want to play, and explore. The benefits of free play are numerous from building self-resilience, conflict resolution, problem solving techniques, persistence, and social emotional growth. With free play children feel more in control and their levels of motivation are higher because they have chosen something that appeals to them. There are minimal disadvantages associated with free play, with the main one relating to a child’s safety. Adults will always need to observe and be around to ensure the child remains safe.
More Outdoor Activities...
0-3 year olds - SENSORY WALK - take children outdoors and search for different smells, textures, shapes. Exploring one tree up close, feeling the bark, tracing the shapes of the leaves, listening to the leaves rustle, or to the sound of twigs rubbed together, smelling the leaves or the bark, even just looking closely at the way the tree grows up from the ground can give a young child hours of engagement and meaningful learning that will build school readiness.
3-6 year olds - TRACKING - have young children look for signs of animals. Tiny bugs and worms are fascinating to young children, and so are tracks in mud or moist soil, but what about animal signs up high? Look up in the trees and find nests, or chewed leaves. Look closely at the underside of leaves and find eggs, or even cocoons. Bird calls, squirrel chirps, or prairie dog calls are signs of animals in our neighborhoods too! Can your children find traces of 3 or 4 different animals? Can they tell what the animals were doing? The questions they ask that might spark further study!
6-12 year olds - BIRDING - Have kids count how many different kinds of birds they see while on a walk outdoors. Or choose a particular bird and try to count how many they find in one small area during a 5 minute observation. There are great resources online for identifying neighborhood birds, and there are ongoing studies where students can report their findings if they decide to do a bird count.
13-21 year olds - SKETCHING - Send teens outdoors with a sketchbook and some fresh colored pencils! Drawing and capturing plant life outdoors is a great way to develop observational skills, as well as to study the way nature constructs itself and to look for patterns around us.
21+ year olds - INVESTIGATING - Take a new and more investigative approach to your environment. Ask critical questions to connect purpose and responsibility to the setting. For example, when visiting a park or outdoor venue, ask question like “Why is the space laid out like this?”, “Who is participating in the environment?”, “Are there aspects that naturally draw you into them?”, “Is there a way that I can connect to the surroundings?” and even, “What are the take away memories from this space?” Asking questions like these can help anyone think outside the box about places they might frequent regularly or take advantage of.
Over all, outdoor play is amazing for everyone. It provides opportunities to engage in learning and stimulation that can take on a life of its own. Whether its free play, or a structured adventure… be sure to go outside today!
The Nest Matters is LOOKING for parents, grandparents, caregivers, teachers, early childhood specialist individuals and groups that would be interested in joining our Interest Group to acquire Denver Affiliate Status of the National Black Child Development Institute. Please forward your interest to our email address: thenestmatters@gmail.com.
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