"The natural activity of early childhood, play is what children do and their way of life. For young children, there is no distinction between play and learning; they are one and the same. Playing is a priority in early childhood, yet not all play is the same."
"Children need to remain active throughout the day; promoting outdoor play allows them to get fresh air and explore their environment more. Hands-on learning, the natural environment and loose parts in the outdoors stimulate children’s senses through what they hear, touch, see and feel."
Outdoor play is so important for development and we are thankful to have a big outdoor space with grass and dirt for their little minds to explore. Watching the kids run, play, climb, pretend, dig worms, catch bugs, is something I look forward to on a daily basis. The way they play and use their imagination is one of the reasons I do what I do. It is amazing to see what games and dramatic play they create when they are outside. Our teachers look forward to warmer weather so they can plan activities to do on the playgrounds and in our garden. With spring around the corner we are busy plotting what to plant in our garden beds and will be taking a vote with our preschoolers on what fruit and vegetables they want to help grow... stay tuned!