Dear Families,
The outdoors can play an important role in providing children with opportunities to experiment and explore; ask questions; and make observations; solve problems and build theories.
When you are outdoors, talk about the things you can see, hear, touch, and feel so that the children become aware of changes in the weather and the seasons, the growth of plants, and animals. You can help children notice changes by asking them what is different about the trees, the caterpillars, or the sky. Point out the many kinds of birds that fly overhead, butterflies, different types of insects, falling leaves, and rain as it begins. Wonder aloud where all these things come from.
When children play outdoors, encourage them to talk about what they are doing. For example, you might say:
• "What happened to the sun just now? I don't see it anymore."
• "What is making the trees bend the way they are today?"
Finally, let’s not forget about Earth Day, which is celebrated on April 22. We celebrate Earth Day to continue promoting environmental awareness and to remind us that we can protect the earth in our everyday lives as well.
You can find additional resources at pbs.org/parents, a trusted PBS source.
With appreciation,
KLRN Education Team
