Play and Nature Newsletter

“Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning.

But for children, play IS serious learning.

Play is really the work of childhood.”

~ Fred Rogers

🌷🪻Happy Spring! 🪻 🌷

Research shows that play and nature-based learning is crucial for whole-child development. This newsletter offers actionable ideas, resources, and research that supports child-led play and nature connection for educators and families.

If you're ready to embrace more play and nature in your program, consider the free coaching and professional development that Community Connections for Children offers early learning providers in ELRCs 8, 9, and 10.

Have this newsletter delivered to your inbox monthly.

Awe and wonder in your classroom

We recently sat down for a conversation with Dr. Rachel Larimore, one of our favorite nature-based educators and authors, to discuss the nature and play-based work we do and some of the challenges that educators face in this work. We love this blog post she sent out last year on awe and wonder, especially as things begin to bloom, and wanted to share it with you so that you may be inspired to find awe and wonder with your children every day.

Read the blog post here

Divergent Thinking + Creative Genius

This is a topic we are passionate about, and Tinkergarten describes it so well in this short, 2.5-minute video.

"At its essence, creativity is all about imagining new things and then bringing them to life. But where do the ideas for those new things come from? Divergent thinking!

Kids are naturally fantastic at divergent thinking, coming up with all kinds of creative solutions to situations and innovative uses for everyday things. In fact, 98% of kids aged 4-5 score at the “genius” level in a test of this type of thinking designed for NASA. On the same test, only 3% of 25-year-olds reach that level. What causes such a drop? How can we keep that from happening?! Check out this video to learn more. Spoiler alert: There's still time to help kids maintain that creative superpower!"

Check out the video above as well as this article on creativity.

Winter '24 Outdoor and Nature-Based Policy and Network Updates

Did you know that some states now license outdoor preschools? And others are working toward this goal. Check out this report from the Natural Start Alliance to learn what other states are doing, and what Pennsylvania is working toward.

As a Technical Assistance Coach, it sometimes seems that teachers want a "magic wand solution" to the challenges they are facing in their classrooms. I (Elizabeth) wanted that, too, as a classroom teacher! The response most hear is that there is no magic wand solution, but I tend to disagree. On this downloadable document, I'm sharing my go-to solutions to behaviors that challenge us and other difficult situations we encounter in the classroom, with resources included. Interested in learning more about any of these? Reach out to us!

Featured book:

Lisa Murphy on Play 2nd Edition: The Foundation of Children's Learning

Discover why school readiness IS children’s play. This updated guide includes timely research and new stories that highlight how play is vital to the social, physical, cognitive, and spiritual development of children.

Learn the seven things we must do with children every day and why they are so important. Use your daily observations to incorporate these seven things in an authentic and engaging way.

Learn More Here

Featured resource:

Butterfly Hill Nature Preschool Outdoor Classroom Tour

Curious what a nature-based outdoor classroom looks like? Check out this in-depth tour for inspiration!

Watch the virtual tour here

Our Free Resources

Access our Nature-Based Play Resource List on the Keystone Kids Go website.

Check out the "Inspiring Nature-Based Early Learning" webinar here. This training counts for 1 hour of PQAS PD (and can count toward STARS indicator EC 3.4.6).

Upcoming Virtual Professional Development (non-PQAS)

April 10, 2 PM | Outdoor Loose Parts! Spark Creativity, Problem-Solving, Communication, and Self-Confidence With Loose Parts Play, by Rusty Keeler

April 11, 2 PM | Multicultural Tools & Strategies for Nature-Based Program Leaders, by Ashley Brailsford, Ph.D.

April 11, 6 PM | Early Childhood Health Outdoors presents: Outside the Fence: Let's Go on a Nature Walk!

April 30, 7 PM | Take Me Outside Presents: Developing a Sense of Place by Sparking Curiosity and Wonder

May 8th, 2 PM | Designing Nature-Rich Spaces That Support Community Connection and Change, by Jeff Lindstrom and Heather Fox

June 5, 2 PM | Cultivating Creativity: Leveraging Process Art + Play to Prioritize Agency, Flow and Belonging, by Shannon Merenstein, Bar Rucci and Dahlia Rao

Our Favorite E-Newsletters and Blogs

Ade Hoffman | Cultivating Confidence | Fairy Dust Teaching | Harvard Center on the

Developing Child | Housman Institute | Kristen RB Peterson | Natural Learning Initiative

Natural Start Alliance | Outdoor Learning | PlayvolutionHQ | Pre-K Spot | Rae Pica

Rusty's Backyard | Teacher Tom | The Learning Cupboard | The OT Toolbox | Tinkergarten

Have you embraced play and/or nature in your program?

We'd love to hear from you!

Your ideas, successes and creativity in overcoming some of the

barriers that limit how much children play and experience nature

can help others believe they can make these changes, too.

Please consider sharing your story (or questions/ideas) with us in the link below. If your story is selected, we will feature your program in an upcoming issue.

Your work will then help inspire others!

Share your successes, questions, or ideas here!

Looking for more information?

Technical Assistance Coach Elizabeth Marcello and Outdoor Learning & Play Consultant Susan Chlebowski can partner with you to provide center-based or individual classroom coaching and professional development in the topics of play-based learning, nature-based learning, classroom management and challenging behavior support, or innovative solutions to barriers. Complete a "Consultation Request" through your PD Registry Organization Page's Keystone STARS tab to request coaching.

*For early learning providers in ELRCs 8, 9, and 10 only.

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