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“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
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🌦️ April showers bring May flowers... and also many puddles in which to jump! 🌦️
Research shows that play and nature-based learning is crucial for whole-child development. Our hope is that this newsletter can offer 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.
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This month and next we are focusing on Loose Parts (because how could you possibly fit that into one month?!). We wanted to share a few of our "tried and true" ideas with you below. If you are interested in our full list, reach out and we will email it to you (emails are listed near the bottom of the newsletter)!
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Digging Tools
Digging is an ideal “heavy work” nature play activity that helps develop children’s proprioceptive sensory system. To get the most benefit, children need shovels that will not break when they apply pressure. With pre-planning with a benefit risk assessment and established safety practices, metal diggers and shovels can be used. For hand digging, ice cream scoops (either sturdy plastic or metal, use your best judgment for your program) and food service scoops may offer more success and “heavy work” than a flimsy plastic hand shovel (here is a link for stainless scoops).
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Tongs
Children love tongs and will work hard to master using them. These are also easy to find at a thrift store.
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Tuff Trays
Why we love tuff trays:
- They provide a defined space for engaging sensory and/or messy nature play experiences for children
- They are easy to set up and clean up
- Play invitations can be rotated regularly, capturing children’s interest and engagement
- When used on a stand, provides a place for early walkers to stand and move around the table to play and explore
- They offer many benefits to children: creativity, language development, social-emotional learning, communication, fine motor skills practice, etc.
- Learn more here
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Teacher Tom: How to Create a State-of-the-Art Playground for $200 | |
Awhile back, a reader left a comment on the Facebook page asking, "If I have $200 to make my backyard look a little more like your school, what should I get?"
First off, $200 is a pretty good budget for a project like that, mainly because most of the coolest stuff we have in our outdoor classroom we acquired at little or no cost.
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ICYMI: Outdoor Loose Parts! Spark Creativity, Problem-Solving, Communication, and Self-Confidence With Loose Parts Play, by Rusty Keeler - Early Childhood Webinars | Recording: Join natural playscape designer and author Rusty Keeler on a journey of ideas and inspiration, all about the benefits of adding Loose Parts to your outdoor environment to support children's play and learning! From "beginner to best practice," Rusty will teach you what the best materials are for Outdoor Loose Parts, where to find them in your own community, and how to manage them—from storage to safety to talking with parents and licensors about the benefits and strategies of using Loose Parts Outside. | | | |
Featured resource:
Included in the guide:
- What loose parts actually are alongside detailed inventory lists of affordable items for your collection.
- Learn how these magical materials will open up a whole new world with planning, behaviors and communicating with parents.
- Answers to those pesky questions already in your mind: Cleanup? Storage? What if they don’t touch them? I’ve got you covered.
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Featured video:
Outdoor Nature-Based Facilities: Washington State
Recently, Washington state became the first to license outdoor child care programs. Watch this inspiring 10 minute video to see how they bring outdoor learning to you children.
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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) | |
Our Favorite E-Newsletters and Blogs | |
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Have you embraced play and/or nature in your program?
We'd love to hear from you!
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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!
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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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Keep in Touch with Community Connections for Children! | | | | |
