Every day, children have at least two hours to spend outside, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. With the winter and cold weather, this time can be reduced. Even then, the children can explore their environment and play with natural elements. However, children can spend more time outside as the cold goes away and the spring arrives.
In the last weeks, the before and after-school groups could stay outside longer. First, we spend time on the concrete area or field behind the school. At this time, children can ride bikes, play basketball, run around the fields and explore nature. One day, Olivia and Geetan found a worm under the soccer field bench and showed it to all of their peers. Later, they tried to put it back under the mud. Olivia made holes in the ground using a stick and put the worm near it. Then, everybody gathered around the worm and observed it, giving their thoughts on whether it would go in the hole or not. When no one was expecting, another worm emerged from the hole that Olivia made, making them excited and debating if the new worm was the old worm's baby.
When it is warm and pleasant weather, we get to spend more time outside. After school, we stay behind the school, then the whole group goes inside for a snack. Afterwards, we have the opportunity to play at the childcare playground. Although the after-school group can become opiniated because they think it is a ''baby's playground,'' children always find something to engage and play with the whole time. In this playground, we have some logs, a sandbox, many bikes, wooden blocks and sand toys. Nathan, Braya and Catherine climbed the big log, going all the way to the top and jumping to the wood chips. Cari and Dami played in the sandbox, trying to fill the holes that the preschoolers made. Geetan, Olivia and James M rode the bikes; sometimes Olivia was their GPS, and sometimes James was the agent on the board from the US to Canada.
Outdoor play offers children more than just physical exercise. It is a valuable opportunity for them to develop a range of skills. For instance, climbing the log enhances their confidence, balance, and respect for personal boundaries, while playing in the sandbox supports their fine motor and social skills, fostering cooperation and friendship. By riding bikes, children can understand direction and space while promoting gross motor skills, imaginative play, and a better understanding of the world around them.
If the children are already developing, learning and playing so much at the beginning of the warm weather, how much can they do when summer comes, and they are presented with different elements, such as water play, picnics, and walks?
