CHILDREN LEARN FROM OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

June 3, 2004

JUNE 3, 2004 AMERICUS -- Visions for Sumter Child Care Resource and Referral Agency offered some tips that can make summer fun and exciting for area children.

Though backyards and playgrounds are usually considered places for kids to simply get some fresh air and "blow off steam," outside play can be as critical to the learning process as activities in an indoor environment.

A person doesn't need expensive swing sets or playhouses for children to enjoy playing and learning outside -- even the simplest patch of lawn or pile of dirt can spark the imagination and creativity of children under the age of five.

Before children are taken outside, a safety check should be done in the area where children will be playing. Look for ant hills or poison ivy, broken glass or other dangerous objects that might have collected over the winter, and remove any sticks or branches that might have fallen.

Prepare children by talking with them about what to expect. Make sure they have sunscreen and insect repellent applied appropriately. The outside play will allow children to observe such items as insects and birds, plants and cloud formations.

Kids love to gather and collect items found outside, such as rocks, feathers and leaves. Scavenger hunts can be organized, or children can simply walk around and gather these items to place in a shoe box. They can press leaves and flowers between the pages of a phone book or between two sheets of paper and stack books on top. 

â?? This article posted with permission from the Americus Times-Recorder.