There is More to Learn - Outside!

The time children spend outdoors every day is just as important to their learning as the time they spend in the classroom. Unless the weather is severe, take children outdoors every day, preferably more than once.

Large muscle activities are essential for children's health and well-being. Too many children today are overweight. One reason is they don't get the large muscle activity essential for healthy development. Children need time each day to run, leap, hop, jump, slide, climb, and throw and catch a ball. These activities build strong muscles and a sense of pride. They are important for another reason as well. Brain research shows that physical activity actually wakes up the brain for learning.

The outdoors greatly increases the learning environment. It is a natural setting for scientific investigations. Children find and study bugs and butterflies, plant seeds and watch them grow, and compare the feel of ice and snow, and learn about how leaves change color and fall to the ground in the Autumn. Talk with children about their discoveries and encourage them to continue investigating what they find outdoors.