To celebrate Earth Day, Room 13, along with Room 11, opened up a dig site on the Pod Playground. We gave the children a lesson on the proper names of the tools we would be using and how to use them safely. The children seemed so eager and excited to use real child-sized garden tools, such as a metal shovel, hoe and rake. Since the opening of the dig site, all of the preschool and 3-6 children have been enjoying digging in the dirt, finding worms and identifying various insects. 

A lot of research has been done on why digging in the dirt is so beneficial for young children. Richard Louv, author of the book, Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder, states that "Spending time in nature reduces stress, while other studies show that contact with the natural world significantly reduces symptoms of attention-deficit disorder in children as young as five . . . Numerous studies document the benefits to students from school grounds that are ecologically diverse and include free play areas, habitats for wildlife, walking trails, and gardens." That sounds a lot like our amazing outdoor environment here at WMS!

We are also hoping to create a mud kitchen for the children to use. The possibilities are endless while playing in the mud. Dirt and other gifts from nature such as monkey balls, sticks and pine cones are low-cost and provide hours of entertainment! Dr. Mary Ruebush, immunologist and author of Why Dirt is Good: Five Ways to Make Germs Your Friends says, "Let your child be a child. Dirt is good. If your child isn't coming home dirty every day, they're not doing their job. They're not building their immunological army." We are not doing our job as teachers and parents if we are not providing the tools and encouraging the children to use their imaginations and get dirty!  

When was the last time you played in the dirt? Don't make dirt a four-letter word!