SPECTACULAR SPRING!
With spring (allegedly) on the horizon, I have started thinking about the best ways to shake off the months of winter. There are the numerous outdoor projects like getting the yard ready and tuning up the bicycles. It is also a great opportunity for the entire family to re-engage with our amazing natural resources by walking around the lakes and hiking through woods.
Spring is a perfect time for children to participate in natural play. The melting of what little snow we had this year lets kids run, jump and roll around - all things that are hard on clothes but great for children's physical and emotional wellbeing. Engaging in outdoor activities also gives children a chance to take a break from plastic toys in favor of natural materials such as sticks, rocks and water or simple elements of play like balls, blocks and sand.
What fun for you and your child to spend time picking dandelions, sorting sticks by their lengths, or pitching a tent for outdoor adventure!
At Especially for Children we are planning for nature-based play throughout the spring and summer.
We will be out on our playgrounds observing buds and bugs. Without bulky snow clothes on, sliding and climbing will be new experiences. And after shedding both mittens and boots we will get much better at throwing, kicking and catching balls.
It's wonderful to watch the children when they are able to enjoy the outdoors to its full extent. They will learn to be better observers as they watch the grass turn green, the flowers bloom, and the temperature change. We will help them describe these changes with new vocabulary. We will read books about nature and sing songs that celebrate spring and summer happenings. Through experiencing the contrasts of the seasons, children who live in Minnesota get a chance to truly understand the distinct beauties of spring, summer, fall and winter. Why would anyone really want to live anywhere else?
As spring unfolds and is quickly followed by summer, let's all get outside and take advantage of two of the best seasons Minnesota has to offer!
|