outdoor play
• Allow adequate time every day for children to play outdoors
“Give your children the giſt of time to move and play every day!” USING THE ENVIRONMENT
• Take frequent movement breaks throughout the day in classroom settings
• Allow children to move prior to going to school, such as helping with chores outside
• Let them play outdoors when they get home from school for at least a few hours
• Younger children don't need to do organised sports or activities; they'll get adequate exercise simply through play
• Invite children to come over and play with your children outdoors for the day. Your children are likely to be more independent in their play with friends around
• If you live in a neighbourhood with other children, let your children go and play with friends
• Let children take risks - even the youngest ones - such as jumping off a small rock or walking on the side of a kerb
Children test their limits both physically
and mentally, growing stronger each time they play. Tey develop a sense of confidence as they climb a tree a little higher or another child agrees to play with them when they ask. Tey learn patients and how to persevere in order to keep the game going. Trough free play, children become flexible, resilient and capable. Free play lays the foundation for a successful working career and the development of long-term relationships as an adult.
Specific tips for fostering strong
and capable kids Not only is allowing children enough time to play important, but the quality of that time will determine the amount of developmental benefits they receive. Te following are some basic tips on how to foster strong, healthy and capable kids:
• Instead of entertaining your children primarily through adult-led activities, inspire movement by using the environment (set up a rope swing outdoors, provide a bike and a basket). Let them take the lead on what they'd like to do
• Most importantly, give your children the giſt of time to move and play every day!
In a nutshell You don't need to structure your children's activity during recess or when they are home. Simply step back and allow them ample time to move and play outdoors or on their own. Your children will naturally create their own play opportunities and seek out the their own play opportunities and seek out the type and amount of movement they need - without the need for adult intervention. Active free play is critical for developing healthy bodies and minds. It allows children to develop creativity, independent thinking skills, confidence, emotion regulation skills, strength, and healthy sensory and immune systems. „
AS INSPIRATION One way to inspire creative and independent play is by providing a rich and inspiring environment. Environments that offer varied elements, such as a stream to explore, muddy areas to get messy in, or woods to play in, enrich and stimulate children's play in different ways. Here are just a few examples of how play can vary depending on the environment:
• Play near a stream. Streams can encourage children to build a dam, make a bridge to walk across, or create 'boats' to float down the stream
• Play at the beach. At the beach, children often test their hand at building sand castles or sculptures, playing at the water's edge, or experiencing risk taking by swimming and diving into the waves
• Play in the woods. While playing in a wooded area, children may pick up large sticks to create a fort or little ones to build a fairy house
• Play near mud puddles. While playing near a mud puddle, children may seek out frogs to catch, create mud sculptures, try going barefoot, build a bridge, float items in the water, or throw objects into the puddle to make a big splash. They may even try mud slides - sliding into the puddles on their bellies
You can read more of Angela's tips on outdoor play in 'Balanced and Barefoot'. For more information visit
www.new
harbinger.com.
Autumn 2016 MODERNMUM 63
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