Outdoor Challenge Day 1

Today we had a special visitor at the park, Barret from Fort Whyte.  He took us on a nature walk around the park and taught us about the different ecosystems and creatures that live there.  He pointed out different insects along the walk as well as different plants, ones that are helpful and ones that are harmful such as poison ivy.  

           

The children were given a hula hoop to throw and see how many different ecosystems they could find just within the circle. 

   

                  

The children came back from their walk buzzing about all of the things that they saw and all of the new things they learned about the park.

Deer Meadow Farms

Today we headed out to Deer Meadow Farms in Springfield, Manitoba.  While the weather wasn't the most cooperative, we still had a great time playing and learning about the farm and the animals.  

We rode the train and met a few deer

And played in the hay

We met a few new friends

 At the end of the day, we made butter and got to take home a little token from the farm

Bricks 4 Kidz

We had a busy three days with Bricks 4 Kidz.  All of the children a fantastic time building and creating.  They used their imaginations to come up with some Lego masterpieces and also practiced following directions to create Lego with moving parts and replicating designs.  

It was a great way to kick off the summer!

Splash Pad Part 2

After our first visit to the splash pad we decided that we had to take the children back to enjoy the full experience, and they really did enjoy it.  

Splash Pad Part 1

I took the children for a walk play on the playground at the Waverly Heights Community Center not realizing that the splash pad had already been opened.  The children were so excited to see the water features running, however we had no change of clothes.  

One child asked me if they could take their shoes off and just get their feet wet.

Then another...

Before long I had barefoot children everywhere.

The children involved in gross motor and sensory play as they ran in and out of the puddles around the splash pad, making foot prints on the dry pavement.  They learned math concepts as they compared the size of our footprints and science concepts as they watched the water evaporated in the sun.

Risky Play

Children approach the world around them through play. This morning the children were doing just that. I noticed that they were jumping off of the play structure, running up and down the slides and manipulating their bodies around the play structure. I observed the children to see how they were responding to these tasks.

According to Michael Apter (2007) it is part of children’s nature to be curious about themselves and their surroundings, to discover what is safe and what is not, to try out risky activities and through this improve their perception of risk and their mastery of risky situations.

He also outlines a few benefits of risk taking in children's play:
                  - Children learn risk assessment and how to master risk situations and thus develop a sound sense of risk.
                  - Children progressively encounter risky play and seek out thrills in a gradual manner, which allows them to master the challenges.
                   - Through challenging play, especially play in wild nature areas, children show improved motor skills and spatial skills; they also learn risk assessment and how to master risk situations.

Here are some pictures of our morning kinders taking some risks in their play!

Source: Apter, M.J. (2007) Danger: our quest for excitement. Oxford: Oneworld. 

Learning the Monkey Bars

 Wednesday April 19, 2017

This morning we went outside and enjoyed the beautiful spring weather! 

The children have been practising doing the monkey bars all winter, today it was finally nice enough to not wear mittens outside, which made for a perfect monkey bar day. 

A few children were brave and lunged into the task, others were more reserved and watched as the other children attempted to cross the high bars, later taking a turn for themselves. 

The children used their entire bodies to carry themselves across the rungs of the bars, dropping to their feet a few times when the weight was too much. However, they persevered and tried again. 

The children were observed saying:

"I can do the monkey bars, its easy."

"I am not sure I can do it, but I can try."

"I did it all by myself, and tomorrow I will try again." 

"If I fall its OK, because I can try again."

"I can reach now!"