Why is outdoor play so valuable for young children?
- Fewer boundaries, more opportunities for children to move around and make noise.
- Children develop physical competence, improve muscle strength and spacial awareness.
- Social and emotional development is fostered as children experience a full range of feelings; learn to label and express themselves and learn to recognize them in others. Social skills develop as children learn to share, give, take, and take turns.
- All areas of development are enhanced by the changing nature of the outdoor environment: the experience of the season, weather conditions, climate, and the way these effect our lives.
- Outdoor play deepens their understanding and appreciation for the world we live in.