Theme : At The Playground / In the Garden

Benefits for Children of Play in Nature

Children who play in nature have more positive feelings about each other (Moore 1996).

  There's no way that we can help children to learn to love and preserve this planet, if we don't give them direct experiences with the miracles and blessings of nature."

Anita Olds

When children play in natural environments, their play is more diverse with imaginative and creative play that fosters language and collaborative skills (Moore & Wong 1997, Taylor, et al. 1998, Fjortoft 2000).

Natural environments stimulate social interaction between children (Moore 1986, Bixler et al. 2002).

The Benefit of Playgrounds for children 

 

Playgrounds provide an opportunity for free play. Free play differs from the structured play of 

recess or organized sports and games. Playground free play allows children to play any way they 

choose, supported by a wide range of structures and spaces. Free play allows the child to explore 

according to his or her natural tendencies, and allows them to learn from one another and to 

interact with a wide range of age group

Playgrounds provide crucial and vital opportunities for children to play. There is substantial 

research showing the clear link between play and brain development, motor-skills, and social 

capabilities. All learning—emotional, social, motor and cognitive—is accelerated, facilitated, 

and fueled by the pleasure of play. Playgrounds that promote different types of play are vital for 

a child’s cognitive, emotional, physical, and social development.

PLAY....LEARN....AND....GROW TOGETHER

The Benefits of Sand Play

There are many benefits of sand play, the first being the development of the sense of touch through the texture of the sand. Sand play also develops the arm, wrist, and hand muscles, uses grasping and wrist control. It provides for creativity and imagination and is relaxing for the child. While playing with sand, a child also develops eye-hand coordination, experimentation with volume, weight, and measurement.

Social Development

Interactive and pretend play is how children learn and develop social skills such as 

verbal communication, sharing, helping, compromising, requesting, offering, and 

friendship building.  The sand/water table can be considered a smaller version of the 

beach!

Social skills include:

Peer interaction

Friendship-building

Sharing

Helping

Compromising

Speech and Language Development

The gathering of children around an emotionally engaging activity promotes the use of 

spontaneous speech and language.

Speech and language skills include:

Spontaneous speech

Question-asking

Requesting

Offering

PLAY, LEARN AND GROW TOGETHER