Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/the-adventure-outside-your-classroom-door/5012755/
Preschool children love the out-of-doors. For many children in preschools and child care centers, the time for outdoors is their favorite time of the day. But for directors and teachers, the playground can be an area of constant concern.Administrators are looking long and hard at their current playgrounds and finding them unacceptable from a developmental and safety standpoint. An increase nationally in the number of injuries and subsequent lawsuits has forced those involved with young children to pay special attention to the equipment and maintenance of their playgrounds.
Teachers feel the need to make the playground more of an extension of the classroom in terms of learning. And parents are demanding more than an exercise-only playground for their children. So, how can we make the most of this expensive and expansive area?
_ Don't Forget the Power of Play
Playgrounds for the most part have taken a back seat to research in the classroom. The National Association for the Education of Young Children describes play as the key component of a developmentally appropriate program, but offers few guidelines for the out-of-doors (Bredekamp & Copple, 1997). Research supports the value of play regardless of whether you're inside or outside. Play promotes problem solving, ...