Play Outside!

Mirrors outdoors

noreply@blogger.com (Let the Children Play) — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 11:31:00 +0000

I've been enamoured of late with the idea of mirrors in the outdoor play space.

Not only do young children find mirrors engaging, but mirrors also add light and character, and open up a smaller outdoor play space.

Link: Let the Children Play

Greening the Man Made Outdoors #1

noreply@blogger.com (Let the Children Play) — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 11:28:00 +0000

Getting your Green On

It is easy for those of us who work in early childhood settings with natural play spaces to advocate for children's right to play in natural surroundings.

For many of us, the reality is more likely to be a play space dominated by soft fall and/or fake grass, surrounded by 4 walls or ugly fencing and barely a tree in sight.

Link: Let the Children Play

Greening the Man Made Outdoors #2

noreply@blogger.com (Let the Children Play) — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 11:26:00 +0000

"Welcome to Part 2 of "Greening the Man-Made Outdoors". If you missed Part 1, you can get up to speed by clicking here.

Let's get right down to it:

1. Bring in the Potted Plants

Potted plants are always a winner when you have little natural space, and they have the added advantage of being portable. You can arrange them to create spaces and define areas:"

Link: Let the Children Play

What can you do with bamboo?

noreply@blogger.com (Let the Children Play) — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 11:24:00 +0000

Walking past the rather extensive (and cheap) bamboo collection at Bunnings recently, I started to think: What can we do with bamboo?

Here are some ideas:

Link: Let the Children Play

My love affair with loose parts

noreply@blogger.com (Let the Children Play) — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 11:21:00 +0000

Kids really get to know the environment if they can dig it, beat it, swat it, lift it, push it, join it, combine different things with it. This is what adults call creative activity...a process of imagination and environment working together.

- Robin Moore

Link: Let the Children Play

Let the children play outside.

noreply@blogger.com (Let the Children Play) — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 11:17:00 +0000

Link: Let the Children Play

Children prefer natural play spaces.

noreply@blogger.com (Let the Children Play) — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 11:13:00 +0000

Link: Let the Children Play

Nature Wrist Bands

noreply@blogger.com (Let the Children Play) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 09:36:00 +0000

Nature Wrist Bands

Ball Run

noreply@blogger.com (Let the Children Play) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 09:32:00 +0000

Backyard Ball Run

DIY Flower Sprinkler

noreply@blogger.com (Let the Children Play) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 09:28:00 +0000

DIY Flower Sprinkler

EYLF Environments for Learning

noreply@blogger.com (Let the Children Play) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 09:21:00 +0000

EYLF Environments for Learning

EYLF Fact Sheet

"The EYLF highlights the importance of outdoor play and learning, and prompts us to think about how indoor and outdoor learning environments provide different but equally–valuable spaces that

complement each other"

The Outdoor Playspace Naturally

noreply@blogger.com (Let the Children Play) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 09:16:00 +0000

The Outdoor Playspace Naturally: For Children Birth to Five Years

Edited by Sue Elliot

A must read book for anyone looking to create a natural playspace:

"This easy-to-read and beautifully illustrated book guides early childhood educators to encourage engagement with the outside world. It provides a foundation for creating natural, dynamic, and engaging playspaces, and fostering ongoing collaboration between children, parents and staff."

EYLF Natural Playscapes

noreply@blogger.com (Let the Children Play) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 09:10:00 +0000

A Journey Towards a More Natural Outdoor Playspace

Early Years - SA Government

Documenting Augusta Park Childhood Services Centre's journey towards a more natural playspace, in response to the EYLF:

"What we had developed was a learning community; together we have established a vegetable and fruit garden, sensory path, a turtle enclosure, and purchased new equipment for imaginative play."

Parachute Games with Water

noreply@blogger.com (Let the Children Play) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 07:46:00 +0000

Splish Splash Splosh

Forest Tots

Chalk Hop

noreply@blogger.com (Let the Children Play) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 07:32:00 +0000

Chalk Hop

Lessons Learnt Journal

Gardening

noreply@blogger.com (Let the Children Play) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 07:29:00 +0000

Top 12 Tips for Gardening with Children

Sun Hats and Wellie Boots

Fairy House

noreply@blogger.com (Let the Children Play) — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 11:09:00 +0000

Hidden Fairy House in the Woods

Play Create Explore

Shaving Cream Slip and Slide

noreply@blogger.com (Let the Children Play) — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 11:06:00 +0000

Shaving Cream Slip and Slide

Play Create Explore

"plastic table cloth + shaving cream = Shaving Cream Slip-N-Slide"

Stone Soup

noreply@blogger.com (Let the Children Play) — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 11:02:00 +0000

Making Stone Soup

Play Create Explore

Linking children's literature with outdoor play.

Play Outside Poster

noreply@blogger.com (Let the Children Play) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 09:12:00 +0000

Play Outside Poster

Let the Children Play

A poster celebrating outdoor play in childhood is yours to download.

learning outdoors

noreply@blogger.com (Let the Children Play) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 08:35:00 +0000

When I Play Outside I'm Learning....

Let the Children Play

A handy downloadable resource to inform families of what young children are learning when they play outdoors.

Observing Nature

noreply@blogger.com (Let the Children Play) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 08:34:00 +0000

Tips for Observing Nature with Children

Creative Family Fun

eco-friendly toddler activities

noreply@blogger.com (Let the Children Play) — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 01:58:00 +0000

Raising and Eco-Tot: 10 Environmentally Friendly Activities for Toddlers

The Educators Spin On It

"The earth and our environment is here for us to take care of and that the choices we make affect the future of the environment. Children who develop a heart for their natural world and environmentally friendly habits as young children, will be better equipped to making environmentally friendly decisions as they grow."

camp fires in the sandpit

noreply@blogger.com (Let the Children Play) — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 08:47:00 +0000

Camp Fires in the Sandpit

Let the Children Play

little worlds

noreply@blogger.com (Let the Children Play) — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 08:35:00 +0000

Worlds of Imagination in a Sand Tray

Let the Children Play

"Scraps of material, small dishes, fake flowers, pebbles, driftwood pieces, shells and plastic butterflies were arranged and rearranged endlessly to create worlds and fairy gardens."