Friday, January 29, 2016

Winter Woods

There were bridges to cross and trails to follow and then a lot of dirt to dig today.
The children gathered their sticks and found their familiar spaces to enjoy some time in the woods, unstructured but well supervised play for an extended length of time. The benefits of outdoor time for children are well documented:

"Free and unstructured play in the outdoors boosts problem-solving skills, focus and self-discipline. Socially, it improves cooperation, flexibility, and self-awareness. Emotional benefits include reduced aggression and increased happiness. "Children will be smarter, better able to get along with others, healthier and happier when they have regular opportunities for free and unstructured play in the out-of-doors," concluded one authoritative study published by the American Medical Association in 2005." ( http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/aug/16/)


Sometimes it takes a while for us to get outfitted for our time outdoors-but once we have made it to our destination, the children embrace their time and space and are completely engaged for the hour or so  that we are outside. 

Until Next Time,
Michele







there was a lot of work happening here-scraping away the dirt from the roots of the tree-would it collapse?






Saturday, January 23, 2016

Winter Cold!

 We headed out for an extended time of play in the snowy woods. Enjoy!










Friday, January 15, 2016

A Little Less Winter

 The PreK's look forward to their time in the woods when they can pick up sticks and hit  sticks with sticks and dig with sticks and walk with sticks. The woods were especially inviting today despite the lack of snow. There was a lot of climbing, digging for treasure, and sitting together on logs and branches. But, mostly, there were sticks.

Until Next Time,
Michele














Friday, January 8, 2016

A Beautiful Day!

It almost looks like winter out here!






she's rowing

making a fire with ice...it takes some work!






a consultation.....
Until Next Time,
Michele