Description

Since directors are ultimately responsible for creating and maintaining the proper environments for children, this training is designed to help them work with staff to enhance their outdoor play environments with new learning opportunities, as they maintain safe and appropriate outdoor areas. In addition to many health benefits, outdoor play provides numerous opportunities for physical activities that, due to general space constraints, are nearly impossible to create indoors. Children also experience an array of opportunities for social interactions and sensory experiences that differ extremely from those that they are able to experience indoors. Playgrounds that are designed with children’s development in mind, can offer many of these natural benefits for children. However, the playground can also be a hazardous place when it is not created, maintained or supervised in an appropriate and safe manner. We will begin this workshop by reviewing the four recommended learning areas for an outdoor play space and the types of activities and materials that enhance development in each learning area. Next we will review the steps for designing and/or enhancing a child care center outdoor play environment. During this process, participants will be provided with guidelines and checklists to help them evaluate their own playgrounds. Included in these evaluations will be a discussion about maintenance and supervision of the outdoor play environments. The workshop will conclude with an opportunity for participants to work in small groups to develop solutions and plans for their specific challenges.