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Let's Go Outside!



Hi Parents,

Are anyone else's preschoolers going stir crazy? Keeping mine entertained inside has taken a lot of creativity. Spending some time outside has been so good for my kiddos and myself. I thought I'd share a few activities you can do outside, whether its on a nature walk or just exploring your backyard!

Scavenger hunt-   My boys love scavenger hunts. Sometimes we'll write down different animals, insects, plants, or items we know we'll see on our usual walk and check them off as we find them. Keegan loves checking things off his list :)
You can also do an alphabet scavenger hunt, finding items that begin with each letter, ie we found an acorn for the letter A. Check out the Abba's Garden scavenger hunt here!

Natural loose parts-  An Abba's Garden favorite! Loose parts can be as simple as pinecones, sticks, stones and shells. Loose parts are essentially an item that has no pre planned use. It's amazing to see the creativity that is sparked by something like a pinecone. To us it's just a pinecone but to a child it can be the main ingredient in their pretend soup. Collect some loose parts on your walk and see what your child does with them! You can paint them, stack them, count them, weigh them, see if they sink or float? A pinecone can have endless possibilities in the mind of a child! For more info on loose parts click here!

Art- Studies show that being outside sparks creativity. Instead of using watercolors at your kitchen table maybe move your supplies outside. Don't be afraid to let them get messy.

Outside free play- My favorite! Spontaneous free play has so many benefits for our children. I'd encourage you to hop in and join them in their free play. Our children feel so loved when we engage in play with them. To learn more about the benefits of child led play you can read my recent blog post here.


More resources...
I loved this article from the Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center on nature based play. Click here to read!


Blessings,
Miss Kat







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