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Play and Learning at the Playground

October 6, 2011 by Jaimi Erickson 3 Comments

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Ways to play and learn outdoors and at home all inspired by the playground. Easy ways to explore the playground beyond the cliimbing structures and get some exercise time for mom too! Shared by Jaimi at The Stay-at-Home-Mom Survival Guide.

You do not have to be bored sitting and watching your children play at the playground. There are simple ways to connect the outdoor playtime with simple, fun activities and learning at home too.

I tend to look at a visit to the playground as my chance to sit and watch-finally!  I am up and down on my feet all day: up the stairs, down the stairs, criss-crossing the house.  I don’t have extra energy to burn, but my children do.  They need outdoor time to be ‘centered’.  Most children do. It is important to get out, breathe in the fresh air and soak up some Vitamin D. There is so much wonder in God’s creation when we get outdoors to explore.

I definitely try to balance my children’s outdoor time with free play led by them and some intentional activities suggested by me. Children need to feel in control-sometimes.  It’s a tricky balance of being the adult/parent/teacher and allowing your child to develop traits of leadership and choice so they can develop a sense of self-worth and know that you value them and their choices.

The playground is a great place to provide children with an opportunity to lead. It is also a great place to sneak in some exercise as a mom just by playing with my kids. We play hide-and-seek (my children often tell me where to hide), we run laps around the playground and we climb, jump, and balance.  The babies can play too. I hold on to them to let them slide, and play in the grass.

Access to nature is very important for children: Vitamin D exposure, fresh air, and so many science and math opportunities!

The other day we collected acorns, and then had to do it again today.

After we got back to the house, we counted the acorns (math), sorted them into ‘big’ and small’ (math), wrote the word ‘acorn’ on the ‘Aa’ page of my son’s alphabet book (language/literacy), and then read a book about Autumn and leaves falling that my son remembered had an acorn in it (language/literacy).  When all was said and done, we had spent over an hour on a focused theme that targeted multiple subjects for toddlers and preschoolers.  I LOVE activities that provide me with so many teachable moments!

Explore the playground, and visit it regularly.  You can use apps like Yelp to locate all the playgrounds in your area and try a new one each week. These are  the best free and cheap kids activities of the outdoor variety.

Check the ground for new elements like leaves and acorns. Collect them, count them, make a nature collage on paper or cardboard with them so you have a conversation piece for dinner time.

Run and play with your child.  Even if my children do not nap after we visit the playground, they are much calmer and in good moods (usually) for the rest of the day. I think peace is found in nature. Next time you have a tough day, get outside to break things up and let everyone gain release.

Give your children that time to let them lead the activity; show them you value them.  These activities are great for children ages 1 and up, not just the preschool set.  And, even if you don’t have a ‘walker’ yet, playgrounds have swings, grass, and slides that you can help your infant explore.

Do you find that outdoor time is essential for your child? What fun do you and your child have at the playground?

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This post was featured in A Complete Guide for Stay-at-Home Moms: Exercise Inspiration. View all of the activities for kids that get mom moving too PLUS exercise workout ideas for moms HERE.


For more outdoor fun at the playground, check out this post:
Learning about Trees for kids-reading, writing, math, and nature exploration to take learning from the playground to the home. Great, simple ideas for toddlers and preschoolers shared by The Stay-at-Home-Mom Survival Guide.
Successful Mom Daily Checklist to help you gain balance between housework and play time with the kids. Get more done, and feel more successful as a mom and homemaker.

Enjoy your time at home!

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Filed Under: activities, parenting Tagged With: free, homeschool, homeschool preschool, homeschooling, outdoor, playground, preschool, toddlers

Trackbacks

  1. Stay-at-Home Mom 101 | The Stay-at-Home-Mom Survival Guide says:
    July 2, 2019 at 6:00 pm

    […] events like playdates or coffee dates with other moms, free or cheap kids activities in our area, playground visits, or great outdoor activities when the weather is nice. Keeping it simple gives us something to look […]

    Reply
  2. Complete Guide for Stay-at-Home Moms: Exercise Inspiration - The Stay-at-Home-Mom Survival Guide says:
    September 5, 2015 at 4:32 pm

    […] Play and Learning at the Plaground – The Stay-at-Home-Mom Survival Guide […]

    Reply
  3. 40+ Activities for Preschool at Home - The Stay-at-Home-Mom Survival Guide says:
    August 31, 2015 at 1:08 pm

    […] aged children need time outside to explore and play. These ideas are for some exercise and learning at the playground that gets your preschooler moving […]

    Reply

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