The outdoors offers many opportunities for teaching children in a natural setting. Realizing that a young child's work is play can help teachers think about how to make outdoor play a learning experience that offers children multiple benefits. They receive fresh air, enjoy physical exercise and learn important developmental skills, such as fine and gross motor skills and social skills, in a fun environment.
Gross Motor Obstacle Course
Gross motor skills involve the large muscles in the body, and they are important for movements such as walking, running, hopping or skipping. The outdoors is a natural environment to support the development of the large muscles of the body. To set up an obstacle course, collect several hula hoops and spread them out on the ground. Tell children they are going to practice building strong muscles and good listening skills. Give the children directions to do things inside, outside or around the hoops. For example, "I want you to hop on one foot around the red hula hoop and then run to the purple hula hoop." It is important to give directions that fit the developmental skill level of each child or group of children.
Fine Motor Window Washing
Fine motor skills are those skills related to moving small muscle groups, such as the hand and arm. These skills are used to eat, dress and write. Designing a window washing activity is a creative way to help develop fine motor skills, as well as help young children learn about what makes windows dirty and how they can help to make them clean. The activity uses shaving cream, sponges and lots of small muscles in the hands, wrists and arms to clean dirty school windows. Talk to the children about how windows get dirty then describe how they are going to help clean the windows by using shaving cream and lots of their muscles moving in circles, up and down, and side to side.
Social Skills Car Wash
There are three levels of social skill development for preschool children: associative, associative cooperative and cooperative. Planning a group activity to wash all of the riding toys at the preschool is a way to integrate all levels of social skill development. The activity requires a bit of organization to collect buckets for water, sponges and towels. Talk with the children about how they are to work together and share the cleaning equipment and vehicles. The children practice politeness by asking such questions as, "Can I help you wash this car?" and "Can I use the sponge for a minute?"
