Special Blessing’s Childcare
At Special Blessings Child Care in the Outdoor Adventures Classroom: we continue to maintain each area yearly. We replace and add natural materials in the designated areas to keep the children engaged and interested.
Our journey in creating an intentional outdoor classroom was created in 2012 and we continue to make our individual spaces a place to learn, explore, engage with their peers and experience and discover their world around them. Our classroom integrates social-emotional learning with instructional elements to create a comprehensive educational experience.
This year, we organized a family engagement event where each child and their mother collaborated to create and decorate a garden stone for their home. We organized a family engagement event with dads and their children, during which they painted birdhouses together to take home and incorporate into their outdoor spaces. We welcomed the community into our space to educate the children about wildlife. We’re planning a cookout in the fall and a game night for our families to enjoy together.
This past year we were able to receive a grant to purchase a few things to add to the outdoor classroom to expand in the mud kitchen. We have added a potting shed with dirt and pots to plant things. We also purchased a few items to use for game night to host another family engagement in the fall.
Our children were able to experience the rewards of fresh produce this season. We had to replace our blackberries and strawberries and in hopes they will produce next year. We added green toys and roads out of wood for additional play. An additional bird house was added to our classroom. We engage in every changing season throughout the year. Where children can gain a better understanding of each season and the world around them.
In July of 2024 I was able to join the Nature Explore Leadership Institute as this was not my first time. I enjoy it each year that I attend and gain new perspectives and ideas to bring back to my facility. Being an early childhood educator going on 32 years there is always something new to learn!!
