The Child Centered Home

One of the goals I had more my outdoor classroom this year was to be outside more! My program is a full-day program, so the children are here for several meals and a mid-day rest time. I bought little tents to try to do rest time outside with the children. T

o my surprise, they were actually able to fall asleep outside even though it was new and exciting. However, even though it wasn’t especially hot in the time of year I introduced this, the children did wake up with pink cheeks. I was concerned about them over heating, especially if we kept doing outside nap time into the months when it did actually start to warm up quite a bit. So, I decided to put a halt to outside nap time, and go back to the drawing board for that part of the day.

We have continued to do the majority of our daily activities outside because it is my firm belief that
anything children can learn in an indoor classroom can be learned outside…..and it can be even better
outside. The children in my program love being outside. and the parents are so appreciative that their
children get to spend so much time in an outdoor, natural environment.

We are outside in all weather, and we dress accordingly. The children have learned how to help each other in getting into their muddy buddy suits and rain boots for rainy day play. They have learned how to change themselves into and out of water play clothes during the summer months. So many self help skills have been strengthened by our time in the outdoor classroom during the entire year.