University Presbyterian Children’s Center
Little Explorers’ Yard
The Little Explorers Yard offers a safe and inviting place for children from 2 months to two and a half years freely explore outside with their teachers for at least an hour every morning and again in the afternoon following nap times, with separate playground times for each of the classes in the morning and afternoon. The assigned outdoor times allow for individualized activities with the youngest infants on blankets for “tummy time”, sleeping or even having their bottle while the early mobile toddlers cautiously explore while develop confidence walking on the variety of surfaces, and the older toddlers are able to run and jump with their expanding large motor skills.
With the start of the school year in August, a Gardening Group of parents formed to help the teachers maintain the flower beds, herb garden and planting activities with the children. In addition, rain barrels were added to the outdoor classroom for the children to have easy and free access to water on their level that the toddlers can use for caring for the plants with small, toddler size watering cans.
Multiple times during the year, the families can join their infants and toddlers as they explore the Outdoor Classroom with their peers and their parents, guardians and siblings during Open Houses, Family Socials, and special events. The gatherings with families on the Little Explorers Yard once again gives a safe and welcoming space for the children, parents, grandparents, guardians, and older siblings a welcoming and safe space for young children to connect with nature together and build a sense of community, which have proven to be both critically important for families in today’s world.
