Page 9 - Perspectives Fall - English

Fun, Safe Outdoor Activities to do with Kids
California health authorities continue advising child care providers to engage children in outdoor play to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Fortunately, the southern California climate allows for year-round play outside and studies show kids who spend more time outside may be more relaxed and happier than those who spend most of their time indoors. According to the research, time outside can even improve short-term memory, concentration and cognitive skills. Here are some simple activities to do with children outside.
Frisbee Tic-Tac-Toe
Create a large Tic-Tac-Toe grid by using four long pieces of painter’s tape on a shower curtain. Two children can compete at a time and you will need six Frisbees. Lay the curtain down on the grass and have the kids take turn throwing a Frisbee toward one of the squares. Like the traditional rules state, whoever gets three spaces in a row – diagonal or straight – wins the match.
Plant a garden
Teaching children about how plants grow is an important lesson that’s made exciting and engaging when they get to plant the seed themselves. If you have children in your care who attend regularly, they will get to watch the subtle changes in the plant as it grows. You will need a small pot for each child or space in a flower bed, a pack of seeds and soil. Show the kids how you plant the seed and explain how water and sunlight will help it grow into the flower shown on the packet.
Still life drawing
Give each child a piece of sketch paper and a pencil and direct them to find a piece of nature in the yard that inspires them. By observing the color, shape, and texture of the item they decide to draw, the children learn about the tiny details that occur in nature – from the lady bugs that crawl on leaves to the grooves of the bark on a tree trunk. Encourage the children to be detailed in their drawings and then, once they’ve finished, the children can share their masterpiece with the group and explain why they decided to draw the subject they selected.
Fall 2020 | 9