Programming

Autumn Children's Books and Outdoor Play

Children's Books, Outdoor play, Programming
Children have gathered autumn loose parts in child-sized carts.
Autumn loose parts gathered by the teachers and placed in the outdoor learning environment for the children to discover.

Autumn is a magical time of year. Leaves change to brilliant yellows, oranges and reds. An abundance of natural loose parts fall to the ground and are now within reach. If inspiration is needed for creative outdoor play ideas, try connecting the stories and themes of children's books to autumn outdoor play.

Autumn Leaves for Play and Learning

Children's Books, Programming
Autumn Leaves for Play and Learning
Autumn Leaves for Play and Learning
Children each selected a green leaf. String was tied to the stem of the leaf and labeled, so it could be found when it fell.
Rock art with autumn leaves. Children used water to decorate the rock with leaves.

The changing color of the autumn leaves is a great opportunity for exploring science, art and literacy with young children.

More on Physical Activity with Diane Craft

Curriculum, Physical Activity, Programming
Diane Craft, PhD leads an outdoor interactive session titled, "Outdoor Active Play."
Diane Craft, PhD. presents at the 9th Annual Natural Learning Design Institute.
Diane Craft, PhD facilitates an outdoor interactive session titled, "Outdoor Active Play."

Dr. Diane Craft spoke at the 9th Annual Natural Learning Design Institute and shared innovative, but practical, ideas for increasing physical activity levels in young children.

Winter Play

Outdoor play, Physical Activity, Programming
A boy plays with a truck in the snow at the Wellesley College Child Study Center.
A child shovels snow for fun at the Wellesley College Child Study Center.
Children catch snowflakes on their tongues at the Wellesley College Child Study Center.
As the sun and physical activity warm the children they shed their hats and mittens. A bare fig tree makes a great hat rack.
Water frozen with food coloring make colorful ice blocks that are fun for play.

As temperatures start to drop, so does our motivation to go outside and play. A greater effort is required to prepare children for outdoor play, but with a little planning and the proper clothing it can be well worth the extra effort. As our friends in Sweden say, “There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes.”

Theme Gardens

Children's Books, Curriculum, Plantings, Programming
Alphabet Garden with plants for each letter, A to Z. NC Pitt County Arboretum Children's Garden.
Dwarf Umbrella Plant (Cyperus allerni folius 'Gracilus') in Alphabet Garden. NC Pitt County Arboretum Children's Garden.
Edible plants spell "salad bar," using plant names. Hershey Children's Garden, Cleveland Botanical Garden
As a study of color, children's paintings are inspired by Monet's Garden flowers. The Coombes School, UK
Fairy Garden at the NC Pitt County Arboretum Children's Garden.

Young children are experiential, hands-on learners and love making their own gardens personalized with a theme. Theme gardens can complement children’s current interests as well as a childcare center’s educational philosophy or curriculum unit. Theme topics are limitless.

Early Spring in the Garden

Children's Books, Edibles, Latest, Plantings, Programming
Carrots are a good winter and early spring plant, and are easy to grow from seeds.
Broccoli is ripening in this early spring garden at a child care center.
Children can help plant and assist in other seasonal activities.
A square foot gardening just beginning.
Newspaper pots being made
Newspaper pots with seedlings getting ready to transplant

Early spring is a time bursting with possibilities in the garden, even while the air is still cold and the days are just beginning to lengthen. Here are ways to jump start spring in the garden with kids, taking advantage of everything the season has to offer.

Growing Gourds for Birdhouses

Affordable settings and elements, Latest, Plantings, Programming
Growing Gourds for Birdhouses
Children painted this birdhouse gourd before it was mounted.
A gourd growing on an arbor - the vines need plenty of room to climb!

Just one gourd seed (Lagenaria siceraria) planted in early spring will become a lush, 25-foot vine covered with dozens of gourds by fall. After a full summer of growth, the gourds can be harvested and dried, then turned into natural birdhouses that invite birds into your outdoor space.

Spring Outdoor Play: Making the Most of the Season

Latest, Outdoor play, Physical Activity, Programming
Spring Outdoor Play: Making the Most of the Season
Loose parts play with flowers
Playing with collected rainwater after a morning rain
Ribbons to play with the wind
Watering a spring vegetable garden with lettuce and greens

Springtime is ideal for outdoor play. After a cold, gray winter, the blue skies, new leaves, and warm breezes beckon everyone to come out and play for a while. In the excitement of a new season of growth, here are some activities to make the most of all that spring has to offer.