Early Spring in the Garden
What things need to be done in the garden in early spring? What are some early spring gardening activity ideas for kids
Pressure Treated Wood
The Green Desk NLI Pressure Treated Wood Is pressure treated wood acceptable for use in an outdoor learning environment? The first place to look for answers to this question is with local licensing and regulation agencies. If you are a childcare center seeking...
Plant of the Month: March – Spring Starflower
The Green Desk NLI Plant of the Month: March – Spring Starflower Spring Starflower, (Ipheion uniflorum) Native range: South America Hardiness Zone: US 5+ Sun: Full sun to partial shade Plant habit: Clumping, will spread by bulb offsets and self-seeding Water...
Growing Gourds for Birdhouses
The Green Desk NLI Growing Gourds for Birdhouses What are some seasonal activities to do with children in the garden? 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...
Spring Outdoor Play: Making the Most of the Season
The Green Desk NLI Spring Outdoor Play: Making the Most of the Season What outdoor play activities would you recommend in the springtime? Springtime is ideal for outdoor play. After a cold, gray winter, the blue skies, new leaves, and warm breezes beckon everyone to...
Having a Picnic
The Green Desk NLI Having a Picnic How can we eat outside and still meet licensing and/or ECERS requirements? We are concerned with hand washing, family style dining, etc. (Having a picnic can be a lot of fun.)From the North Carolina Rated License Assessment...
Growing Tomatoes in Preschool Gardens
Tomatoes can bring much learning, day by day wonder as fruit grows, flare and yes . . . delicious fruit to eat!
Seating & Spaces Outdoors to Observe and Just Be
The Green Desk NLI Seating & Spaces Outdoors to Observe and Just Be Are bench swings or gliders OK to use in child care? Can we hang a traditional one under our covered porch area? We really like the idea that adults and children could use it together, read...
Early Childhood Health Outdoors (ECHO)
Early Childhood Health Outdoors NLI Early Childhood Health Outdoors (ECHO) ECHO is based on a decade of research on the Preventing Obesity by Design model. The results show that improving the design of outdoor spaces through affordable interventions and training early...
Learning About Birds, Bugs, and other Critters
The Green Desk NLI Learning About Birds, Bugs, and other Critters Can bird feeders be used inside fenced play area? From the North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project: There are no specific ERS requirements related to bird feeders; good maintenance and...
Inclusion of Natural Elements in the Play Yard
The Green Desk NLI Inclusion of Natural Elements in the Play Yard Are large stones and/or rocks considered tripping hazards inside the fenced area? “We are thinking of using them as borders to create a garden space or perhaps as part of our outdoor learning...
Questions About Digging in the Dirt
The Green Desk NLI Questions About Digging in the Dirt Is it really ok to have a dirt pile for the children to dig in on your playground? If so is a cover needed? From the North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project: Yes, dirt is fine as an alternative to...
Beyond the Jack O’ Lanterns: Using Pumpkins to Support Learning
The Green Desk NLI Beyond the Jack O’ Lanterns: Using Pumpkins to Support Learning Pumpkins fascinate even infants as large, round, orange objects appear in Autumn, ready to be creatively carved into jack o’ lanterns. BUT… even more intriguing is watching...
Plant of the Month: July – Rabbiteye Blueberry
The Green Desk NLI Plant of the Month: July – Rabbiteye Blueberry Rabbiteye Blueberry (Vaccinium virgatum) (Syn. V. ashei) ‘Climax’ and ‘Premier’ Native range: Southeastern U.S. Hardiness Zone: US 7a-8b Sun: Full sun to partial shade Plant habit: Shrub Water...
Child Care OLE Regulation FAQ in North Carolina
The Green Desk NLI Child Care OLE Regulation FAQ in North Carolina What do the experts say about safety, risk, and regulation in North Carolina child care environments? The Natural Learning Initiative has worked together with several different regulating agencies and...
Plant of the Month: August – Passionflower
The Green Desk NLI Plant of the Month: August – Passionflower Passionflower/ Maypop (Passiflora incarnata) Native range: Southeastern U.S. Hardiness Zone: US 5-9 Sun: Full sun to partial shade Plant habit: Vine Water requirement: Medium It’s not every day you...
Resources from Toxic Free NC
The Green Desk NLI Resources from Toxic Free NC Toxic Free NC, a non-profit organization advocating for human and environmental health since 1986, offers many resources for child-care providers and parents of young children. One of their major program initiatives,...
Plant of the Month: September – American Sweetgum
The Green Desk NLI Plant of the Month: September – American Sweetgum American Sweetgum (Liquidambar Styraciflua Rotundiloba) Native range: Southeastern U.S. Hardiness Zone: US 6-9 Sun: Full Sun Plant habit: Deciduous Tree Water requirement: Medium The American...
PlayDaze for Engaging Outdoor Activity
PlayDaze began in 2011, as an initiative of the Early Childhood Active Play Alliance. This Alliance focuses on practical efforts for improving the health of young children in North Carolina through playful experiences, particularly opportunities for unstructured, free play.
Plant of the Month: April – Redbud
The Green Desk NLI Plant of the Month: April – Redbud Redbud (Cercis canadensis) Native range: Eastern U.S. Hardiness Zone: US 4-8 Sun: Full Sun to Shade Plant Habit: Small tree Water requirement: Medium Amidst the many hues of spring, redbuds add another layer...
Plant of the Month: March – Winter Jasmine
The Green Desk NLI Plant of the Month: March – Winter Jasmine Winter Jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum) Native range: Northern China Hardiness Zone: US 6-10 Sun: Full Sun to Part Shade Plant Habit: Vine Water requirement: Medium Bursting from winter’s stillness comes...
Plant of the Month: November – Indian Grass
The Green Desk NLI Plant of the Month: November – Indian Grass Indian Grass (Sorghastrum nutans) Native range: Eastern U.S. Hardiness Zone: US 3-9 Sun: Full Sun Plant Habit: Grass Water requirement: Low Imagine it is early morning and you are sitting near a...
Trail Mix Activity Leaflet
The Green Desk NLI Trail Mix Activity Leaflet Activity: Making Trail Mix Focus of Activity: Healthy Eating Activity Setting: Tasting Station Curricular Area: Health and Physical Development Language Development and Communication As children make their own trail...
Gardening with Children Resources
The NC Cooperative Extension covers creating a childcare garden, growing and preparing fruits and vegetables, and composting.
Designing Green Urban Carolina Childhoods: Theory and Practice
Publications NLI Designing Green Urban Carolina Childhoods: Theory and Practice Author: Moore, Robin. Download the PDF With distant roots in work conducted when the author was an urban planning student, scientific research and design assistance in children’s...
Kids Dig Dirt! Green Paper
Publications NLI Kids Dig Dirt! Green Paper Author: Moore, Robin. Download the PDF The Kids Dig Dirt! Green Paper serves as both a resource and a tool for ACM museum members. The paper provides a collection of facts, guidelines and for ward-thinking language that...
Child-Friendly, Active, Healthy Neighborhoods: Physical Characteristics and Children’s Time Outdoors
Relationships between neighborhood built environment characteristics and children’s average time outdoors on weekdays were investigated in Dhaka, Bangladesh. A total of 22 built environment variables, 8 socio-demographic variables, and 1 perceptual variable were tested for their relationship to children’s (N = 109) self-reported average time outdoors on weekdays , measured in minutes. Built environment variables were measured using Geographic Information Systems (GIS)-based urban form variables and systematic, direct observation. Analysis was conducted using multiple linear regression. Results (p < .01) suggest that additional minutes of children’s average time outdoors on weekdays are associated with availability of adjacent space (23 min), male child (23 min), dead-end instead of through street in front of residence (15 min), perception of neighborhood safety by parents (10 min), one story lower in level of residence floor (3 min), and 1,000 m2 less of total building footprint area within the neighborhood (1 min).
Environmental Interventions for Healthy Development of Young Children in the Outdoors
Publications NLI Environmental Interventions for Healthy Development of Young Children in the Outdoors Author: Cosco, Nilda. Download the PDF Early childhood environmental interventions are needed to counteract the health crisis caused by sedentary lifestyles. In the...
Using Behavior Mapping to Investigate Healthy Outdoor Environments for Children and Families: Conceptual Framework, Procedures and Applications
Research NLI Using Behavior Mapping to Investigate Healthy Outdoor Environments for Children and Families: Conceptual Framework, Procedures and Applications Authors: Cosco, Nilda; & Moore, Robin. This chapter, written by Nilda Cosco and Robin Moore, focuses on a...
Increasing Physical Activity in Childcare Outdoor Learning Environments: The Effect of Setting Adjacency Relative to Other Built Environment and Social Factors
The problem of childhood obesity can be addressed through study of how built environment characteristics can foster physical activity (PA) among preschool children. A sample of 355 behavior settings in 30 childcare center outdoor learning environments (OLEs) was studied using behavioral mapping techniques.
Childcare Outdoor Renovation as a Health Promotion Strategy
Research NLI Childcare Outdoor Renovation as a Health Promotion Strategy Authors: Cosco, Nilda; Moore, Robin; & Smith, William. This article demonstrates that site layout attributes are associated with higher levels of physical activity in childcare settings,...
The Growing Place Child Care Center
The Growing Place Child Care Center, located at First Baptist Church in Asheboro North Carolina, offers an example of best practice in outdoor learning environments.
Wayne Community College Child Care Center
On the campus of Wayne Community College, this childcare center worked hard to engage children with growing food and engaging with plant life by installing raised beds, a butterfly garden, and other plants within the existing outdoor learning environment.
The Early Learning Center
Located near Uptown Charlotte North Carolina, The Early Learning Center successfully converted their entire outdoor area into a best practice example for outdoor learning environments.
Small Beginnings Child Development Center
Small Beginnings Child Development Center, in Statesville North Carolina, overcame challenges to improve their outdoor space for best practice.
Spanish for Fun Academy
Spanish for Fun Academy, in Chapel Hill North Carolina, is a Spanish immersion childcare center serving the Orange County community.
Robyn’s Nest Creative Learning Center, Inc.
Robyn’s Nest Creative Learning Center, in Pittsboro North Carolina, added many new features to a previously sparse playground.
Mountain Area Child and Family Center
Mountain Area Child and Family Center, located in Asheville near the campus of Warren Wilson College, features a large, professionally designed and installed outdoor learning environment.
Old Fort Elementary Preschool
Old Fort Elementary School Preschool, in Old Fort North Carolina, is a year-round public school near the downtown area.
