The educators have observed the infants showing a great interest in outdoor play over the last month. During the long cold winter, we were limited to the amount of time we could spend outdoors. Sometimes the infants would watch their toddler friends through the window when it was too cold for us to go outside. They would point and babble at the toddlers as they watched them play. Now that we can go outside regularly the infants become excited when they see the educators bring their outdoor clothing into the room. Some of the older infant are beginning to develop their self-help skills by trying to put on their shoes and other outdoor clothing.
Once we make it onto the playground, the infants are eager to explore the outdoor environment. For some, this is their first opportunity to move freely without snow restricting the space. Many of the infants are drawn to risky play, and the playground offers valuable opportunities to climb on logs, helping to build their gross motor skills and confidence.A new addition to the playground—the wooden ball drop—has quickly become a favourite. This activity supports the development of hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills as infants grasp, release, and track the movement of the balls.Playing in the sand and woodchips is another popular choice, providing rich sensory experiences. As infants use shovels and spoons to scoop and explore, they continue to strengthen their hand-eye coordination and refine their motor skills.
The infants have enjoyed exploring the outdoors so much recently we wonder what else we can do outside?
