This month the toddlers explored orange play dough outdoors, bringing nature into their play. When the children transitioned outside they were greeted with a tuff tray filled with colourful fall leaves, bright and bold marigolds, and some small pumpkins. The children dove right in to manipulating the play dough, adding woodchips and other leaves to mix into their creations. Some of the children were seen pressing the leaves into the dough, noticing the veins and the shapes of the leaves that were left behind. Others used woodchips as tools to cut, poke, and flatten the dough. As they worked, the toddlers shared their discoveries; “Look at what I made” and “I cut it” showing curiosity and pride in their creations. The open-ended materials encouraged them to explore textures, cause and effect, and creativity while strengthening their fine motor skills through squeezing, pulling apart, and cutting. This experience supported the children's connection to nature and sensory exploration, allowing them to engage their senses and imagination in a calm and meaningful way.
