This month the preschoolers have been enjoying all the snow this season has brought. From tobogganing, shovelling and helping to create a snow slide down our large tree stump in the wood chip area. Evelyn and Noam were the first ones to quickly grab shovels and helped me to pile snow in front of our large stump and pat it down creating a ramp/slide. Soon Danilo, Joshua and Elliott joined in to help shovel. Once we completed the snow ramp we made snow steps on the other side of the log. The preschoolers took turns climbing up the snow steps to the top of the large stump then slid down on their bums or tummies. They encouraged their friends to come and try the ramp/slide they made. They were very proud of their hard work and that the slide worked. Teamwork and working together, communicating, sharing and problem solving are great skills to learn early. These are skills which will be important as they will be starting JK in a short seven and a half months. They also have been working on their tobogganing skills. First learn how to grasp the rope and pull the toboggan to the top of the hill, then steady the toboggan so they can climb in it before the toboggan goes down the hill without them. Next, sit inside the toboggan and figure out how to get down the hill (using their hands, or asking a friend for a little push). Now that most have mastered those skills they have moved into risk taking, which is that they now place the toboggan at the top of the little hill. Then they run towards the toboggan jumping on it doing a belly flop and giving the toboggan the momentum to go down the hill. The odd time they have tried to stand on the toboggan like a snowboard and try to make it to the bottom standing. Shovelling is also another love of theirs. Some of the preschoolers talk about how they sometimes help shovel the snow at home with their parents. Outdoor play boosts children’s health, strengthens their muscles, improves their coordination, and builds endurance. It is so great to watch them grow and evolve throughout their year with us.
