This month, with all the snow, we took advantage of the weather by bringing our toboggans to the hill. Earlier in the year, we discovered this hill by following the children’s interests. Layla had wanted to roll down it, and her idea led us to explore the area further. Instead of returning to the smaller hills we used last year, we chose the steeper hill we had found, which allowed the children to go much faster and experience a greater challenge. We brought six toboggans, and Jess C selected six-line leaders so the children could be organized into groups.
From this experience, we can see how following the children’s interests created a more meaningful and engaging learning opportunity. The steeper hill supported physical development, confidence, and risk-taking in a safe, supervised environment. The children practiced teamwork, turn-taking, and leadership through the group organization and the excitement of sledding together. These moments contributed to their social, emotional, and physical growth.
Moving forward, we can continue building on the children’s curiosity and enthusiasm. We may explore what else they want to do with hills or snow, such as creating sledding rules, drawing maps of the hill, or comparing different types of snow. Reflecting with the children about how the hill felt, what they noticed, and how they worked together can deepen their thinking. We can also consider introducing simple discussions about safety, balance, and speed, or planning further outdoor adventures based on our critical thinking.
