Allowing children to explore the outdoors is essential for their holistic growth. Important concepts can be learned and skills can be developed in the outdoors. Knowing this, I often encourage my son to interact with the outdoor environment regularly. That is why, we as a family truly look forward to our stay in our house in Laguna... we get to bond with nature and each other. Here are some things you can engage in outdoors, a local park or your own backyard:
KITE FLYING - along with developing physical skills, this activity may help children understand the concept of wind, flying and lightness of objects; may help children in following directions and practicing patience as they wait for their turn or while they find the "perfect" wind.
BUG HUNTING / CATCHING - Outdoors are filled with treasures for your children to find. Encouraging you kids to look for / catch bugs (ants, moths, butterflies, dragonflies) for you to observe together will be very enriching. Doing this is a great jumping point to more learning such as body parts, ecology, life cycle, etc. However, I also make it a point to remind Ynigo not to hurt the insects and to let them go after we have observed them. This will help your children respect all life forms.
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| My boys observing their catch |
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| Ynigo trying to catch a dragonfly |
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| Daddy catching an elusive butterfly for Ynigo |
PLANT OBSERVATION - I also encourage Ynigo to observe plants and flowers around him; making sure he uses as many of his senses as possible. His favorite is the Makahiya. He loves making them close.
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| Ynigo's favorite Makahiya Plant |
GAMES like Hide and Seek and Races - Outdoors is truly a time to use those muscles and build endurance and strength. Ynigo loves playing Hide and seek and Racing the most. At times he joins his father in basketball too. He also plays golf and soccer at the fields.
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| Racing with Daddy |
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| Basketball with Daddy... sometimes Mommy joins too |
You may also do PICNICS and ART ACTIVITIES while outdoors (I will show pictures on my next blog on these).
Have fun outdoors, everyone!
