There is more to our Sandlot than Meets the Eye
The pledge forms have been returned and donations sent in. Families and friends of Montessori Beginnings donated almost $6000.00 to our cause. I cannot begin to tell you how blessed we are to have so many caring people helping us bring our “Nature Explore” Play space to life!
“Nature Explore.” We keep talking about it, but what does it mean? It is a movement toward creating dynamic, special, and individual outdoor classrooms to further a child’s love of play and learning. Through Arbor Day Foundation and Dimensions Educational Research Foundation, their www.natureexplore.org website provides information and examples of this exciting movement to take our playgrounds back to nature; To provide a place where a child can roam and explore, paint, build, create, get messy or just sit and “take it all in”… the opportunities are endless.
Did you know children learn best when they are active participants in the learning process? When they “play,” they are developing important skills that will serve them their entire lives. There is so much more to “play” than meets the eye, which you will soon discover in the following paragraphs . . .
Through art activities, a child learns how mind and hand work together to create, not to mention hand muscle and fine motor skill development. Art provides an outlet for tension and frustration. It also develops prewriting, math and science skills by brush, hand and color manipulation.
Through block play, a child build large muscle development and eye-hand coordination by carrying, sorting and stacking them. Math skills emerge by examining size, shape, balance and physics. Children work cooperatively with others and engage in conversation as they work. They also use their imagination as they classify, sort and build.
In the Messy Materials Area, children learn to problem solve and work with others. They experiment with measuring, volume and mass every time they fill a container with water or sand. The water table teaches about what sinks and floats or how many soap bubbles are needed to get something clean!
Through Music and Movement, a child can relax, release energy, develop vocabulary and build their memory. A child can experience a sense of wonder or appreciation of another culture. It’s also an important way to learn about the body and how it works.
Dramatic Play allows a child to use and develop imagination and problem solving skills that will serve them throughout their life. This is a particularly good way for children to express feelings and fears in a safe and comfortable way. Children develop storytelling and language skills too.
In the safe confines of an interactive play space, the problem solvers and adults of tomorrow are grown.
I want to thank you again for your donations, time, and your child. Thank you for allowing us to provide these amazing opportunities for them!